Playing Golf in the Triad: Recent Episodes
John Brasier
Macy, who set a national record in 2021 with a 57 in a high school tournament at Bermuda Run West, is graduating from Reagan High a year early to begin her college career at Wake Forest. Ranked No. 15 in the international AJGA rankings, Macy has an NIL deal with a shot book producer.
John talks to Carolinas Golf Association Executive Jack Nance about the recent Masters, various hot golf topics, and the benefits of joining the CGA, including a USGA handicap and eligibility to play in the organization's 350 annual events for players of all levels at many of the Carolinas' top golf destinations.
High Point Country Club golf professional Jim Brotherton provides details about this year's Triad Amateur Classic, scheduled July 23-24 at the club's Willow Course. For less than $200, participants receive two tournament rounds, two meals, prizes and the chance to earn regional bragging rights. A Friday practice round is only $30 more. Jim's son, Curtis, will be in the field defend his 2021 triumph.
Guest - Macy Pate. The Winston Salem golfer who earned international fame by shooting 57 in a high school tournament last year, talks about her recent commitment to play at Wake Forest and how she will approach her final two years of junior eligibility. Pate said getting the opportunity to play college golf in her hometown, close to family and her instructors was like a dream come true.
CGA Executive Director Jack Nance and Greensboro CC director of golf Tyler Gosselin. Jack discusses several topics ranging from his non-PGA Tour approved view on the LIV Tour, the upcoming N.C. Amateur at Greensboro CC and an exciting U.S. Women's Open at Pine Needles. Tyler shares info about the upcoming N.C. Amateur at GCC's Farm Course.
Guest -- Golf architect Kris Spence of Greensboro shares information about his renovation of Woodlake Country Club's Ellis Maples design, which had been closed for several years, but will reopen this fall at the Pinehurst-area development. Spence also describes his new Quixote Club design, part of a national destination retreat in Sumter, S.C. Plus, news about some local golfers and the upcoming U.S. Women's Open at Pine Needles Resort in Southern Pines and the AGJA Wyndham Invitational at Sedgefield CC.
Guest: Triad Golf Today publisher Jay Allred joins the show after a big week that included former Wake Forest standouts Davis Womble and Chad Wilfong winning the U.S Amateur Four Ball, Wake Forest winning the NCAA New Haven Regional, and the sale of Meadowlands and Oak Valley golf courses. Plus, Wake Forest product Will Zalatoris shot up the leaderboard early at the PGA Championship and only two weeks remain before the U.S. Women's Open begins at Pine Needles Resort with Annika Sorenstam returning to competition.
Guest: Mark Brazil. The CEO of the Wyndham Championship discusses several topics of interest on the PGA Tour, including the rise of Scottie Scheffler, the controversy surrounding the LIV Tour and hospitality sales for the upcoming Wyndham tournament. I'll also talk about Annika Sorenstam's visit to Pine Needles to preview the U.S. Women's Open.
Guest -- Phil Werz of the Pinehurst area CVB talks about the golf boom in the Sandhills as Pine Needles prepares to play host to the U.S. Women's Open in early June. Phil discusses construction of Pinehurst's USGA headquarters and gives advice on getting Women's Open tickets, hotel accommodations and the dining options in the area. Find out about the unique tee time set -- No. 10 won't kickoff the back nine -- for the Women's Open and the latest rumors about a possible Pinehurst No. 10 layout with other amenities.
Guests: Al Blondin, golf reporter with the Myrtle Beach Sun News and Carolinas Golf Association Mid-Amateur champion Davis Womble of Winston-Salem. Al gives us the latest on the spring season on the Grand Strand, and Davis shares the details of his Mid-Amateur playoff victory over former Wake Forest teammate Cyrus Stewart last weekend at Starmount Forest CC.
Guest: Wake Forest golfer Rachel Kuehn tells about her experience playing in the previous weekend's Augusta National Women's Amateur and finishing seventh in the star-filled field. The 2020 North-South Amateur champion and a veteran of U.S. Arnold Palmer Cup and Curtis Cup teams, the Asheville native is one of the world's top amateurs. I also share some highlights from this week's conversation with 2014 U.S. Mid-Amateur champion Scott Harvey of Greensboro, who played in the 2015 Masters. Rachel and Scott both provide long-shot picks for this weekend's Masters.
Guest: Savio Nazareth, club professional at Starmount Forest CC. Savio discusses the upcoming Carolinas Golf Association Mid-Amateur and this summer's Carolinas PGA Carolinas Open, both to be played at Starmount Forest. We also provide some local college golf news, including the NC A&T Aggie Invitational at Bryan Park and the Wake Forest men's and women's teams, which finished third in team events.
Guest -- Ellen Lavoie of the First Tee Central Carolina, which includes the Triad, discusses this week's start of the First Tee's spring program and methods for introducing juniors to golf, from swing basics to etiquette. The wrap up includes news about a few of the Triad's top junior players and a new GM at an area country club.
Guest -- Jimmy Biggs. The pro at Pine Lakes Country Club in Myrtle Beach describes the restoration changes this year, including the bigger greens with a new strain of Bermuda grass and a few other tweaks. The clubhouse at Pine Lakes is the grandest on the Grand Strand. The course is pretty darn good, too. My favorite is the par-3 11th, where a bowl of hot chowder is waiting during cold weather.
Guest -- Jimmy Biggs. The pro at Pine Lakes Country Club in Myrtle Beach describes the restoration changes this year, including the bigger greens with a new strain of Bermuda grass and a few other tweaks. The clubhouse at Pine Lakes is the grandest on the Grand Strand. The course is pretty darn good, too. My favorite is the par-3 11th, where a bowl of hot chowder is waiting during cold weather.
Guest -- Matt McQueary of Big Cedar Lodge talks about the five spectacular layouts at the Branson, Missouri, resort, including Payne's Valley, a Tiger Woods design named in honor of Payne Stewart, who grew up near the resort. Developed on beautiful rolling hills overlooking Table Rock Lake by Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris, Big Cedar features 18-hole courses, Buffalo Ridge, designed by Tom Fazio; Ozarks National, designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw; and Payne's Valley, Woods' first U.S. course open to the public. Big Cedar also offers the par-3 nine-hole Top of the Rock designed by Jack Nicklaus and Mountain Top, a 13-hole par-3 walking course designed by Gary Player. Big Cedar has it all -- top-flight golf, great restaurants, a wide variety of accommodations and incredible surroundings and vistas.
Guest: Alan Blondin of The Sun News. The Myrtle Beach golf writer tells us about two course closings on the horizon on the Grand Strand and two courses making changes. Plus, he gives his insight on the phenomenon that is Coastal Carolina football before Coastal's game Wednesday night at App State.
Guest: Triad Golf Today publisher/Reagan High girls' golf coach Jay Allred talks about the 14-under-par 57 that star freshman Macy Pate shot Tuesday at Bermuda Run's West Course that set a national high school record and garnered media attention from several major outlets while teammates Morgan Ketchum shot 64 and Anna Howerton fired 69. We also ask Jay whether high school girls' setups are too easy for the top players.
Guests: Ross Resorts president Kelly Miller and First Responders of the Triad Pro-Am champion John Faidley. Miller talks about the renovated and reopened Southern Pines Golf Club, which is now part of the same family of properties as Mid-Pines and Pine Needles. Kyle Franz used Donald Ross' original design in updating the greens while adding about 600 yards to the back tees at Southern Pines, formerly owned by the Elks Club. Miller also tells about changes in the fairways at Pine Needles in preparation for the 2022 Women's U.S. Open. Faidley, longtime pro at Forsyth CC now at The Club at Longview in south Charlotte, shot 66 Monday at Greensboro National to win the First Responders tournament.
Guest: Justin Malone. The Greensboro National golf pro talks about the upcoming First Responders of the Triad Pro-Am at Greensboro National as well as reveals what he's been told about a cabin above the 7th tee that is widely rumored to have been a hideaway for JFK and Marilyn Monroe.
Guest: Gary Schaal. From Whistling Straits, site of this weekend's Ryder Cup Matches, the past president of the PGA of America, who was vice president of the PGA during the 1991 Ryder Cup at Kiawah Island, talks about this year's Ryder Cup, the PGA Associate Program and his days partnering with John Daly on a Myrtle Beach golf course project.
Guests: Triad golfers Amber Marsh Elliott and Jessica Younts. Amber talks about her experiences earlier in the week at the U.S. Women's Senior Amateur in Alabama, which included a nice bounce-back second round. Jessica talks about the upcoming U.S. Mid-Amateur at Berkeley Hall near Hilton Head Island. Jessica overcame an 8 in the qualifying round at Pinewood CC in Asheboro to make the field.
Guest: Phil Werz, president and CEO of the Pinehurst/Southern Pines/Aberdeen CVB, tells us about what's new in the Pinehurst area, including Ross Resorts' reopening of Southern Pines Golf Club, the 2022 Women's U.S. Open at Pine Needles, the coming USGA presence at Pinehurst, and the boom of golf in the past few years.
Guest -- Tommy Gibson. The Old Town Club assistant pro recounts how he wrapped up the Carolinas PGA Player of the Year by winning the Carolinas Open two weeks ago at Bryan Park. He also talks about his opportunity as POY to play a PGA Tour event next year, either the Heritage Classic at Hilton Head Island or the Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, and his decision to live in Mt. Airy for the foreseeable future rather than chase a playing career.
Dan Walters. The former Wake Forest assistant coach, who recruited several top players including Will Zalatoris, qualified for the U.S. Mid-Amateur by shooting 67 earlier this week at Carlisle CC in Pennsylvania. Walters talks about playing in USGA events, his past life on the mini tours, and the challenges facing college golf from the new NIL revenues allowed to players. Now a sales manager with a national company, Walters still lives in Winston-Salem and plays at Old Town.
Guest: John McConnell of McConnell Golf, owner of Sedgefield Country Club and 14 other high-profile golf clubs in the Carolinas, Tennessee and Virginia, talks about last weekend's exciting Wyndham Championship and the history behind his company's purchase and/or rescue of some of the Southeast's greatest layouts and clubs. Find out how McConnell acquires these courses that are struggling and uses economy of scale to kept make them solvent. McConnell also shares where he's looking for more courses to add to his collection.
Guest: Mike Whitenack of the Carolinas PGA talks the Carolinas Open coming to Bryan Park Golf Course next week. We also discuss the Carolinas PGA Section Player of the Year Award, which will be on the line for Old Town pro Tommy Gibson. Plus, John previews the Wyndham Championship with Andy Warfield with all the latest news about the annual PGA Tour event at Sedgefield Country Club.
Guest: High Point native and former Wake Forest standout Davis Womble talks about winning the CGA N.C. Amateur Match Play at Forsyth CC and tells his story about beat Bryson DeChambeau in a college match at Pinehurst No. 2. Plus, an update on the Wyndham Championship.
Guests: Curtis Brotherton and Mark Brazil. Curtis talks about his come-from-behind victory in the Triad Amateur at High Point CC, where his father is the longtime director of golf. Brazil, tournament director of the Wyndham Championship, previews the upcoming PGA Tour event.
Guest: Mallory Fobes. The UNC Wilmington golfer and former Forbush High standout talks about her recent victory in the Women's North Carolina Amateur Championship at Bermuda Run CC.
Guests: Brian Alley and Dave Droschak. Alley, the director of golf at Primland Resort, talks about the spectacular Highland Course at Primland, a destination mountain course open to the public. Droschak, editor of Triad Golf Today, discusses the upcoming Wyndham Championship at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro.
Guests: Jim Brotherton and Jimmy Flippen. Brotherton, the director of golf at High Point CC, talks about the upcoming Triad Amateur Championship at High Point's Willow Creek Course. Flippen, golf pro at Greensboro National GC talks about the upcoming First Responders of the Triad Pro-Am at Greensboro National and his career as a top playing club professional.
Guests: Macy Pate, Scott Tomasello. Macy talks about a terrific month that included winning the Class AAAA medalist honors for Reagan High and winning the CGA NC Girls Junior and the CGA Twin States. Scott talks about the PlayGolfMyrtleBeach.com World Amateur Handicap Championship and shares a code for $50 off for show listeners.
Guests: Kevin Logan and Jay Allred. Logan talks about his victory in the Forsyth Senior Amateur and his background as a former golfer on high school team coached by UNC basketball coach Roy Williams. Allred discusses a busy month for some of his stars at Reagan High.
Guest: Mike Whitenack. Whitenack, assistant executive director of the Carolinas PGA talks about the upcoming CPGA Junior Championships held in the Triad and his organization's role in the development of golf in the Carolinas.
Guest -- Mark Brazil, tournament director of the PGA Tour's Wyndham Championship talks about the tournament returning to business as usual before the pandemic, and the connections he's made with future PGA Tour pros he has made from the upcoming AJGA Wyndham Invitational junior tournament at Sedgefield.
Guests -- Tom McAuliffe of Sugar Mountain talks about public-access courses in the Boone-Linville area. Casey Cline of Rick Murphy Golf Academy, provides pre-round tips for golfers of all skill levels.
Guest -- Jack Nance, executive director of the Carolinas Golf Association, talks about playing in CGA events. Wake Forest men's coach Jerry Haas talks about Will Zalatoris and his second-place finish at the Masters.
Guests -- Pinehurst Resort President Tom Pashley talks about golf at Pinehurst, the USGA's new on-site facilities, and future U.S. Open's on the No. 2 course. Mike Barber talks about the success of the First Tee.
Guests: Tommy Gibson, assistant golf professional at Old Town Club, talks about his highlights from playing in the PGA Tour's Heritage Classic. Jay Allred, golf coach at Reagan High, talks about the Reagan girls' winning the recent Class 4A state championship.
Guests -- Triad resident and former U.S. Amateur champion Scott Harvey talks about his trip to the U.S. Four-Ball. Two-time state amateur champion Patty Moore, tournament director for the state am, talks about this year's tournament at Bermuda Run.
Guest -- Tommy Braswell, longtime golf writer at the Charleston Post-Courier with Triad ties, talks about the upcoming PGA Championship at Kiawah Island's Ocean Course and where to play in the Charleston area.