McConnell Golf Adds Mountain Course with Acquisition of The Country Club of Asheville (NC)

With its acquisition of, first Brook Valley Country Club in Greenville and now The Country Club of Asheville, McConnell Golf has the Carolinas well covered

(RALEIGH, N.C.) — In October, Raleigh-based McConnell Golf added a ninth club to its membership value with the purchase of Brook Valley Country Club in Greenville, N.C.

Now, McConnell Golf has announced it will be acquiring its long awaited “mountain course” by the end of the year, after the members of The Country Club of Asheville (CCA) recently voted to join the McConnell Golf organization.

Once CCA joins the organization, McConnell Golf will own ten 18-hole, private golf courses plus one nine-hole course around the Carolinas. McConnell Golf is the largest owner of private clubs in the Carolinas.

“We hope our members can enjoy all our clubs as they travel throughout the Carolinas for business or pleasure,” said John McConnell, founder and president of McConnell Golf. “These are quality venues that will only get better. With the zero cost that members enjoy playing these other courses in our network, this is the best value of any competitive offering.”

McConnell founded the company in 2003 with the acquisition of Raleigh Country Club. McConnell Golf’s stable of premier private clubs in North and South Carolina includes Sedgefield Country Club Ross Course and Dye Course in Greensboro, N.C., TPC at Wakefield Plantation in Raleigh, N.C., Old North State Club in New London, N.C., Treyburn Country Club in Durham, N.C., The Reserve Golf Club in Pawleys Island, S.C., and Musgrove Mill Golf Club in Clinton S.C.

McConnell Golf also manages the prestigious Grande Dunes Members Course and Ocean Club in Myrtle Beach for LStar Development.

The Country Club of Asheville is the oldest private club in North Carolina, its origin dating back to 1894. The club features a Donald Ross-designed golf course, and is located seven minutes from The Omni Grove Park Inn. The golf course at the Grove Park was at one time owned by CCA, which moved to its current location in 1976 when it purchased its present course.

“Many of our members vacation and attend conferences each year at The Grove Park Inn,” said McConnell. “The Country Club of Asheville acquisition gives us three Donald Ross courses, which is the same number of layouts he designed at the Pinehurst Resort.

“We will be making substantial improvements to the clubhouse and golf course over the next two years to make this a special venue in a beautiful setting and wonderful city.”

Meanwhile on the eastern edge of North Carolina, Brook Valley CC in Greenville opened in 1966 with an Ellis Maples-designed golf course. Maples was Raleigh Country Club’s first head golf professional when the club opened in 1948 and later focused his career on golf course design after working and learning from the legendary Donald Ross.

McConnell said Brook Valley CC would remain closed until March 1, 2015, as McConnell Golf makes enhancements to the golf course and clubhouse.

“Again, our vision of purchasing clubs whose golf course was designed by a famous architect has been maintained with this addition,” said McConnell. “We are going to make major investments into Brook Valley CC to upgrade it to a McConnell Golf type facility.”

Feherty Returns with 11-Time PGA TOUR Winner and 2007 Masters Champion Zach Johnson

Tuesday’s Episode is First of Three to Wrap 2014 Season; Subsequent Episodes to feature Doc Rivers and Dan Patrick

(ORLANDO, Fla.) – David Feherty travels to the Georgia coast for an in-depth conversation with PGA TOUR pro Zach Johnson when Feherty returns to Golf Channel Nov. 25, at 10 p.m. ET.

Set among towering palms of St. Simons Island, Johnson sits down with the Emmy Award-nominated Feherty to cover the breadth of Johnson’s career and how the late bloomer has become one of the most unlikely champions on the PGA TOUR. A product of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Johnson played multiple sports growing up and, although fueled by competition, was only able to have a modicum of success in golf – never any better than the No. 2 player on his high school and college teams.

Asked by Feherty if he loves golf, Johnson replied, “I played all these team sports … and I loved them, but they passed me by. The prowess, the speed and everything that goes along with that. So golf kind of picked me.”

He has gone on to win 11 times on the PGA TOUR and capture the 2007 Masters Champion title.

Gorging on Southern barbecue, Feherty and Johnson also discuss his dominate short game, his love of bent grass greens and the Miss Shrimp Festival Queen (his wife, Kim) who captured his heart.

Season 4 of Feherty concludes with Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers on Dec. 2 and Dan Patrick, NBC’s Football Night in America co-host and host of The Dan Patrick Show, on Dec. 9.

Feherty originally debuted in June 2011 as the most-watched original series in Golf Channel history. David Feherty, Emmy nominated this year for Outstanding Sports Personality, has gone one-on-one with celebrities across golf, sports and entertainment, including former President Bill Clinton, basketball Hall-of-Famers Bill Russell and Charles Barkley, actors Don Cheadle and Samuel L. Jackson, and golfers Tom Watson and Greg Norman.

Ontario’s Christopher Ross grabs career wins 8 and 9 on SwingThought.com Tour at Reunion

Charleston Southern alum Thomson and Malone alum Light get 1st Professional Wins at CWS 

(Orlando, Fla.) – Eastern Michigan alum Christopher Ross, out of Ontario Canada, started his week off by capturing the SwingThought.com Tour 18-hole Monday event at Reunion Resort in Orlando for his eighth career win on the No. 3 tour in the United States. That win earned him free entry into the SwingThought.com Tour two day event held Tuesday and Wednesday at Reunion. The $225 Monday entry proved to be a great investment as Ross grabbed career win No. 9 with a seven-shot victory in the two-day event. The wins were the fifth and sixth of this year and the 3rd and 4th of this early Winter Series season.

Ross made national news earlier this year when he won three consecutive events during the second half of the 2013-14 Winter Series, a feat not accomplished since Major winner Zach Johnson won three events in a row during his magical 2001 Player of the Year season on the SwingThought.com Tour (formerly the NGA/Hooters Tour) where he earned the nickname Back to Back to Back Zach. Ross made national news again in October when he made his third Albatross of the year during the SwingThought.com Tour Orange County National event, a feat that led to a special feature by GolfWeek’s Andy Zutz pegging Ross as Mr. Albatross. If Ross continues to stockpile wins like this on the SwingThought.com Tour Winter Series he’s certain to make national news again, real soon. With one more win, Ross would join a very distinguished group of past players with ten or more SwingThought.com Tour wins including the likes of current PGA Tour stars Chad Campbell and Ted Potter Jr., Web.com tour member Jeff Corr, and SwingThought.com Tour legend Dave Schreyer.

Making matters more difficult for Ross, aside from the fact of being the player everyone is gunning for, was he came into the event with a serious neck injury. However he fought his way through the pain to shoot 70-70 for a 140 total and a seven shot victory over his nearest competitor, Jamestown, N.C. native, Travis Stewart. With the cold weather, windy conditions, and a sore neck, Ross knew the key to victory would be finding the center of the club face and solid putting. He accomplished both goals, especially with the putter, as he was rolling it well all week. Ross could concentrate on his ball striking, knowing if he found the putting surface, he had a high probability of making any putt. And make putts he did as he cruised to one of the widest margins of victory on the young season. With the win, Ross moved into fifth on the Winter Series Money List, trailing leader Brian Richey by just over $7,000 in earnings.

The SwingThought.com Tour will be off next week for the Thanksgiving holiday but will return to action Monday December 1st and Tuesday December 2nd through Thursday December 4th at the championship Disney-Magnolia Course, a former PGA TOUR host site. The winner of the Monday 18 hole event will receive free entry into the Tuesday through Thursday event, the third $40,000 guaranteed purse of the SwingThought.com Tour Winter Series season. Players do not have to play in the Monday event to play in the Tuesday through Thursday event and members and nonmembers are both welcome. Winter Series memberships are still available. Sign up now or miss out on a chance to bring home serious cash!

For full results from the SwingThought.com Tour Winter Series two-day Reunion Resort event visit http://www.swingthought.com/finalresults/ws2014041/#.VG4R6jTF-QE

For full results from the SwingThought.com Tour Winter Series 1-day Reunion Resort event please visit http://www.swingthought.com/finalresults/ws2014039/#.VG4SZzTF-QE

(Myrtle Beach, S.C.) – Charleston Southern alum Ross Thomson, out of Daniel Island, S.C., closed with final round 64 to capture the Swingthought.com Carolina winter series event at Brunswick Plantation held November 17 through 19. After an opening round 77, Thomson just wanted to post a solid round to make the cut. And post a solid round he did, shooting three under par 69. Thomson didn’t stop there, keeping the pedal to medal, posting a final round 64 for the win. The big story, even more impressive than the low comeback scoring, was the win came in only Thomson’s 2nd start as a professional. College of Charleston alum and multi-time SwingThought.com Tour winner Paul Brown, out of Hartsville, S.C., finished 2 shots back after a final round 4 under par 68. Brown continues to lead the SwingThought.com Tour Winter Series Money List. Charlotte’s Kevin McLister, who starred at Delaware and is also a multi-time SwingThought.com Tour winner, finished alone in 3rd.

Earlier in the week it was Malone University alum Tyler Light, out Massillon, Ohio, who held off Brown in the one day 18 hole event held on Sunday at Brunswick. Light shot 5 under par 67, one better than Brown’s 68, for the win, his first as a professional. Light, a regular on the 2014 SwingThought.com Tour Pro Series, has been knocking on the door all year. Light has had 16 top 20 finishes this year with 14 inside the top 10 and eleven inside the top 5 finishes. He has finished runner up three times and, in fact, his only finish outside the top 20 was a T33 in the season ending Woodcreek Classic. His stats this year have been nothing short of amazing and he was finally rewarded with his first win.

The Swingthought.com Tour Carolina Winter Series will be back in action November 30th with a one day 18-hole event at Aberdeen Golf Club in Longs, S.C. followed by a two-day 36-hole event at the championship course Dec. 2 and 3.

For full results from the SwingThought.com Tour Carolina Winter Series 3-day Brunswick event visit http://www.swingthought.com/finalresults/cw2014037/#.VG4djTTF-QE

For full results from the SwingThought.com Tour Carolina Winter Series 1-day Brunswick event visit http://www.swingthought.com/finalresults/cw2014035/#.VG4dsTTF-QE

The SwingThought.com Tour is the No. 3 men’s professional golf tour in the US and #1 most recommended developmental tour by golf’s top touring professionals. On average over 40% of every PGA TOUR field and over 60% of every Web.com Tour field have spent time on the SwingThought.com Tour. SwingThought.com Tour alumni have won an amazing 16 Major Championships and include 2012 and 2014 Masters champion Bubba Watson, 2011 PGA Championship winner Keegan Bradley, 2010 PGA TOUR Player of the Year and 2003 US Open Champion Jim Furyk, 2007 Masters Champion Zach Johnson, two-time U.S. Open Champion Lee Janzen, British Open and PGA Champion John Daly, and recent PGA Tour winners such as Robert Streb, Ben Martin, Michael Thompson, Ted Potter Jr, Gary Woodland, Russell Henley, Mark Wilson, George McNeill, Scott Stallings, Scott Piercy and many more.

For more information on the new SwingThought.com Tour or to join, visit swingthought.com or call 800-992-8748.

Sun Mountain Offers Three Models of Top Selling C-130 Cart Bag

(Missoula, Montana) – For 2015, Sun Mountain is expanding its collection of top-selling C-130 golf cart bags to include three different models: a stand bag, a version with a 7-way divided top, and the standard 14-way divided top. All three models are in stores now at $239 for the C-130S stand bag and $229 for the C-130 7-way and 14-way. Call 800-227-9224 or visit www.sunmountain.com to find your nearest retailer.

The C-130S stand bag is for cart-golfers who like to carry their bag to the practice range and enjoy the convenience of the stand. The C-130 7-way has a seven-way divided top for those who don’t care for the individual club dividers. And, the C-130 14-way is the traditional version of the C-130 for golfers who prefer the individual, club-divided top.

All versions of the C-130 are designed to work optimally on a riding cart. Features in common across all C-130 models include the reverse-orientation top and the three utility handles integrated into the top that offer multiple hand-holds for picking the bag up. Each model also has a cart-strap tunnel which allows the cart strap to pass through the bag and not block access to any of the bag’s pockets or crush any of the pockets’ contents.

One of the hallmarks of the C-130 is pocket space. All models of the C-130 feature: two full-length clothing pockets, two velour-lined valuables pockets (including one sized for a rangefinder), a beverage pocket, and several additional pockets for balls and tees and other accessories. C-130 7-way and 14-way also offer an integrated putter well.

For 30 years Sun Mountain has been a pioneer in the golf industry, revolutionizing golf bags, golf outerwear and golf carts. Sun Mountain's many innovations, including the first lightweight golf bag and modern stand bag, have made it the top golf bag company in North America. Within golf outerwear, Sun Mountain redefined golf-specific performance first with the windshirt, then fleece, and again with its four-way stretch, waterproof, and breathable rainwear. The Sun Mountain Speed Cart golf push cart transformed walking carts and created an entirely new category of golf products. Sun Mountain's "Ahead of Time Design" motto drives the company to continually design and refine golf equipment.

For the Sun Mountain retailer nearest you call 800-227-9224 or visit www.sunmountain.com.

The Speak Up Talk Radio Network Project Adds New Program – Those Weekend Golf Guys

The Speak Up Talk Radio Network announces the addition of another important radio program to its current lineup: Those Weekend Golf Guys – The Voice of the Average Golfer.

(Cleveland, OH) - Patricia Rullo, a syndicated radio host and consultant for Millennium Star Publishing, the company behind the new network explains, “Those Weekend Golf Guys brings together a hosting panel that consists of John Ashton, a radio broadcasting veteran, Tara Bassett, a television meteorologist, Jeff Smith, a card carrying PGA instructor, Biggs Tabler, the resident golf curmudgeon, and Pamela Denny, another experienced broadcaster. Because each host is an avid golfer, they bring different perspectives and ideas to the show. The program is fun, fast, and full of tips and tools that can help every golfer. They’ve improved my game and that’s saying a lot!”

The station’s model offers the benefits of live streaming combined with on demand and does away with time-slots and specific air times as a way to attract and retain more listeners. The Network also uses the power of their terrestrial radio and TV station affiliates nationwide to drive listeners to this online radio station.

Rullo concludes, “The Speak Up Talk Radio Network offers radio with a purpose: a forum and a talk radio community that has the space for talented people, with either terrestrial or online shows, to come together, speak up, and air their shows. When we speak up about topics that fuel our passion, we empower listeners to do the same. The radio network is designed to improve the lives of others and leave a legacy of positivity. It’s a project designed to benefit everyone involved.”

For more information, visit speakuptalkradio.com.

Cyber Monday NC Golf Deals in Southern Pines and Outer Banks

In the spirt of the holiday online shopping season, Talamore Golf Resort and the Outer Banks Golf Association are offering special golf package deals on December 1.

Talamore Golf Resort, Southern Pines, NC
Book: www.talamoregolfresort.com or 800-552-6292 x2
Deal: 3 rounds/2 nights $239 per golfer staying in a Talamore Villa/$289 per golfer staying in a Mid South Lodge. Arnie, Rees and Donald Winter Package features golf at Pine Needles, Talamore Golf Club and Mid South Club. Based on quad occupancy.
Dates: December 1, 2014-February 28, 2015

Outer Banks Golf, Outer Banks, NC
Book: www.PlayOBXGolf.com or 800-916-6244
Deal: $229 per golfer for 3 rounds/2 nights plus $25 per golfer gift card. 2 nights at Kilmarlic Golf Cottage, 3 rounds at Kilmarlic Golf Club, The Pointe Golf Club and Carolina Club. Includes welcome basket at cottage check-in, plus $25 gift card (per golfer) for your choice of merchandise or food & beverage at Kilmarlic Golf Club to be redeemed during stay. Minimum of 4 golfers; maximum of 8 golfers
Dates: February 1, 2015-March 31, 2015

Around the famed Sandhills of North Carolina visitors to the Talamore Golf Resort can stay and play two of the area’s finest courses, Talamore Golf Club and its sister resort course Mid South Club, both located on Midland Road about halfway between the Pinehurst Resort and Mid Pines/Pine Needles – a pair of Donald Ross gems.

Talamore Golf Club has been ranked in the forefront of outstanding courses since opening in 1991. Architect Rees Jones, who helped fine-tune Pinehurst No. 2 for the 1999 and 2005 U.S. Opens, designed a course that is both visually striking and exceptionally enjoyable. The 7,020-yard layout was also made famous by instituting the first llama caddie program, which makes for an unforgettable day.
At the Mid South Club, 545 acres of longleaf pine forests, lakes and gently rolling hillsides provide a backdrop for a place of beauty and serenity. The Mid South Club & Lodge was designed by the renowned team of Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay in 1993, and stands as one of the Carolinas’ most attractive private residential golf communities.

Meanwhile, located in the northeast corner of North Carolina, the iconic Outer Banks are an emerging golf destination with an eclectic assortment of courses on the renowned barrier island and the northern mainland. Along with its storied lighthouses, Cape Hatteras National Seashore, famed Wild Mustangs of Corolla and scores of watering holes overflowing with fresh seafood and spirits, its growing golf reputation is further bolstered with a popular threesome cracking the North Carolina Golf Panel’s Top 100 Courses rankings for the second straight year.

For starters, golfers can stay on the mainland in one of the best golf cottages you will ever enjoy at Kilmarlic Golf Club. Though its upscale Tom Steele design is more heavily wooded than the island courses and thus less impacted by coastal breezes, Kilmarlic challenges golfers with substantially more water hazards. In fact, there are only three holes on the entire course devoid of a wetland or water feature, forcing golfers to think their way around the layout that stretches a modest 6,560 yards in length..

The Pointe, meanwhile across the highway, is a traditional design that spreads out across the rural Carolina mainland. Like Kilmarlic, The Pointe’s greatest defense is in the form of water with 15 holes sporting some sort of wet lateral challenge. Given its player-friendly qualities, many tee off their Outer Bank golf getaway here.

Finally on the mainland, The Carolina Club is a big, brawny layout — particularly in relation to the others in the region — that stretches to within lob wedge distance of 7,000 yards. Designed by popular architects Russell Breeden and Bob Moore, the layout is more open than its mainland brethren making the winds more significant. The signature hole is the 166-yard, par-3 seventh showcasing an island green that can be difficult to hit when the ocean breezes kick up and penetrate the mainland.

Nike Swoosh Elite Staff Member Suzy Whaley is Elected Secretary of the PGA of America

(Beaverton, Ore.) - Through a vote at the PGA of America’s Annual Meeting, Nike Swoosh Elite Staff member Suzy Whaley has been elected the new Secretary of the PGA of America. With Whaley’s appointment she is positioned to become the President of the PGA of America in 2018.

“Suzy’s experience as a PGA Professional, PGA of America Board Member as well as her leadership as Director of Instruction for the Suzy Whaley Golf Academy at TPC River Highlands make her a fantastic pick for Secretary”, said Vitalis Gomes, US Brand Director for Nike Golf.  “Suzy is athletic, progressive and truly believes in pushing the sport of golf forward.”

Whaley, a University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill graduate and former LPGA Tour member, was elected to the PGA of America Board of Directors in 2010 and is the second woman ever to be elected to the PGA of America Board. In 2003, Whaley was the first woman to qualify and compete in a PGA Tour event in 58 years.

An accredited teacher of the sport, Whaley will continue to wear the Swoosh from head-to-toe and game Nike equipment. She is a contributor to multiple golf trade publications, is the Director of Instruction for the Suzy Whaley Golf Academy at TPC River Highlands and serves as a Board Member at the First Tee of Connecticut.

For more information on Nike Golf, visit our Web site at www.nike.com/nikegolf. To follow Nike Golf on Twitter, visit www.twitter.com/nikegolf and to become a fan on Facebook, go to www.facebook.com/nikegolf.  To view Nike Golf videos subscribe at www.youtube.com/nikegolf.