Legacy members reflect on time well spent on the coastal course

Go ahead and take a few extra practice putts on the 14th hole at The Reserve Golf Club. Odds are you’ll hear Frank and Linda Butts celebrating in their backyard. The retired couple joined the club in 2007 and built their Reunion Hall home, bordering the fairway, in 2009. After permanently settling here from Richmond, they’ve embraced golfing their way through retirement on Pawleys Island in South Carolina.

“We started coming down to the Lowcountry in the 1980s,” Frank says. “When it was time to start thinking about this next chapter, we decided to build down here. We couldn’t be happier.”

As the Greg Norman-designed course celebrates 25 years in the Grand Strand, the Butts are proud to have been here for most of that. “This is a beautiful club that has established a culture of hospitality,” the retired audiologist says. “It has exactly what you’re looking for in a club: the idea of a well-maintained course, a respect for the terrain and a respect for members. That’s what you’ve got here.”

Both of the Butts grew up playing golf in a country club environment; Frank in West Virginia and Linda in Pennsylvania. After taking time off to focus on careers and kids, they’re back in the game with each maintaining a 22 handicap.

“Oh, Linda beats me with great regularity,” Frank confesses with a chuckle. “She’s more athletically inclined. When I returned to golf, my game didn’t come back with me, but the pleasure of playing exceeded the frustration. Sometimes, golf is like a marriage to a bad woman. You don’t know why you do it, but you keep hoping it will get better.”

Linda looks on with a knowing smile. “We enjoy the sport together,” she says. “I played with ladies for a while, but now Frank and I will play two to three times a week. Sometimes it’s just the two of us, and sometimes we’ll pick up other members and play with them.”

Her life and golf partner scans the horizon of the 7,200-yard course that hugs the terrain, links fairways with charming bridges and showcases Grand Strand beauty.

“We hold a natural preservation designation because of what the club has done to preserve the wildlife that surrounds us,” he explains. “We’re right next door to the most famous botanical gardens in the region: Brookgreen Gardens.”

He marvels at the ingenuity Norman used to create the course that complements 160 acres of natural wetlands. “It doesn’t have tricked-up water hazards. It was designed with Augusta National in mind. The greens are all domed, without heavy rough. There are fairways and pine straw. It’s fair and doesn’t beat you up, but if you have a tight lie and not a lot of talent, it will give you a speech impediment.”

The Butts enjoy reciprocity with other McConnell Golf clubs, most recently having played Pete Dye River Course of Virginia Tech, The Cardinal by Pete Dye and Country Club of Asheville. Yet their favorite course is The Reserve, especially when all the kids and grandkids come to play. And their favorite hole? Frank sums it up best; “It would be No. 14. It epitomizes my relationship with golf. It’s beautiful. It’s home.”

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Old Fashion Oatmeal Cookies

When I was little, my mother use to make this cookie along with one that was my brother's favorite. It started to become a comfort food for me. As time passed and family started going their own way, I didn’t get a chance to have this cookie very often. Even though I had the recipe, it never turned out the way mom made it. Now, when family gets together my mother has a batch of these sitting on the counter when I get there. Boy are they good! Not very healthy, but I’ll make the sacrifice.

Ingredients:

¾ Cup Canola Oil

¼ Cup Brown Sugar, packed

2 Large Eggs, room temperature

½ Cup Milk

1 Package Spice Cake Mix

2 Cups Old Fashion Oats

2½ Cups Raisins

1 cup Pecans, chopped

Directions:

In a large mixing bowl, beat oil and brown sugar until blended.  

Beat in eggs, then milk.  

Combine cake mix and oats, gradually add to brown sugar mixture and mix well.

Fold in raisins and pecans.

Drop by tablespoon two inches apart onto greased baking sheets.  

Bake at 350°F until golden brown, 10-12 minutes.  

Cool for one minute before removing to wire racks.

 

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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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Game (Still) On

From NCAA to PGA and beyond, Jay Haas is ‘blessed for sure’

Catching up with Jay Haas is always a pleasure. He is a gentleman from another era, both literally and figuratively. It would be easy to say that they just don't make men like that anymore – but they do.

The hardest thing to do in a conversation with Haas is to get him to talk about himself. But ask him about his family and you hear the pride in his voice for his wife, children and, of course, grandchildren. I spoke with Haas the day before his 67th birthday in early December. I had seen him a couple of months prior at the Sanderson Farms Championship caddying for his FedEx Cup-winning son, Bill Haas. So that is where we started the conversation.

JM: How did it come about that you were caddying for Bill in Jackson, Mississippi?

JH: I caddied for him once in the Western Junior Championship years ago, and probably the next time was three years ago at Sea Island. I've caddied Sea Island the last few years, and it's fun. He lets me carry the small bag and I really enjoy it.

He hasn't been playing as well as he believes he's capable of and I wanted to give him a mental boost. We work a little on swing and thoughts, but mostly I just want to keep it positive. All those guys on the PGA Tour hit great shots; it's just a matter of not hitting the wrong shot at the wrong time. And then of course it comes down to putting – you make a couple of 12-footers and you feel like you are playing well… miss a few and you are playing bad.

I've had a ton of fun with him. I try to use my experience as a player but also what I've seen in other caddies and caddies who have worked for me.  

JM: You guys are such a golf family [Haas’s son Jay Jr. runs the Haas Family Golf Center in Greenville, South Carolina; son Bill Hass is a current PGA Tour player; brother-in-law Dillard Pruitt is a long-time PGA Tour player-turned-rules official; and his Uncle Bob Goalby won the 1968 Masters, among other things]. When you get together, do you talk about golf?

JH: We don't avoid it, but usually we are talking about the grandkids, their kids. We watch tournaments and talk about what we saw, but it's not all-consuming by any means. We try to play while we are home and get together. With Jay Jr. teaching, we talk golf swing quite a bit. We talk about why guys are playing well. I mean, it is our jobs, so we definitely talk about it.

JM: Jay, you mentioned that golf is your job. A lot of guys your age don't have a job anymore. Have you considered hanging it up, moving to Pawley's Island and beating up the old guys at The Reserve?

JH: It's more of a thought than it was a few years ago. I played poorly the last couple of events and I don't want to quit on that note. I feel like there is more out there for me. But I don't want to play great and shoot 75 just to be out there. If I play poorly and shoot 75, I am okay with that. There is room for improvement.  

The truth is that my game is not suited to a lot of the courses that we play now. I laugh when people think that we are playing golf courses on the Champions Tour at 6,500 yards. I don't remember the last tournament we played under 7,000 yards. Some of the guys that are playing still hit it a long way. Ernie [Els] and of course Phil [Mickelson] when he plays, bombs it out there; Jim Furyk still moves it as well. So there are fewer and fewer courses on which I feel like I can compete. If halfway through the season next year I don't have a top 10 or a top 5, I might just fade away. No big announcement, just head off to Pawley’s Island and hang out at The Reserve.

JM: You have a record that will probably never be broken [most cuts on the PGA Tour at 591]. You've captained a Presidents Cup Team. Is there a single thing that you are most proud of?

JH: Well, I have been blessed for sure. I can remember thinking when I started on Tour at 23 that if I could play for 20 years that would be a great career. I could put some money away and then figure it out. To think it's nearly 45 years later and I still get to play tournament golf is more than a dream. The Champions Tour is a blessing for all of us at this age. I talked to Ernie and he loves it. Jim is starting to embrace it. It's not too bad being in the hunt again.

Watching [my sons] Bill play and Jay teach is amazing, then being the captain of that Presidents Cup Team when Bill won the deciding point. It doesn't get much better than that. That was the thrill of a lifetime to be able to be there and share that, and for him to accomplish that. Any parent would much rather see their children succeed than themselves. So, as far as golf goes, those are the big things.

JM: In 2010, you showed up in Palm Springs when Bill had a chance to win the former Bob Hope Classic. What do you remember?

JH: Believe it or not, that was a Monday finish in Palm Springs because of weather so I flew in from Hawaii where we were playing [on the Champions Tour]. I caught him with about six holes left to go. Jay Jr. was caddying for me in Hawaii and when Bill knocked it on 18 in two, needing a birdie to win, I borrowed Jay Jr.'s phone to call [my wife] Jan. She answered, “Hey Jay,” thinking it was Jay Jr.

I couldn't say anything. I was so choked up and emotional knowing that he was about to get his first win. It's so difficult to win out there and it's such a big deal, I just couldn't talk. I knew how hard he had worked and how much he wanted it, and knowing how difficult it is I just couldn't talk. Finally, I must have made some sort of sound into the phone and Jan said, “Oh, this is my husband Jay.” And yeah, that was really incredible. I remember my first win like it was yesterday and the sense of accomplishment to know that you can do it is amazing.

JM: Why the desert? You and Bill are from the Southeast. Why all the success, particularly in Palm Springs?

JH: Yeah, I guess it's because when you are on the east coast and you go west for the start of the year, you are ready to go. Bill has won twice there and lost in a playoff. I don't know what it is. Back in the old days it was a five-round event, a nice way to play your way into the year. But other than the fact that there are 18 holes on a golf course, there aren't too many similarities between Greenville, South Carolina and Palm Springs.

JM: Before we let you go, you played on what is considered the greatest college golf team of all time at Wake Forest (I didn't finish the question when he said)…

JH: I spoke with one of my teammates this morning. Curtis [Strange] called while he was driving down to Florida. He just called to say hello. We had a very good team, no question about it. We won the NCAA Tournament by the most strokes ever and all that. But you can never compare eras against each other. I hear Curtis say all the time that college golf was the most fun he ever had in his life. And it’s fun, I still keep in touch with quite a few guys.

John Maginnes is a former PGA Tour player; the current co-host of “Katrek and Maginnes on Tap” on Sirius XM as part of the PGA Tour Radio; and an analyst for “PGA Tour Live.”

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Cleat-the-Cupboard Coconut Oatmeal Pecan Cookies

Having first had them at a friend’s house, her mother had made them for her for years. She was not really interested in them at all, having eaten “thousands” of them. Kind of like a Lays potato chip, “You can’t eat just one.” So I ate all that were there. As time went on I met her mother and we talked about the cookies and how I’m not a very good baker.  We went to the kitchen and “cleared the cupboard” and made the cookies. I have been a big fan ever since and make them occasionally for my kids when they come home. Haven’t had any leftovers yet!

Yield: About 4 Dozen Cookies

Ingredients:

1 Cup Shortening

1 Cup Granulated Sugar

1 Cup Brown Sugar, firmly packed

2 Large Eggs

2 Cups AP Flour

1 Cup Uncooked Oats

1 TSP Baking Soda

1 TSP Baking Powder

1 TSP Salt

1 Cup Flaked Coconut

1 Cup Crisp Rice Cereal

1 TSP Vanilla Extract

1 Cup Pecans, chopped                                                    

Directions:

Beat shortening at medium speed with electric mixer until fluffy; add sugars, beat well.

Add eggs, beat until blended.

Combine flour, oats, baking soda, baking powder, and salt; gradually add to sugar mixture, beating until blended.

Stir in coconut, cereal, vanilla, and pecans.

Drop by tablespoonfuls onto baking sheets.

Bake in batches at 350°F for 10 minutes or until lightly golden.

Remove to wire cooling rack.

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Once is Not Enough for Liam King

Junior golfer shoots two holes-in-one in 2020

It wasn’t all bad – indeed, 2020 was a banner year for Wakefield Plantation junior golfer Liam King.

On January 1, 2020, Liam started the year with a hole-in-one on #8 at Camelback Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona. From 113 yards out, the then-8-year-old struck the ball with his 3-wood for his first-ever ace. However, once was not enough for young Liam. While playing in the Wakefield Plantation Junior Club Championship on Sunday, October 18, Liam hit his second hole-in-one on #11 with his 4-hybrid from 127 yards out.

In addition to his two aces, Liam also qualified for and played in the U.S. Kids World Championship in Pinehurst last summer. This 9-year-old had a great golf season and we look forward to many more ahead from Liam!

 

2020 McConnell Golf Hole-in-One Club

Hitting a hole-in-one is a special feat for golfers of all ages. The chances of an average PGA Tour player making an ace are 3,000 to 1; a low-handicapper’s chances are 5,000 to 1, and an average player’s chances are 12,000 to 1. On average overall, a hole-in-one is scored once every 3,500 golf rounds.

In 2020 alone, 124 holes-in-one were made by members at McConnell Golf properties. Nine members made two holes-in-one last year: Bob Beasley, Thomas Bonney, Stanley Griffin, Denny Hattersley, Carolyn Hopper, Tim Massie, Don Troutman, Tony Villa and Daniel Wright. Three of them made their double aces on the same hole: Carolyn Hopper on #2 at The Cardinal by Pete Dye, Tim Massie on #4 at Holston Hills, and Thomas Bonney on #16 at Sedgefield Country Club. Bob Beasley, a member at Sedgefield Country Club, made both of his holes-in-one while playing at The Cardinal; all told, 17 members made their aces while visiting other McConnell Golf clubs.

McConnell Golf’s 2020 Hole-in-One Club members – listed with their home club, hole-in-one and date they achieved it – include:

Scott Saunders, MM: #12 at Musgrove Mill (1/5)

Laurie Jennings, RES: #3 at The Reserve (1/5)

Dr. James Foster, HH: #14 at Holston Hills (1/6)

Thomas Bonney, SCC: #16 at Sedgefield (1/17)

Denny Hattersley, HH: #8 at Holston Hills (1/19)

John Zhang, PCC: #2 at Providence (1/19)

Michael Kennedy, PCC: #6 at Providence (1/26)

John Elder, HH: #8 at Holston Hills (2/5)

Patrick Reynolds, PCC: #6 at Providence (3/7)

Bill Winkler, CCA: #6 at Asheville (3/15)

Bill Paone, RES: #12 at The Reserve (3/15)

Bill Hoyle, RES: #3 at The Reserve (3/16)

Kevin O’Connor, CCA: #6 at Asheville (3/18)

Charles Capps, CCA: #13 at Asheville (3/18)

Michael Carlisto, PCC: #6 at Providence (3/20)

Becca McKinney, RCC: #14 at Wakefield (3/21)

Ted Broering, RCC: #14 at Wakefield (3/27)

Carolyn Hopper, CARD: #2 at The Cardinal (4/5)

Garrett Greene, CCA: #6 at Asheville (4/5)

Randy Kiser, ONS: #7 at Old North State (4/10)

Paul Urben, RCC: #2 at Treyburn (4/12)

Callum Chadwick, RCC: #5 at Wakefield Plantation (4/13)

Arnold Neal, CARD: #2 at The Cardinal (4/17)

Tony Villa, GD: #13 at Grande Dunes Members Club (4/17)

Don Troutman, SCC: #2 at The Cardinal (4/18)

Josh Minor, TCC: #7 at Treyburn (4/25)

Brian Seay, PCC: #6 at Providence (4/25)

Rachel Delcampo, WE: #7 at The Water’s Edge (4/26)

Scott Ruerup, RCC: #7 at Treyburn (4/26)

Wayne Dicastri, CCA: #13 at Asheville (4/26)

Bob Beasley, SCC: #2 at The Cardinal (4/29)

Kirk Patterson, SCC: #3 at Sedgefield (5/2)

Ella Perna, TCC: #3 at Treyburn (5/3)

Kathleen Riordan, WE: #7 at The Water’s Edge (5/14)

Dr. Bill Young, CCA: #6 at Asheville (5/15)

Andy White, CCA: #13 at Asheville (5/16)

Carolyn Hopper, CARD: #2 at The Cardinal (5/16)

Greg Seamster, RCC: #14 at Old North State (5/22)

Matt Lindley, RCC: #3 at Old North State (5/23)

Tom Hickman, HH: #11 at Holston Hills (5/25)

John Chaplin, PCC: #4 at Providence (5/25)

Sue Elwell, WE: #7 at The Water’s Edge (5/31)

David Acomb, RCC: #2 at Treyburn (6/6)

Curtis Collins, SCC: #16 at Sedgefield (6/6)

Drew Brown, SCC: #16 at Sedgefield (6/8)

Bob Huie, PN: #6 at Porters Neck (6/11)

Tim Massie, HH: #4 at Holston Hills (6/19)

Ron Koksal, HH: #14 at Holston Hills (6/20)

Sylvia Beale, PCC: #16 at Providence (6/26)

Jeff Gibson, BV: #5 at Brook Valley (6/27)

Mack Braxton, PN: #11 at Porters Neck (6/27)

Daniel Wright, PCC: #6 at Providence (6/28)

Stanley Griffin, HH: #11 at Holston Hills (7/1)

Jackson Slayton, PCC: #6 at Providence (7/1)

Patti Haslett, WE: #15 at The Water’s Edge (7/2)

Chris Davis, HH: #8 at Holston Hills (7/2)

Art Graepel, BV: #8 at Brook Valley (7/4)

Jack Paynter, RCC: #7 at Treyburn (7/5)

Landon Harper, RCC: #3 at Wakefield (7/10)

Bill Wolcott, CCA: #3 at Asheville (7/11)

Ed Hann, HH: #14 at Holston Hills (7/12)

Timbs Jones, HH: #14 at Holston Hills (7/12)

John Sanford, HH: #11 at Holston Hills (7/14)

Scott Krasner, PCC: #16 at Providence  (7/17)

Tony Cortiglio, PN: #11 at Porters Neck (7/18)

Avery Barnes, CARD: #12 at The Cardinal (7/23)

Wendie Waddell, WE: #7 at The Water’s Edge (7/26)

Matthew Mardjanov, PCC: #2 at Providence (7/30)

Ric Goodman, CCA: #3 at Asheville (8/2)

Dan Schisler, BV: #5 at Brook Valley (8/12)

Kevin Teeters, HH: #11 at Holston Hills (8/14)

Thomas Bonney, SCC: #16 at Sedgefield (8/20)

Tim Hansen, SCC: #8 at The Cardinal (8/22)

Jim Walsh, WE: #7 at The Water’s Edge (8/26)

Russ Lamkins, SCC: #2 at The Cardinal (8/29)

Steve Ackels, PCC: #4 at Providence (8/30)

Mike Rugg, GD: #6 at Grande Dunes Members Club (8/31)

Craig Meck, PN: #6 at Porters Neck (9/1)

Joel Book, PCC: #2 at Providence (9/1)

Lucie Tonon, PCC: #6 at Providence (9/2)

Kyle Perry, PCC: #11 at Providence (9/3)

Brady Blackburn, CCA: #13 at Asheville (9/4)

Nancy Steinauer, WP: #3 at Wakefield (9/6)

Gates Grainger, PCC: #2 at Providence  (9/6)

Genie Leonard, GD: #4 at Grande Dunes Members Club (9/7)

Tom Buis, GD: #4 at Grande Dunes Members Club (9/11)

Dave Pitaro, TCC: #13 at Treyburn (9/13)

Chris John, WE: #7 at The Water’s Edge (9/16)

Dan Sanderoff, WP: #14 at Wakefield (9/18)

Daniel Wright, PCC: #16 at Providence (9/18)

Jeff Carr, HH: #4 at Holston Hills (9/19)

Michael Maher, WP: #11 at Wakefield (9/22)

Bob Boyer, PN: #11 at Porters Neck (9/23)

Don Troutman, SCC: #7 at Sedgefield (9/23)

Jack Sowisdral, WP: #3 at Wakefield (9/27)

Rich De Ruiter, RES: #7 at The Reserve (9/27)

Ron Hickman, SCC: #7 at Sedgefield (9/29)

Will Johnston, BV: #12 at Brook Valley (10/4)

Nadine Hooks, SCC: #8 at The Cardinal (10/6)

Hugh Holman, GD: #8 at Grande Dunes Members Club (10/16)

Clyde Dunn, HH: #8 at Holston Hills (10/16)

Mike Hayes, CCA: #6 at Asheville (10/17)

Liam King, WP: #11 at Wakefield (10/18)

Jeff Orlando, RCC: #13 at Treyburn (10/21)

Joey Calderazzo, TCC: #17 at Treyburn (10/22)

Todd Reynolds, PCC: #16 at Providence (10/24)

Rick Hakes, WP: #7 at Wakefield (10/31)

Jeff Fiorello, SCC: #7 at Sedgefield (11/1)

Tom Smith, ONS: #14 at Old North State (11/5)

Phil Butler, ONS: #14 at Old North State (11/5)

Karen Buckley, RES: #7 at The Reserve (11/10)

Eileen Johnson, GD: #6 at Grande Dunes Members Club (11/13)

Stanley Griffin, HH: #8 at Holston Hills (11/15)

Tim Massie, HH: #4 at Holston Hills (11/15)

Roger Williams, RES: #17 at The Reserve (11/17)

Michael Spillars, RCC: #3 at Wakefield (11/19)

Denny Hattersley, HH: #4 at Holston Hills (11/24)

Bob Beasley, SCC: #8 at The Cardinal (11/25)

Graham Chase, PCC: #4 at Providence (12/4)

Michael Adams, CCA: #13 at Asheville (12/6)

Jimmy Henderson, MM: #2 at Musgrove Mill (12/9)

Tony Villa, GD: #16 at Grande Dunes Members Club (12/10)

Larry Chiappetta, RES: #12 at The Reserve (12/15)

Tim Cunneen, TCC: #13 at Treyburn (12/19)

 

CLUB KEY:

BV: Brook Valley Country Club

CARD: The Cardinal by Pete Dye

CCA: Country Club of Asheville

GD: Grand Dunes Members Club

HH: Holston Hills Country Club

MM: Musgrove Mill Golf Club

ONS: Old North State Club

PCC: Providence Country Club

PN: Porters Neck Country Club

RCC: Raleigh Country Club

RES: The Reserve Golf Club

SCC: Sedgefield Country Club

TCC: Treyburn Country Club

WE: The Water’s Edge Country Club

WP: The Country Club at Wakefield Plantation

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Making Practice Perfect

McConnell Golf emphasizes short-game practice facilities

While gathered for the 2020 Wyndham Championship at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, North Carolina, the PGA Tour competitors raved about the club’s new short-game practice area.

“A-plus-plus,” says longtime Wyndham Championship Tournament Director Mark Brazil, grading the new facility, which is adjacent to Sedgefield’s stately, Tudor-style clubhouse.

The two-acre practice area — designed by Steve Wenzloff, Senior Vice President of Design Services for the PGA Tour — made its debut during the spectator-free Wyndham event in August. Wenzloff, who also updated the short-game area at TPC Sawgrass in 2016, incorporated ShotLink technology to review data from every Sedgefield green complex.

Providing Sedgefield with five times more practice space, the new area features two Ultradwarf Bermuda greens that measure about 3,600 square feet apiece, along with a trio of bunkers, giving players the option of working on greenside bunker shots as well as 30- to 40-yard bunker shots.

The expanded space also features closely mowed areas off the greenside slopes and shoulders, where players can focus on putting the ball up the hill or practice a pitch shot up the embankment to a tight pin. The addition gives Sedgefield about 15,000 square feet of short-grass area, allowing a dozen or more players to hit shots from a variety of locations.

Brazil calls the new short-game practice area, which was financed by the tournament, “a huge upgrade for the Tour pros one week a year and for the Sedgefield members 51 weeks a year.”

“This upgrade will definitely help us attract and retain new members,” says Sedgefield’s PGA Director of Golf Rocky Brooks. “The layout and size of our new short-game area afford us the opportunity to work with multiple students [men, women or juniors] at the same time. This is a luxury most clubs don’t have the space for.”

The new amenity is a tremendous asset for Sedgefield Country Club as well as visiting members from other McConnell Golf properties.

“Anytime you give members time to improve their golf games, they’re much more likely to play golf and spend time at the club,” Brooks says.

Sedgefield’s PGA Head Professional Eric Ferguson agrees. “From beginners to advanced players, we’ll now be able to help players execute just about any shot they will see on the golf course,” he says. “For our junior golf programs, it is almost like we have our own two-hole golf course for them to learn on.”

The ability to improve one’s game is crucial to the pure golf experience. Sedgefield’s comprehensive practice facility, including TrackMan radar technology swing analysis, complements the club’s expert instruction from its Class A PGA Professionals.

McConnell Golf has overseen numerous enhancements to its stable of short-game and practice areas at more than two dozen clubs around the Southeast.

“One of the areas McConnell Golf will always focus on is the short game,” says Brian Kittler, McConnell’s VP of Golf Operations. “If you’re playing a McConnell Golf property and you don’t have a good short game, you might be in for a long day.”

Sedgefield’s new upgrade “is about as good as it comes,” Kittler says. “It enhances what we provide, the quality of the venue, not only from the golf course, and service at the clubhouse with food, etc., but practice facilities. Working with John (McConnell), you know that in time, when there’s opportunities to do some upgrades, he’s been willing to invest in the practice and short-game areas at the facilities.”

McConnell Golf performed a significant expansion to the Raleigh Country Club practice area in 2005-06, and golf course architect Kyle Franz has sketched additional plans for potential future upgrades to RCC’s short-game area.

In 2012, McConnell Golf completely redesigned the range and short-game area at the Country Club at Wakefield Plantation in Raleigh, North Carolina — while also modernizing the entire clubhouse — completing McConnell Golf’s trifecta of upgrades to its three Triangle practice facilities, including RCC and Durham’s Treyburn Country Club.

Wakefield’s golf learning center is 1,600 square feet, and includes two indoor-outdoor hitting bays, an indoor putting studio and the latest in game-improvement technology. Each hitting bay is outfitted with video technology and multiple flat-screen TVs, allowing players to monitor their improvement during private instruction. The Wakefield staff uses a Flightscope launch monitor to help members find the right equipment.    

Wakefield’s total practice facility measures approximately nine acres, with a teeing ground nearly an acre-and-a-half. The practice chipping green is 4,000 square feet, with a pair of practice bunkers around this green. There are five short-game pins between 75-125 yards for wedge game practice.

Several McConnell Golf properties boasted extensive practice facilities before joining the portfolio, including Old North State Club in New London, North Carolina; Musgrove Mill Golf Club in Clinton, South Carolina; and Holston Hills Country Club in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Other clubs had very minimal practice areas — and McConnell Golf has significantly enhanced these over the years.

“We upgraded The Reserve [Pawleys Island, South Carolina] about 10 years ago and added a short-game facility,” Kittler notes. “There was an open area by the practice facility that wasn't being utilized. Richard Mandell [golf course architect] went in there and created a short-game area, so you can work on your chipping and pitching, bunker shots, the whole nine yards. Just a neat little added touch.”

When the Country Club of Asheville was renovated several years ago, McConnell Golf added a short-game and chipping green to the left of the No. 10 fairway and to the right of the practice range.

“We acquired Providence Country Club in Charlotte and they had a really good short-game area out there behind the clubhouse by the 18 green,” Kittler says. “We converted them over to Bermuda greens. We did the same thing at Brook Valley [Country Club in Greenville, North Carolina], added a little putting green by the first tee and also a chipping green over by the practice facility. Even at the land-locked Cardinal [Greensboro, North Carolina], we were able to do a little bit of improvement there — adding a short-game green by the road.”

One of McConnell Golf’s recent acquisitions, Porters Neck Country Club in Wilmington, North Carolina, possesses what might be the largest hitting tee of any club in the McConnell Golf collection.

“They have a really good, huge hitting tee, a short-game area and a big putting green,” Kittler says. “The neat thing is, there’s some land available. If we ever down the road want to upgrade that area, there’s room to do so. That’s the biggest thing – sometimes golf courses don't have the available land or areas to increase or improve their practice facilities and the short-game area. Luckily, the majority of the places that we’ve had, there’s been room and we’ve been able to make it work.”

McConnell Golf is also focused on incorporating technology and software to aid in teaching and club fittings.

“We’re good right now. We’re just looking to take it to another level,” Kittler says. “The goal is by having these tools, our members will get better and enjoy the game that much more. And because of that, they’ll play more golf. Everything we can do to help members out, is what we try to do.”

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