Until last year, longtime golfer Bob Adams walked the entire course at Country Club of Asheville. Now he only walks the front side, which is still quite a feat, considering he just celebrated his 91st birthday and is out on the green four to five times a week.

Adams is more than a familiar face at the club. A member for 55 years, he’s held various leadership positions. He’s served as a board member and club president, during which time he maneuvered the sale that moved the club from The Grove Park Inn to its current stunning location in north Asheville. He’s participated in more than 50 member-guest tournaments, and he and Margaret (Peggy), his wife of 67 years, even have a house on the 18th fairway.

“I used to be pretty good, but now I shoot in the middle 80s,” says Adams, who holds 20 aces and has shot his age almost two thousand times. “Last Sunday I shot 79.”

Originally from Birmingham, Alabama, Adams attended the University of Alabama, and after graduation pursued a career in industrial engineering. Work took Adams and his family (he’s a father of six) from Pennsylvania to Florida, and eventually Asheville, where they settled in 1967. Though he played golf sporadically before, his game truly took off when he joined Country Club of Asheville, especially when he retired in 1991.

“When we were having kids, I didn’t have a lot of time for golf,” Adams says. “I played once a month, maybe. But then I got decent at it, and started playing in the single digits.”

As Adams talks about the highlights of his golfing tenure, it becomes clear he’s a competitive player who still enjoys the technical challenges of the game. He’ll never forget the day he shot his age for the first time at 67. Or when he won the club championship on his 60th birthday. And most importantly, he’ll never forget April 27 of this year, the day he finally aced hole No. 17, the longest par 3 on the course and the final step
in fulfilling his quest to eagle on all 18 holes.

But the special moments aren’t just on the green. “Bob is one of about six members that still play gin rummy in the Men’s Card Room,” says Debbie Ponder, Country Club of Asheville’s membership director. “It was standing room only in the Men’s Card for many years. Now attendance has dwindled to an occasional 4-top, but he still shows up for gin rummy with his long-time friends.”

Though many of his golfing buddies throughout the years have passed on, Adams speaks fondly of The Connor Group, a competitive crew that plays together four days a week.

“This group of men are a fun, warm and talented bunch that keeps me and all the others coming back again and again to enjoy the competition and the fellowship,” Adams says.

When talking about Adams, Ponder considers him synonymous with Country Club of Asheville. But perhaps Bob Adams is also synonymous with the untold golfing greats, the everyday players who’ve spent a lifetime trying to best the game and still enjoy the battle. Because odds are, this great grandfather, devoted husband, and passionate golfer, will be out on the green as long as he’s able.

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The Best Snickerdoodle Cookie Recipe

This is my favorite cookie, soft and chewy. Growing up in the small town of Chico California my sister Lois would make these for dessert with fresh picked raspberries. What a wonderful time in my life...

Ingredients:

1 Cup Unsalted Butter, softened
1½ Cups Sugar
2 Large Eggs
2 TSP Vanilla
2¾ Cup Flour
1½ TSP Cream of Tartar
½ TSP Baking Soda
1 TSP Salt

Cinnamon-Sugar Mixture:

¼ Cup Sugar
1½ Tablespoons Cinnamon

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350˚F. In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar for 4-5 minutes until light and fluffy. Scrape the sides of the bowl and add the eggs and vanilla. Cream for 1-2 minutes longer.
Stir in flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt, just until combined.
In a small bowl, stir together sugar and cinnamon.
If time allows, wrap the dough and let refrigerate for 20-30 minutes. Roll into small balls until round and smooth. Drop into the cinnamon-sugar mixture and coat well.
Using a spoon, coat for a second time, ensuring the cookie balls are completely covered.
To make flatter snickerdoodles, press down in the center of the ball before placing in the oven. This helps to keep them from puffing up in the middle.
Place on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Bake for 9-11 minutes. Let cool for several minutes on baking sheet before removing from the pan.

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During the month of October, McConnell Golf invites you to get involved and participate in fundraisers held throughout our properties. Members at each of our clubs can also give back with $1 from every Meyer Filet and McConnell Golf Salmon BLT sandwich order going toward our Susan G. Komen fundraiser. On Sunday, October 17, every McConnell Golf cart fee booked will also go towards our fundraising efforts. Click here to donate and to follow our progress throughout the month of October! Read on below to see how several of our properties are also contributing to Susan G. Komen.

The Country Club at Wakefield Plantation – Yoga for a Cause & Rosé Drink Specials

On October 5, the staff at The Country Club at Wakefield Plantation hosted an outdoor yoga class. Participants paid $15 to attend the class as proceeds benefited Susan G. Komen. They also wore pink and enjoyed a complimentary glass of rosé. Additionally, during the month of October, the main clubhouse and Breaker Bar & Grille will donate a portion of funds from their rosé sales to Susan G. Komen.

Country Club of Asheville – Family Fun Run, Yoga on the Lawn, Pink Cocktails, Pickleball Social & Tennis Clinic

On October 11, Country Club of Asheville is hosting their first Family Fun Run. Participants will meet at the driving range for drinks and snacks before taking off for the walk/run. They will have the option to walk or run along the back nine of the course, which is 2.3 miles, and the run will end at the range where a wall of foam awaits participants. There is a $10 minimum donation to participate.

Members also have the option to participate in a special evening yoga class on the lawn or a pickleball social on October 13. All proceeds will go toward our Susan G. Komen fundraiser. Afterwards, members will meet by the firepit for "pink" cocktails and watch the sunset over the mountains. There is a $20 minimum donation to participate in the yoga class and a $25 minimum to participate in the pickleball social. Finally, on October 14, the tennis staff will host a morning clinic followed by tennis play and a luncheon at the clubhouse. The cost to participate is a $20 minimum donation per person. 

Brook Valley Country Club – Drink & Entrée Specials, Tough Day Scramble, Closest to the Pin Contest & 50/50 Raffle

Every day during the month of October, Brook Valley Country Club has drink specials and two dinner entrée offerings will $1 going toward our Susan G. Komen fundraiser. On October 3, Brook Valley also hosted a Two Person Tough Day Scramble and Closest to the Pin Contest. The entry fee for the Tough Day Scramble was $50 with $25 going toward the event. Entry for the Closest to the Pin Contest was a wager of the participant's choice as they competed against the club staff on the 18th tee. 

Raleigh Country Club – Sunset Yoga & Cocktails

On October 20, Raleigh Country Club will host a sunset yoga session on the pool deck. The cost is $20 per person and all proceeds will benefit Susan G. Komen.

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IN VINO VERITAS…

A Latin phrase that means “in wine, there is truth.” Well, I can’t agree more, and similar phrases exist across cultures and languages. Growing up in Europe, I had an early start in the “World of Wine.” Throughout my hospitality career, I have been fortunate to taste some of the finest wines from the world’s major viticultural regions. These include the Chateau Margaux 1990, Latour 1990, Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion 1982, Petrus vintages 1982, 1989 and 1990, the Joseph Phelps Insignia 1990, Dominus 1991 and 1994, Dunn Cabernets from Howell Mountain, the Mondavis, BVs and Berringer Private Reserves, the Penfolds Grange and many, many, many more.  

The few growers/producers who have continuously received 5-star ratings are indeed those who make the world’s finest wines and they have been selected because:
· They make the greatest wine of their particular viticultural
· They are remarkably consistent and reliable, even in mediocre and poor vintages  

Then, there is the Robert Parker Rating System, a scale from 50 to 100. Any wine that Parker rates above 85 is very good to excellent and any wine that Parker rates 90+ will be outstanding for its particular type. Parker uses specific standards for wines sold to consumers—standards that full-time wine professionals recognize, and these are benchmark wines to which others are judged.  

However, today’s wine rating systems found on labels are not any different from those found screening ratings from Amazon, Netflix, IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes and Vudu. It is simply “Corky” and very dangerous. The rating systems are not only for marketing purposes, but also shape the consumers’ tastes as to what is to be considered good, excellent and outstanding.              

Wine has made major contributions to the quality of life in many societies of the world for millennia, and it continues to do so. It has always had its critics, some misinformed, others genuinely concerned. Cut through the noise; experience, keep an open mind and, most of all, enjoy! There is much to be enjoyed and appreciated. If wine and food combinations still perplex you, your best strategy may be to learn some of the greatest pairings, as well as some of the worst. Remember that in the final analysis, a good wine served with a good dish to good company is always a good taste—“à votre santé!”  

McConnell Fine Wine LLC was founded upon the simple principle of introducing single, small vineyards and innovative winemakers to our membership under one private label, presented as the M Signature Series. This private label is only offered through our clubs and the winemakers are selected for the following reasons:                 
· They produce some of the greatest wines from a particular region
· Their wines are remarkably consistent and reliable
· They are innovative—and aren’t afraid to challenge the status quo  

This year, McConnell Fine Wine introduces exclusively from the following winemakers and vineyards:     
· Chris Corley, Knollwood Vineyards: Right Bank Red Blend
· Juslyn Vineyards: Pinot Grigio
· Kerr Vineyards: Cabernet Sauvignon

Our Right Bank Red Blend is nothing short of a perfected blend of Merlot/CabFranc/Cab that can only be experienced at Pomerol, Bordeaux. Although, nowadays Pomerols’ are 100 percent Merlot, Chris Corley remained a traditionalist and it paid off. My notes: Experience this wine with dinner (anything grilled with sautéed vegetables or rosemary roasted baby potatoes). You will be pleasantly surprised just how powerful this creation is with dinner, trust me.

In closing, there are many exceptional wines to experience; I mean truly exceptional ones. These resemble experiences such as playing at Pine Valley, Cypress Point, St. Andrews or Shinnecock Hills, but there are also many more varietals, blends and crafts that are part of our civilization. I encourage you to be bold and explore the beauty of Vino—it is truly rewarding!  

Christian Anastasiadis

Chief Operating Officer at McConnell Golf

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Making new memories at North Carolina’s oldest country club

He spent his teenage years as a groundskeeper at a local golf club, and that’s where Matt Ostwalt developed not only respect for the game but also reverence for the beauty of a well-tended course.

“Playing golf gives me a sense of peace,” says Matt, sharing his intimate appreciation of the grass, the lay of the land, the melding of sport with nature. “I always find joy out on the golf course.”

Matt and his family find that – and so much more – at the Country Club of Asheville.

“We are having an amazing experience as members,” he says. “When friends ask, we sing the praises of the family atmosphere.”

Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina, the Country Club of Asheville, established in 1894, is the second-oldest private club in the South and among the oldest clubs in continuous operation in the entire country. It is anchored today by a championship Donald Ross golf course. This historic club also features a recently updated clubhouse, Olympic-size swimming pool, new fitness center, indoor and outdoor tennis facilities, and dedicated recreation rooms for kids and teens.

A Family Affair

Matt and his wife, Amy – along with their children Charlotte, 10, and Birch, 7 – joined the Country Club of Asheville in 2017. However, the family’s own history here dates back to a decade earlier when, as a newly-engaged couple, they were seeking out wedding and reception venues.

“We fell in love with the location,” Amy recalls.

You could say Matt horsed around a bit in his pursuit of the love of his life. He proposed to Amy at The Carolina Cup on April Fools’ Day and they got married on Derby Day which, in 2007, coincided with Cinco de Mayo.

“Our wedding reception featured Mint juleps and mojitos!” he says. “Everything was fantastic – the club did an amazing job. We were so happy with how the reception turned out. That was our first introduction [to the Country Club of Asheville] and it made a huge impression.”

After settling into Montford, a historic district just north of downtown Asheville, the Ostwalts intended to join the country club once they completed renovations to their 1920s-era home. “We kept having numerous delays – like having babies,” Matt laughs, noting that Charlotte added to the family’s horsey tradition by being born on Derby Day in 2010. “But really, the kids were a big part of our decision to join – we wanted a place where they could meet friends, a place to make memories as they grow up.”

And that’s exactly what they’ve been doing.

“Being members [at the Country Club of Asheville] has impacted our family in such a positive way,” says Amy. “It provides an outlet for the kids and also for us as a couple. Charlotte and Birch have a place to play, we can do things together as a family, and we can also enjoy time with our couple friends.”

Finding Joy

As new members, Matt and Amy were greeted with the same enthusiastic hospitality they enjoyed during their wedding reception 10 years earlier.  

“The staff embraced our children from Day 1,” Matt says. “They give them so much attention – our kids love coming here.”

Charlotte and Birch joined the Fins, the summer swim team, where there’s equal emphasis on technique and sportsmanship. They are also regulars at the club’s long roster of clinics and summer day camps, focusing on everything from sports to science, arts and crafts.

“The camps in the summer have been a saving grace,” Amy says, noting the sports programs ensure the kids come home happily exhausted. “They spend a lot of time up at the club. It’s fun, especially when it’s with friends.”

Since becoming members, Amy has fallen in love with tennis and Matt has rekindled his lifelong passion for golf. The entire Ostwalt family enjoys the culinary program, whether it’s a family meal or date night. 

“The kids really like the Sunday brunch – they ask to go all the time after church,” Matt says. And, adds Amy, “we like the wine tasting events; we have so much fun learning about and trying new wines.”

As a sales rep for an out-of-town manufacturing company, Matt spends a lot of time on the road. By playing golf with a rotating group of fellow members, he feels connected to the local community. 

His favorite people to play with, though, are Charlotte and Birch. “I’m glad the kids can enjoy this sport with me,” he says, noting the pleasure he takes in passing along all the traditions of the game.  “I love when they ask to go to the putting green.”

Matt also takes pleasure in a home golf course that’s a gem in the North Carolina mountains.

“It’s a unique place,” he says. “I’ve always enjoyed playing a lot of courses and I never really expected myself to ‘marry’ one golf course. But this one plays a little different every time you go out there. The course changes constantly – in ways that defy physics – and I don’t feel like I’m playing the same course over and over.”

The subtlety of the course challenges golfers at every level. “Whether you’re a skilled golfer or a novice,” Matt says, “you can find joy in playing here.”

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The fastest-growing sport you’ve never played – but should

OK, let’s be honest. Could the sport have a sillier-sounding name – Pickleball? And it involves a nostalgic sphere of childhood typically associated with plastic bats and neighborhood bragging rights: the whiffle ball.

Yet from this odd pairing comes the fastest-growing recreational sport in America that almost 3.5 million players are rushing to the court to enjoy.

“Today’s the club championship,” exclaims John Hambel, a pickleball enthusiast and member at Porters Neck Country Club. “We’re finishing up the ladder league and I’m playing in the mixed doubles finals.  I started playing about three years ago. It’s very addictive.”

Porters Neck is one of many McConnell Golf properties featuring pickleball. In fact, nine clubs have retro-fitted tennis courts or dedicated pickleball courts, and host either formal or informal play, from open-morning sessions to community-wide leagues. 

“I’m proud we’re on the front end of this sport,” says Kyle Thortsen, Corporate Director of Tennis Operations at McConnell Golf. He admits he was initially hesitant, but has witnessed the sport take off like an overhead smash from the edge of the kitchen (that’s pickleball lingo for the non-volley zone). “It’s coming and it’s coming fast. It’s getting a whole new group of membership involved, people who weren’t involved on the tennis courts before.”

Last year marked the 55^th anniversary of pickleball, a sport that showcases elements of tennis, racquetball and Ping-Pong, as well as whiff of badminton.  Pickleball’s popularity has soared in recent years, especially with aging Baby Boomers who want to remain active – indeed, 34 percent of those who play are 55 and older.

The short, 15-minute games usually feature high-cardio, low-impact and lots of social interaction.  

“My wife and I have been at Wakefield for 14 years,” says Patrick Newton. “I could count the number of times I’d been on the tennis courts on one hand. But I attended a Saturday morning pickleball clinic for beginners, and was hooked! I now play with several regular groups and we just finished our first season with men’s, women’s and mixed couple’s leagues.”

The Country Club at Wakefield Plantation boasts more than 100 pickleball players.  Thortsen says the attraction is the game is so easy to learn. 

“Pickleball is a sport that you don’t have to be the best athlete to play,” he explains. “Anyone can pick up a paddle, have fun and learn in 20 minutes, which is not something you can say about most sports.” 

Depending on intensity, play can be easy on the body too. “I’ve had a lot of surgeries on my knees and feet,” chuckles Newton. “My joints can’t participate in traditional high-impact sports, but this is something I can do. It’s fun, competitive and not overly physically demanding. Pickleball is truly fun for all ages, from little kids, to teens, to senior adults.”

As for Hambel in the Porters Neck Club Championship? Win or lose, he knows he’ll be back for more.  

“With short games, you’re always switching partners and meeting people,” he says. “It’s extremely social. You’ll make great friends. My whole social circle is now predominantly pickleball players. We’re all different levels and on our favorite night, we finish around 8:30 and go to the pub.”

No doubt to share stories of victory on the court.

ORIGINS OF THE GAME (AND NAME)

In 1965, three families were visiting Bainbridge Island, a short ferry ride from Seattle, when the dads grabbed left-over sports gear to entertain their bored children. They lowered the badminton net, and invented a game using whiffle balls and Ping-Pong paddles. 

As for the conception of the name? Some recall one of the moms on the island commenting on how the game’s genesis reminded her of the “pickle boat” in crew that uses oarsmen left-over from other boats, while others recall the family dog Pickles always chasing the ball and running away with it.

PLACES TO PLAY

• Brook Valley Country Club
• Country Club of Asheville
• Holston Hills Country Club
• Old North State Club
• Porters Neck Country Club
• Providence Country Club
• Sedgefield Country Club
• Treyburn Country Club
• Country Club at Wakefield Plantation

THE REAL DILL

• 64 percent of “core” players, who play at least eight times a year, are 55 and older.
• The South Atlantic is the fastest-growing region of players, with an average annual growth rate of 19.5 percent.
• USA Pickleball, the sport’s national governing body, tested and approved 134 paddles and 10 balls in 2019.
• Paddles are about twice the size of a Ping-Pong paddle. Early paddles were plywood. Today, paddles range from $8.88 at Walmart to $2,950 for Chanel’s Black Wood “CC” Paddle Ball Set.

IN THE KNOW

• Gear: All you need is a paddle, a ball and place to play.
• The Kitchen: The non-volley zone that extends seven feet off the net on both sides. Players cannot volley (take the ball out of the air) inside this area.
• No-Man’s Land: The area between the kitchen and baseline. Try to avoid getting stuck in this area, as it opens up angles for opponents to strike the ball past you.
• Scoring: Typically, games are played to 11, with a team gaining a point each time they win a rally while serving. Scores are called with a series of three numbers: the serving team’s number of points, the receiving team’s number of points, and the team member serving. A score called of 6 - 3 - 2 means the serving team has six points, the receiving team three points, and the second server on a team is serving.

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Founded in 2007, Folds of Honor's mission is to provide educational scholarships to the spouses and children of America’s fallen and disabled service members. Their motto says it best: Honor their Sacrifice. Educate their Legacy.

To display McConnell Golf’s commitment to these families who have sacrificed so much for our freedoms, members of the golf professional staff at each of our properties will play a golf marathon from sun-up until sun-down beginning on Tuesday, June 1, and on select dates in June and July. Each golf professional has committed to playing at least 100 holes!

To learn more about what your club is doing to get involved and raise money for Folds of Honor, click on your club's link from the list below.

Brook Valley Country Club (June 1)

The Cardinal by Pete Dye (June 1)

Country Club of Asheville (June 1)

Grande Dunes Members Club (June 21)

Holston Hills Country Club (June 1)

Musgrove Mill Golf Club (June 15)

Old North State Club (June 1)

Porters Neck Country Club (June 1)

Providence Country Club (June 1)

Raleigh Country Club (June 1)

Raleigh Golf Association (June 14)

The Reserve Golf Club (June 1)

Sedgefield Country Club (June 1)

Treyburn Country Club (June 7)

The Water's Edge Golf Club (June 1)

The Country Club at Wakefield Plantation (July 5)

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