News & Notes
2006 Top 100 Golf Range in America Winner
GOLF RANGE MAGAZINE ANNOUNCES ANNUAL TOP 100 GOLF RANGES IN AMERICA FOR 2006
Georgetown January 3, 2007, Conn.- Golf Range Magazine, the trade publication of the Golf Range Association of America (GRAA) has announced its annual listing of the Top 100 Golf Ranges in America for 2006.
Golf Range Magazine, celebrating its 15th year of publishing, Is distributed to 12,000 owners, operators, general managers and teaching pros of GOLF RANGES (e.g., golf learning centers, academies, indoor and domes) as well as SHORT COURSES (Executives, 9-hole, and Par-3).
"We are proud to announce this year's group of golf facilities that have distinguished themselves with a commitment to teaching and training, excellence in operations and solid community outreach programs," said Steve di Costanzo, founder of Golf Range Magazine. "These facilities and their owner/operators play an important role in grass roots golf development, retail golf club and equipment sales and offering family recreational programs."
This year's Top 100 list and additional information are available in the November/December issue of Golf Range Magazine and on the GRAA's website at
www.GolfRange.org with a 16-page PDF file. Awards will be presented at the 14th Annual GRAA Golf Range & Short Course Conference & Reception to be held on January 24, 2007 at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, FL.
GOLF RANGE MAGAZINE TOP 100 Golf Ranges in America 2006
SOUTHEAST
Ace Golf at Riverview, Riverview, Florida
Arundel Golf Park, Glen Burnie, Maryland
Chattanooga Golf Center, Chattanooga, Tennessee
D.A.'s Spring Creek Golf, Plano, Texas
Different Strokes Golf, Louisville, Kentucky
The Downs Golf Practice Facility, Tampa, Florida
Dulles Golf Center & Sports Park, Dulles, Virginia
East Potomac Golf Course, Washington, D.C.
Fairways and Greens, Knoxville, Tennessee
Games People Play, Beaumont, Texas
Golden Bear Golf Center at the Highlands, Carrollton, Texas
Golf & Games Family Park, Memphis, Tennessee
Golfsmith Golf Center, Austin, Texas
Hackers Golf Park, Statesboro, Georgia
Hank Haney Golf Ranch at Vista Ridge, Lewisville, Texas
The Highlands Golf Park, Ruckersville, Virginia
The Hooch Golf Club, Duluth, Georgia
Jim McLean Golf Center at Waterchase, Arlington, Texas
Knights Play Golf Center, Apex, North Carolina
Leatherman Golf Learning Center, Charlotte, North Carolina
Leonard Golf Links, Fort Worth, Texas
Man 'O' War Golf, Lexington, Kentucky
Mid-Atlantic Golf Center, Silver Springs, Maryland
Night Hawk Golf Center, Gambrills, Maryland
Olney Golf Park, Olney, Maryland
Orange County National, Winter Garden, Florida
PGA Golf Learning Center, Port St. Lucie, Florida
Swaders Sports Park, Prince George, Virginia
TopGolf Kingstowne, Alexandria, Virginia
Tupelo Bay Golf Center, Garden City, South Carolina
NORTHEAST
Branchburg Family Golf Center, Branchburg, New Jersey
Bumble Bee Hollow, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
Cool Springs Golf Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Fairview Golf Center, Elmsford, New York
The Golf Club At Chelsea Piers, New York, New York
The Golf Zone, Flanders, New Jersey
Golf Quest, Brookfield, Connecticut
Harmon Golf & Fitness Club, Rockland, Massachusetts
Kimball Farm, Westford, Massachusetts
Lancaster Golf Center, Lancaster, Massachusetts
Mad Golfer Golf Club, Southampton, Pennsylvania
McGolf, Dedham, Massachusetts
Mulligan's Island, Cranston, Rhode Island
Sagamore Golf, North Hampton, New Hampshire
Scally's Golf Center, Moon Township, Pennsylvania
Sittler Golf Center, Kutztown, Pennsylvania
SportsCenter of Connecticut, Shelton, Connecticut
Spring Rock Golf Center, New Hyde Park, New York
Stony Hill Golf, Bethel, Connecticut
Sun 'N' Air Driving Range, Danvers, Massachusetts
Two T's Golf, Easton, Pennsylvania
Whirlaway Golf Center, Methuen, Massachusetts
Willowbrook Golf Center, Wayne, New Jersey
Woods Golf Center, Norristown, Pennsylvania
MIDWEST
Ables Golf on Avery, Dublin, Ohio
Allseasons Golf Learning Center, Normal, Illinois
Begin Oaks Golf, Plymouth, Minnesota
Bob Burns Golf Learning Center, Appleton, Wisconsin
Cog Hill Learning Center, Lemont, Illinois
Fairfield Golf Center, Fairfield, Ohio
Family Golf Learning Centre, Oakville, Ontario, Canada
Family Golf Park, Kansas City, Missouri
Golf Center Des Plaines, Des Plaines, Illinois
Golf Center at Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan
Golf Headquarters Family Golfplex, St. Charles, Missouri
Launch Golf Centre, Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada
Maumee Sportsmall, Maumee, Ohio
Meadow Links and Golf Academy, Cincinnati, Ohio
Miles of Golf, Ypsilanti, Michigan
Otte Golf Center, Indianapolis, Indiana
Perche Creek Golf Club, Columbia, Missouri
Robin Nigro Golf Center, Kansas City, Missouri
Smiley's Golf Complex, Lenexa, Kansas
Skokie Sports Park, Skokie, Illinois
Tower Tee Golf Center, St. Louis, Missouri
Vitense Golfland, Madison, Wisconsin
Westerville Golf Center, Westerville, Ohio
Zigfield Troy Golf , Woodridge, Illinois
West
Callaway Golf Center, Las Vegas, Nevada
Carlsbad Golf Center, Carlsbad, California
Columbia Super Range, Everett, Washington
CrackerJax Sports Park, Scottsdale, Arizona
Dominguez GC, Carson, California
Eaglequest Golf Center at Coquitlam, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Golf in the Round, Salt Lake City, Utah
Haggin Oaks Golf Complex, Sacramento, California
Hilton Bay Aqua Range, Reno, Nevada
The Hodges Golf Center, Escondido, California
Interbay Golf Center, Seattle, Washington
John Wells Golf Center, North Hollywood, California
Mariners Point Golf Links, Foster City, California
McInnis Park Golf Center, San Rafael, California
Pin High Golf Center, Alviso, California
RCGA Golf Centre at Four Seasons, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
RedTail Golf Center, Beaverton, Oregon
River Park Golf Center, Fresno, California
Southcenter Golf Center, Tukwila, Washington
Stadium Golf Center, San Diego, California
Tom Barber Golf Center, Moor Park, California
Tualatin Island Greens, Tualatin, Oregon
Trails End Golf Center, Oregon City, Oregon
Van Buren Golf Center, Riverside, California
Patten Wins True Temper Classic
JACKSON, Tenn. Tuesday, April 25, 2006. Professional Zeb Patten ( Chattanooga ) carded five birdies and one eagle on the final 5 holes to post a second round 66. Combined with his -1 under par first round, he was able to leapfrog the leaders and finish at -7 under par win the True Temper Classic at Jackson Country Club. UTC's All-Southern Conference freshman Jonathan Hodge (Dandridge) shot a 69 both rounds to claim Low Amateur honors. Professional Alan McAfee (Cordova) fired a -3 under par to finish at -5 under par for the tournament. Three others tied McAfee and they included Dan Crockett-a ( Franklin ), Professional Michael Prieur ( Memphis ), and Professional Randy Helton ( Murfreesboro ). Tied for 7 th was local Danny Green-a (Jackson), Bryce Ledford-a (Ooltewah), Professional Bobby O'Brien (Cordova) and Professional Kip Henley (Crossville).
The morning play was questionable after a 30 minute lightning delay but the afternoon proved to be the day's saving grace as the sun came out to shine on great golf at Jackson Country Club.
The 21st annual True Temper Classic featured 106 competitors, 42 TPGA professionals and 64 amateurs from all over the State. The event is rotated annually between Jackson Country Club, Ridgeway Country Club ('07) and Colonial Country Club ('08). The Memphis based True Temper Sports has been a longtime supporter of Tennessee Golf and continues to be the leading golf shaft manufacturing in the industry. The years Classic is also being presenting sponsor is Cleveland Golf.
Patten, Bennett Win Pro-Assistant Championship
LEBANON, Tenn. Monday, April 03, 2006. Zeb Patten and Mike Bennett from The Chattanooga Golf Center won the Cleveland Golf Tennessee PGA Pro-Assistant Championship by two strokes with a low round of 66 at Five Oaks Golf and Country Club on Monday. Patten and Bennett took home $1,000 each.
Tied for second place with a score of -4 under par 68 were Chris Cauthen/Shane Meredith (Richland CC), Todd Jenkins/Anthony McElroy (Old Hickory CC), Paul O'Brien/Bobby O'Brien and Paul O'Brien/Sam Kern (Ridgeway CC).
Rob Riddle and Joey Westmoreland of Black Creek Club finished in sixth after teaming for a 69.
The 6900-yard par 72 layout at Five Oaks proved to be a difficult test under very windy conditions.
Tennessee Section PGA honors, Patten, Burdette
Burns, Tenn. Tuesday, March 28, 2006. The Tennessee Section PGA announced their 2005 Section Award winners at the Club Car Awards Luncheon held today at the Montgomery Bell Resort Inn. Ten Section members, including Zeb Patten and Keith Burdette of the Chattanooga chapter, were honored for excelling in their fields of expertise while demonstrating a strong dedication and commitment to the game of golf throughout the year. The awards luncehon was held in conjunction with the Section's 39th Annual Spring Education Seminar, a two-day event attended by over 100 of the state's club professionals.
2005 Tennessee Section Award Winners: (Based upon the member's performance in the year 2005.)
Jim Blackmore of The Virginian Golf Club, Bristol, Va., was bestowed the highest honor, being named Golf Professional of the Year. He was recognized for service to his club, community and Section during his career as a PGA Golf Professional. Blackmore presently serves the Section as Vice President and is the Junior Committee Chairman. He has also served on numerous other TPGA Committees and is a Tennessee Golf Foundation Board member. He is a previous Merchandiser of the Year (Private) and Junior Golf Leader Section Award winner as well.
Tim Corrigan, Golf Image Consulting is the winner of the Horton Smith Trophy, recognizing his dedication in the area of education. He has been Chapter Education Chair for the past four years and has continued to upgrade the quality, consistency and regularity of education activities. Corrigan has presented seminars to a number of Sections and also serves on the PGA Education Committee on certification.
David Gardner of Ridgefields Country Club was awarded the Bill Strausbaugh Award, recognizing his significant contributions to mentoring fellow PGA professionals. Gardner takes a personal interest in mentoring and assisting fellow professionals and is a previous Section Junior Golf Leader and Merchandiser of the Year award winner. He is also the Co-Founder/Director of the McDonald's Tournament of Champions, a prestigious high school event.
Des Mahoney of Centennial Learning Center, Oak Ridge, received the Teacher of the Year honor recognizing him as the top teacher in the Section. He has been very active in the promotion of golf to both adults and juniors and was named a Top Teacher in the Southeast by Golf Magazine in 2001, 2003, and 2005. Additionally, Golf Digest named him one of the Top Teachers in Tennessee in 2001, 2003 and 2005. He has also presented teaching seminars on the Chapter and Section level.
Drew Cot of Windyke Country Club was chosen the Junior Golf Leader for his contributions to junior golf programs in the Section, Chapter and local community. Cote is involved in his club's Junior Group Learning Program that provided instruction to over 400 youngsters. ages 6-17 in 2005. He has mentored and instructed several top juniors who have gone on to win junior, college and state amateur championships.
Three Members received Merchandiser of the Year honors in separate categories. This award recognizes superior skills as merchandisers in the promotion of golf and excellence in golf shop operations. Criteria include number of rounds played versus gross merchandise sales, and merchandising philosophy.
- Resort - Travis Muncy, of Woodlake Golf Club, Tazewell - Muncy's 1200 sq. ft. golf shop saw gross merchandise sales in excess of $191,000 in 2005 and he has been a Chapter Merchandiser of the Year for the past 4 years.
- Private - Greg Hynes, Windyke Country Club, Memphis - Windyke's 2000 sq. ft. golf shop saw over $1 million in gross merchandise sales for 2005 and Hynes is a 2001and 2003 West Tennessee Chapter Merchandiser of the Year. r).
- Public - Zeb Patten of Chattanooga Golf Center, Chattanooga - Patten utilizes 750 sq. ft. of shop space and generated over $240,000 in gross merchandise sales for 2005. Patten is the 2003 Chattanooga Chapter Merchandise of the Year.
Mike Eller, of Hermitage Golf Course, Old Hickory, was given the Richard Eller Growth of the Game Award for his outstanding and continuing contributions to growing the game of golf. Eller is chairman of the Section's Growth of the Game Committee and the Section's representative for the Golf 20/20 initiative. He has presented many seminars on the Chapter, Section and National level and is a past Section Horton Smith Trophy winner and Golf Professional of the Year honoree. His course actively participants in Link Up 2 Golf, "Take Your Daughter to the Course Week" and "Women's Golf Week" programs.
Keith Burdette, Bear Trace at Harrison Bay, Chattanooga, was awarded the new Section Assistant Golf Professional of the Year Award for his overall performance, service to the Chapter and Section and leadership abilities. Burdette is responsible for all merchandising at the club and is involved in keeping his fellow professionals informed of Chapter activities. He has served as President of the Assistant's Association for two years and has assisted several Section apprentices in completing their course work.
