At McConnell Golf the sport of golf is more than just a leisure activity. Members across all 12 clubs train competitively in the hope of one day playing among their idols. Three McConnell Golf members have progressed to amateur and professional levels, and we’re proud to share their latest updates.

Standout Scholars

After receiving a McConnell Golf Junior Scholarship in 2008, Grayson Murray has wasted no time ascending the ranks to the PGA Tour. After the 22-year-old started the year with conditional status on the Web.com Tour and missed the cut in his first event, he tied for 10th place at TPC Wakefield Plantation and then tied for eighth at the BMW Charity Pro-Am. He earned his full-time PGA Tour card for the upcoming season in mid-October by finishing among this year’s top 25 money winners on the Web.com Tour.

“I received the McConnell Golf Junior Scholarship in the eighth grade, and it was perfect timing. It elevated my game so much just getting to go out to Raleigh Country Club every afternoon after school,” said Murray. “I don’t think I would have been the player I am without that scholarship.” The MCG Junior Scholarship is a program designed to offer instruction, practice, and playing opportunities to young golfers who may not have the financial ability to work on their games at first-class facilities. Murray was selected based on his level of talent, need, and commitment to the sport — as well as his proven dedication and value to the future of golf.

A fellow McConnell Golf Scholar is Raleigh native Carter Jenkins, a 2010 recipient who also played in the Rex Hospital Open as an amateur. Like Murray, Jenkins excelled in the amateur and collegiate ranks and is currently playing as a professional on the PGA Canada Tour. A fun fact about Jenkins: He and Grayson Murray were high school golf teammates at Leesville Road High School in Raleigh.

Member Competitor

A celebrated Sedgefield Country Club member is Scott Harvey. At the end of 2015, Harvey represented the U.S. in Manchester, England on the Walker Cup team, one of the most prestigious tournaments for an amateur golfer.

In April he won the Carolinas Mid-Amateur Championship at Dataw Island Golf Club in South Carolina, then two days later represented the U.S. in the Concession Cup in Bradenton, Florida, an international amateur tournament with teams from Great Britain and Ireland.

Most recently he played the U.S. Mid-Amateur in September and was a fourth-time medalist in the stroke play, setting a record. Next up he will represent North Carolina in the U.S. Men’s State Team Championship in Birmingham, Alabama. At the end of the year, he’ll again be considered for the Carolina’s Men’s Player of the Year by the Carolina Golf Association, an honor he’s received six consecutive years.

Read More

It’s hard to beat a juicy steak grilled outside in the summertime — and you don’t have to. Often considered a special-occasion indulgence, a quality cut of beef can actually be part of a fresh and healthy everyday menu.

McConnell Golf Corporate Executive Chef Mike Marques says the most common mistake with steak is overdoing it. “People try to go crazy. Salt and pepper: That’s all you really need.”

Rather than the classic rib-eye or filet, Chef Marques recommends exploring more affordable and less fatty cuts of beef for your steak: Look for flank (also called London broil), flat iron (also called coulotte and shoulder tender), and chuck tenders. Instead of gussying up meat with butter and oil, pay attention to temperature and preparation. “A room temperature steak cooks better than a cold one,” Marques advises. “Leave it out for 20 minutes before cooking.” 

When the meat is close to room temperature, generously add salt and let it rest for five minutes, then add pepper. Put the seasoned beef on a grill — charcoal, gas, or whatever you prefer — and cook it slightly below the temperature you’re comfortable eating (so if you prefer medium, cook it to a medium-rare). The key to getting the desired result is to let the steak rest off the grill for ten minutes. “The resting period is important because all of the steak’s juices rush into the center.” Finally, cut the steak across the grain with a smooth chef’s knife, not a serrated one. “Once your juices have rested and flavored the meat, cutting it releases some of those juices to tenderize the steak.” 

Attention to detail will season a good steak better than any sauce. “You don’t need a lot of fat to have a flavorful steak,” Marques says. “As long as you follow the procedure of cooking it, letting it rest, and slicing it across the grain, you will enjoy a really great steak without breaking the bank.” Or your waistline. What’s not to love?

Try topping your steak with a reduced balsamic or pomegranate molasses, both available at the grocery store. Or, make a gastrique by combining equal parts of vinegar and brown sugar in a saucepan over medium heat until it reduces by half. All three garnishes “add a little bit of acidity to balance the full-bodied steak flavor,” says Chef Marques.

Read More

Brook Valley Country Club marks its fiftieth anniversary by celebrating royal beginnings, Maples golf course architecture and celebrity contests 

In 1760, a tract of land in Greenville, N.C., now occupied by Brook Valley Country Club, became part of a royal grant bestowed by King Charles to a family who later sold the property to another family, the Brooks. They maintained the land for centuries before selling the large tract for development. Brook Valley reflects the family name, and today a copy of the royal charter adorns the club’s front walls.

Ellis Maples, who worked under and learned from Donald Ross, designed the Brook Valley golf course. Brook Valley’s rich history includes an exhibition match between legends Sam Snead and Ben Hogan. Reynolds May - one of the development’s original investors and a promoter - was friendly with many of the world’s best golfers at the time. After helping develop the golf course, he established the Reynolds May Tournament that featured many top professionals. The trophy from that event still resides at the club, bearing names of many great champions - including a young Curtis Strange, who captured the inaugural event at Brook Valley, as well as 2012 U.S. Open champion Webb Simpson.

Today, Brook Valley’s future appears bright following the club’s 2015 purchase by McConnell Golf. The golf course and practice area were renovated under the tutelage of renowned Greensboro-based golf course architect Kris Spence whose work included bunkering and one green modification (No. 2), along with significant tree removal and the relocation of a number of cart paths. Spence called Brook Valley an “out of the box” design for Maples, mostly due to its intricate cross bunkering.

“We have brought the Ellis Maples bunkering back, as well as adding a few bunkers to modernize the golf course,” Spence says. “Brook Valley is a very nice mix of golf holes with a lot of variety. The par-5s, in particular, are some of the best three-shooters I’ve seen. It’s not long, but it is a great membership golf course.”

The difference is noticeable. PGA Tour professional Will MacKenzie grew up in Greenville and regularly played Brook Valley. “Everyone always said Brook Valley was the best layout in Greenville” says MacKenzie. “It’s definitely got some of the best rolling terrain we have in Greenville. Brook Valley’s golf course was always a step above the others (in the area) in shot quality and feel, how the golf course was routed. But it needed to be restored. McConnell Golf came just in time.”

Watch History Unfold

Don’t leave it to your imagination, catch a smile and wave from Sam Snead and Ben Hogan via YouTube.com/McConnellGolf.

Read More

Holston Hills Country Club golf shop manager Tom “Tee-time” Seymour recounts a memorable Masters

One of my bucket list items was to be at a Sunday round in Augusta. I didn’t know I was going until the Tuesday before the Masters - tickets fell into my hands. Our head golf pro, Chris Dibble, encouraged me and assistant golf pro Jordan Fairbank to go. We stayed about two hours away the night before and drove in on Sunday morning. I didn’t sleep at all the night before, not a wink. I was so excited. I’m 55 years old and I’ve played golf since I was five. It’s always been my passion. I grew up watching Jack Nicklaus and Lee Trevino and Arnold Palmer at Augusta.

On Sunday, we had been following the crowds all day; but right as Jason Day teed off, I decided to go over to hole 16. I got there five minutes before Shane Lowry knocked his hole-in-one in. He hit it exactly where you need to hit it on Sunday in Augusta.

At the time, there were probably only 300-400 people around the hole. It wasn’t super crowded. Of course, by the time Louis Oosthuizen came later, people were going insane. But first Davis Love came up. When he hit his hole-in-one, he hit it behind the hole. Everybody thought it was going to be 10-15 feet away, but the ball stopped for a second and made a U-turn by the water.

Nothing can compare to Louis Oosthuizen hitting his ball off of J.B. Holmes. I almost missed the holein- one because after Oosthuizen hit Holmes, I looked over at Jordan to get his reaction. He screamed at me to look back at Oosthuizen and I saw the last six inches of the ball go into the hole. The crowd was going absolutely crazy.

All I wanted was to hear that roar of a crowd on a Sunday at the Masters, and I got to hear it three times. It was incredible.

What are the odds on this? They’ve got to be in the billions and trillions that there are three hole-in-ones, on the same hole, and I get to see them all because I’m at the Masters on a Sunday. It was almost a religious experience.

The next day at work in Knoxville, it was all Jordan and I could talk about. I’ve probably told the story to every member at the club. I’ve been there 17 years now, and the people at Holston Hills have become my family: It felt like coming home to tell all my brothers and sisters what had happened.

The only thing that would be better than this is if I actually get to play the course one day, which I know is never going to happen.

Although, I never thought I’d get to be at a Sunday round, either — never say never in golf. But I don’t think it’s going to happen. I will definitely try to get down to Augusta again. If I don’t, it’s all good. I just wanted to be there one time for that final round. It was amazing.”

Read More

In the first episode of McConnell Golf's "Tips from the Pros" video series, Director of Golf Kevin Reardon and Head Golf Pro Justin Mathers of Providence Country Club explain how to diagnose one of the most common mistakes they routinely see golfers make - not connecting properly with the ball. Watch below as they demonstrate three types of impact and how you can ensure the best possible connection with each and every swing.

Providence Country Club of Charlotte, North Carolina, is the newest of twelve properties owned by McConnell Golf. Reardon joined in 2016 and looks forward to working with the thriving member community as he considers new golf programming in addition to building from the existing club culture of competitive family fun.  

Read More

A peek at the action from the director of tennis

Kyle Thortsen played his first tennis match in middle school and nev­er looked back. He played through high school, earned a scholarship to college, and then became a tennis pro. His life is on the court and his passion is get­ting others out there with him. Here, Thortsen discusses his favorite topic with McConnell Golf The Magazine.

Tell me about you. What’s your tennis background?

I’m from Charlotte, North Carolina — born and raised. I started playing tennis when I was in middle school. I played all four years of high school and got a scholarship to Catawba College in Salisbury, North Carolina.

After school, I went back to Charlotte and worked in the tennis industry. In the spring of 2011, I got the opportu­nity to go to Durham, North Carolina to join McConnell Golf at Treyburn as the assistant pro. I helped the current staff build that program and regrow it. In March 2015 I moved to Wakefield Plantation, and now I’m the director of tennis for the entire company.

What characterizes McConnell tennis programs?

In the past, all of the clubs have oper­ated with their own fingerprint. One of the great things about McConnell Golf is that we have these other properties that our members can go to and enjoy. On the tennis side, we haven’t done a very good job of promoting that. As we go into the future, our goal is to show off how great the company is and how great our properties are by taking groups to other clubs and traveling around. We don’t want clubs to stop operating as their own entities, but we do want to help each other out. We want to show members how much they have at their fingertips. You just have to travel a little bit, which can be a lot of fun.

What sorts of trips do you have planned?

This year, we have two ladies’ week­ends. [One weekend trip happened in late April to The Country Club of Asheville.] In October a group will go to Old North State for a little tennis boot-camp. We’ll rent out the lodges for the ladies to stay in for the weekend, and we’ve also lined up a college tennis match as an added entertainment feature. Those weekends are a way to experience something different from just an everyday tennis program.

We’re also going to take a group trip to the Winston-Salem Open in August. We had the first McConnell Day at the tournament last year and it was a lot of fun. We had about 25 members gather in Winston-Salem, North Carolina — we tailgated in the parking lot and then watched the matches all day. I can’t wait for that this year.

Are there any other standout programs you’re excited about?

We’re hosting tournaments at our facilities all year. They’ll be city tournaments, where both members and non-members can qualify. It’s a great way to show off how fantastic McConnell Golf clubs are. Tournaments provide a competitive atmosphere for a weekend, which is a fun and different format for our members to take part in, whether they’re playing or watching. All of our clubs will host several tourna­ments this year.

Where do the junior players fit into all of this?

Junior golfers have a McConnell Golf scholarship opportunity, and we’re introducing that on the tennis side, as well. This is an awesome opportunity for our younger players. We’re going to start with Wakefield Plantation, The Country Club of Asheville, Sedgefield Country Club, and Providence Country Club. Ask your club’s tennis pro for the details.

What keeps you going and inspired when managing tennis programs at a dozen different clubs?

The access our members have to go to these other clubs any time they want is so unique. That ability to use other facilities allows them to pursue their passion for the sport in different set­tings and meet great people across the clubs. That’s a community that I’m very excited to help foster.

Instruction Insight: A tip from Kyle about doubles play

“For the average club doubles player, constancy and placement are the keys to success. Many players become impatient while playing and compensate by using power to end a point. Instead, stay calm. The baseline player should look to keep the ball cross-court — aim to have the ball travel four feet above the net. This will result in a deep shot that will back your opponent off the court and allow your partner to move to the center for an easy put-away volley.”

Read More

The legendary Donald Ross designed four beloved McConnell Golf courses, and each one is easily accessed from Interstate 40. Since Interstate 40 is often called “I-40” in conversation, we like to call this trail of courses the “DR-40.” Here’s a look.

At exactly 400 Donald Ross Drive, just outside of downtown Raleigh, DR-40 begins at Raleigh Country Club. Established in 1948, the club boasts the last course designed by Ross. This walker-friendly property ranks among the best in North Carolina, and is just the beginning of an impressive and historical journey.

90 miles west in Greensboro, North Carolina, the most challenging Ross designed course along DR-40 is Sedgefield Country Club. A true work of art with fast championship Bermuda greens, the course is a test for expert golfers but still fun for beginners. Built in 1926, Sedgefield hosts the annual Wyndham Championship — currently the only Ross-designed course played regularly on the PGA Tour. If you want to play where golf’s greatest, including Sam Snead, Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, and most recently Tiger Woods, have played then Sedgefield is a must-stop on DR-40.

An easy drive from Greensboro, the next stop along DR-40 is in the Blue Ridge Mountains at The Country Club of Asheville. Considered the oldest private club in North Carolina, The Country Club of Asheville was founded in 1894 and is McConnell Golf’s only mountain course. Recognized as one of “The First 100 Clubs in America,” this track is the shortest course along DR-40 at 6,673 yards. However, it is definitely the most elevated, offering incredible views of the surrounding mountains. No doubt the best view is on hole 15. After you continuously hit uphill onto the green, you’ll feel compelled to pause and enjoy the vista as you overlook downtown Asheville. Besides appreciating the gorgeous scenery, you’ll enjoy the abundant wildlife: turkeys, deer, and even black bears, that the golfers here have said are friendly.

After a scenic drive through the mountains, the last stop on DR-40 is at Holston Hills Country Club in Knoxville, Tennessee. This gem of a course has been well-preserved since Ross created it in 1927. Every tee and green at Holston Hills is still located exactly where it was originally built, allowing golfers a pure experience to play the course as it was intended. Holston Hill’s Country Club is consistently ranked in the top 50 of Golf Week’s “Top 100 Classic Courses in the United States.” Bordered by the Holston River with the Great Smoky Mountains as a backdrop, the rustically bucolic property has a Scottish feel with tall natural rough and a classic clubhouse.

What the DR-40 courses have in common are small undulating greens and rolling fairways, but each course is unique. The only way to know for sure is to see for yourself; the entire drive takes five-and-a-half-hours, and the trip makes for a perfect golf vacation. Plan your trip along the DR-40 today, and let us know how we can help.

Sample the Region's Best

McConnell Golf extends a warm welcome to those traveling to the Southeast from overseas or across the country. In bringing our members the best in golf, dining, sport amenities and on-site lodging our "pure golf" philosophy has forged a trail linking thirteen tracks from Myrtle Beach to Knoxville. Previously only available to our members and their guests, the golf experience is now extended in part to travelers whom reside a minimum of 100 miles from any club location and wish to link a minimum of three properties to create their trail. Learn more about the McConnell Golf Trail.

Read More