McConnell Golf, The Magazine - Fall/Winter 2025

a letter from John McConnell

Wow! Did I not just take down the Christmas tree for the 2024 holiday season? How fast 2025 has gone by, but there were many fun times that added joy to my life. Our company and staff accomplished a lot this year, and I know the future for our clubs remains bright.

Little did I know after purchasing Raleigh Country Club in 2003 to save its future that we would grow to have a portfolio of 16 owned clubs and management contracts for two more. This was definitely not my vision back then, but we are thankful we were in the right industry this past decade as golf has certainly gained popularity among all age groups. The experts did not foresee it — and neither did I.

What a fun year this has been for me personally. I took my three sons to play Sand Valley in Wisconsin in June and then to Bandon Dunes in August to celebrate my big birthday. No, I am not 90 yet! These were excellent venues, and I look forward to taking them to Northern Ireland next September. Playing these courses reminded me once again of the great ones we offer our members as well.

I also was fortunate to play two courses on my bucket list. One was Burning Tree Club near Washington, D.C., and the other was Bethpage Black Golf Course, which hosted the Ryder Cup in September. The memorabilia at Burning Tree is unmatched, from photos of presidents who were members to military flags awarded to members for their service. I love the club’s logo, as it ranks in my top five favorites. Bethpage Black was an awesome course, and I can see why New Yorkers sleep in their cars for a chance to secure a tee time to play on this public course for $70 a round.

At the Wyndham Championship, we were thrilled to see Cameron Young capture his first PGA TOUR victory and secure a spot on the U.S. Ryder Cup team. Having played at Wake Forest and come close to victory many times, he was my favorite in the Wyndham field. He went 3-1-0 in his four Ryder Cup matches, co-led the team in points and won his singles match. He also led the U.S. with 19 total holes won and handed Justin Rose his only loss of the event. I predict with his golf game, there will be many more trophies in his future.

In October, we hosted the first Grayson Murray Classic charitable golf tournament. We miss seeing him on the PGA TOUR and at our clubs. I sincerely believe his legacy will continue to benefit many, as the Grayson Murray Foundation carries his vision by making support accessible to those facing mental health and addiction challenges. His memory will be marked not only by winning at the highest level but also by helping others find the resources they need. May this tournament thrive for many years to come, in celebration of Grayson’s life and legacy.

Looking back at 2025, we are thankful our courses have recovered from Hurricane Helene and operations are back to normal. It is unfortunate the Virginia Tech football team did not meet expectations, but the university will invest millions over the next five years to restore the program’s past success. I just hope the new coach is not over 70 years old! Humor is needed in our daily lives, so that is mine to share.

It is the holiday season again and I am thankful for my family, our employees and the members who make McConnell Golf such a fun place to enjoy. Thank you for your ongoing support and we look forward to 2026.

Golf the magazinc

Chief Executive O�cer & Founder

John McConnell

Chief Operating O�cer

Christian Anastasiadis

Communications Director

Faith Inman

Creative Director

Paxton Rembis

Executive Support/Member Relations Coordinator

Madeline Bonnabeaux

Contributing Writers

Amanda Capps

Brad King

Chad Flowers

J. Morgan McCallum

John Jeter

Contributing Photography

Associated Press Photographers

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Bruce McCamish

Chad Flowers

Faith Inman

John Gillooly/Wyndham Championship

Madeline Bonnabeaux

Paxton Rembis

S.C. Golf Association

Stan Badz/PGA TOUR

McConnell Golf, �e Magazine

Rooted in the spirit of McConnell Golf, our magazine is as distinguished as our 17 club properties, which stretch from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Atlantic Coast. Since 2008, McConnell Golf, �e Magazine has captured the stories and experiences that make our community unique. This publication is supported by the members, for the members, reflecting the lifestyle and camaraderie found across our network of clubs.

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Bunkers in Baghdad

Serving the Brave Troops Who Serve Our Nation

Since 2008, we’ve sent more than 16.6 million new and gently used golf balls and 1.7 million clubs to our courageous troops and wounded warriors worldwide, delivering recreation, rehabilitation and a slice of home through a shared love of golf. It’s the least we can do to serve those who so selflessly serve us.

Our donors and partners include everyone from average golfers and interested folks who just want to get involved, to schools, clubs, pro sports franchises, corporate sponsors and Phil Mickelson and the LIV Golf HyFlyers!

by Brad King

by Brad King

Brilliance Back-to-Back

Korn Ferry Tour delivers double springtime showcase at two premier Donald Ross courses

The Korn Ferry Tour returned to Holston Hills Country Club and Raleigh Country Club last spring — once again solidifying McConnell Golf’s standing in the competitivegolf landscape with its courses serving as a proving ground for the sport’s next generation of stars.

Visit Knoxville Open

First came the Visit Knoxville Open (May 19–25) at Holston Hills Country Club in Tennessee, followed immediately by the UNC Health Championship (May 29–June 1) at Raleigh Country Club.

Holston Hills, opened in 1927, has quickly become a favorite stop on the Korn Ferry Tour. Its classical routing, rolling fairways and challenging green complexes provide a timeless stage.

This year’s tournament delivered another thrilling finish.

Sweden’s Pontus Nyholm, a Campbell University alumnus, claimed his first Korn Ferry Tour victory in dramatic fashion. Trailing by five shots entering the final round, Nyholm closed with a 5-under 66 and then defeated Johnny Keefer with an eagle on the first playoff hole at Holston Hills’ par-5 18th.

Nyholm’s victory moved him into the top five on the season-long Points List, positioning him well for a PGA TOUR card. It also continued Holston Hills’ tradition as a launchpad: From Byron Nelson’s victory in 1945 to serving as a springboard for modern Korn Ferry stars, the Ross design consistently identifies elite talent.

And there was more history-making: Sponsor exemption and former UNC golfer Dylan Menante fired a course-record 60 on Saturday, carding 12 birdies in an electric round that eventually helped him tie for third.

The Knoxville event also shined a spotlight on local and McConnell Golf connections. Ryan Hall, a Knoxville native and Holston Hills member, earned a sponsor exemption and rewarded organizers with his best professional finish, tying for sixth at 15-under.

Bryce Lewis, a University of Tennessee alum and Holston Hills member, also impressed, finishing T17 (-12) after entering the week as the last man in the field.

Meanwhile, Carter Jenkins, a 2010 McConnell Golf Junior Scholarship recipient, carried the McConnell Golf banner into Knoxville before preparing for a home game the following week in Raleigh. After a first-round 67 he fired three consecutive 71s to tie for 58th.

UNC Health Championship

One week later, the Korn Ferry spotlight shifted to Raleigh Country Club — Ross’ final design and a course meticulously restored by Kyle Franz in 2020. As the UNC Health Championship teed off, anticipation was high. Raleigh has long been a cornerstone stop on the Korn Ferry Tour, dating back to its REX Hospital Open days at The Country Club at Wakefield Plantation.

The 2025 edition belonged to Trace Crowe, an Auburn University standout and recent Raleigh transplant who closed with a 5-under 65 to post 21-under 259 — breaking the tournament scoring record and securing his second Korn Ferry Tour title. Crowe’s five-stroke win matched the largest margin of victory on Tour this year and cemented his spot among the season’s promotion hopefuls.

Crowe’s triumph highlighted a loaded leaderboard. Four-time PGA TOUR winner Martin Laird, making a rare Korn Ferry start, finished tied for second at 16-under (alongside Hank Lebioda and Davis Chatfield). The two Holston Hills members, Lewis and Hall, finished tied for 12th and 26th respectively at RCC. Jenkins, playing his hometown course, posted a solid T43.

The week also carried a sense of legacy. Raleigh native Chesson Hadley, the 2013 REX Hospital Open champion, returned to compete at RCC as he worked to reignite his PGA TOUR career. Hadley, who famously launched from his REX win into Rookie of the Year honors in 2014, spoke of “big boy golf” at RCC and the challenge of a course that demands precision and patience. Despite a second-round 67 he missed the cut by a shot.

The Raleigh Korn Ferry Tour stop has long played a role in shaping the careers of future stars, none bigger than Scottie Scheffler. In 2019, Scheffler teed it up at Wakefield Plantation for the REX Hospital Open (now the UNC Health Championship) during his breakout Korn Ferry Tour season.

Though he missed the cut at 3-under (70–69), Scheffler went on to win twice that summer, finish No. 1 on the Points List, and be named 2019 Korn Ferry Tour Player of the Year. The rest, of course, is history.

That tie-in underscores how important these McConnell Golf-hosted events are in identifying the game’s future elite. Today’s Korn Ferry leaderboard in Raleigh or Knoxville might well include tomorrow’s Masters champion.

Together, the Knoxville and Raleigh events delivered compelling competition while also celebrating the deep player connections that make McConnell Golf’s role unique.

(CONTINUED ON PAGE 14)

KORN FERRY TOUR

For McConnell Golf, hosting consecutive Korn Ferry Tour events reinforces its reputation for offering top-tier tournament venues and nurturing golf’s next wave. From Ross’ enduring architecture to the modern touches of renovation and hospitality, both Holston Hills and RCC proved worthy stages for the stars of tomorrow.

As the 2025 Korn Ferry Tour reaches its crescendo, Knoxville and Raleigh stand as pivotal markers. Nyholm’s breakthrough and Crowe’s statement victory launched both toward PGA TOUR status by virtue of their Top 20 finishes on the final Korn Ferry Tour Points List.

For fans and members alike, these two weeks offered a front-row seat to golf’s developmental tour at its best — a blend of tradition, opportunity and the unmistakable sense that the next Scheffler could be walking the fairways.

2026 KORN FERRY TOUR EVENT DATES

Visit Knoxville Open: May 21–24

Holston Hills Country Club – Knoxville, Tennessee Website: VKOpen.com

UNC Health Championship: May 28–31

Raleigh Country Club – Raleigh, North Carolina Website: UNCHealthChampionship.com

Faith, Family, Football and a Whole Lotta Golf

by Chad Flowers

A conversation with recently inducted Pro Football Hall of Famer and Cobblestone Golf Club member Sterling Sharpe

While there are few correlations between football and golf, a player’s attitude and determination can go a long way toward success in both. For Cobblestone Golf Club member Sterling Sharpe — recently enshrined as a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025 — faith, family and prayer have contributed to his success not only in athletics but also in the game of life.

Growing up in rural south Georgia, Sharpe played football for the University of South Carolina before becoming the seventh overall pick in the 1988 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers. Six years later, injuries cut his five-time Pro Bowl NFL career as a wide receiver short

— and just like that, he needed another sport to make his own. Enter the little round ball…

“I think golf, from what I have found, is a lot like life,” says Sharpe. “You get out of golf what you want. It’s a lot of ‘I’m by myself,’ a lot of integrity, a lot of when no one else is looking.”

When asked to compare his football experience to playing golf, Sharpe says, “With football, you are part of a team and you are allowing yourself to be molded and shaped to be a part of that team, but when you play golf it’s just you. Golf is like life — whatever you put into it and or bring to it, that’s what you are gonna get out.”

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Although recent surgeries have kept Sharpe from his usual routine of golfing almost daily, he hopes to get back to more regular play in 2026.

“I was playing 400 to 500 rounds of golf a year. I really do enjoy being out there and the difference between the first 18 to the second 18 or the first nine to the second nine,” he says.

Somewhat unique to Cobblestone is the setup of three separate nine-hole courses: Garnet, Black and Gold. Although Sharpe enjoys all of the courses, his favorite is the Gold Nine, which he says requires strategy.

“When you are a tournament golfer, you figure out ways to play certain holes. With the Gold nine, you have to hit it high, you cannot hit it at every flag. You cannot play eagle golf on that side because it’s very short. You have to be strategic, you have to be honest, and that’s the biggest thing, you have to be honest with yourself, because you’re a double bogey waiting to happen,” says Sharpe. “I made six birdies on that side during one round, which is my best playing from the tips, but it is a

“Being here as long as I have, I’ve gotten a chance to see a lot of growth and development from the guys, girls and ladies that are members here, and that growth and development is a lot of fun.”

Sterling Sharpe

good test of golf because of the elevation changes and challenges you go through.”

As for the challenge of the Gold Nine, it’s the only tract at Cobblestone where he has yet to make a hole-in-one on all of the par-3s. Since taking up golf at age 33 after retiring from football, Sharpe has celebrated 16 holes-inone — though he says none stand out as his single most memorable round.

While he says he does not really see a correlation between football and golf, his commitment to learning and developing in both areas is evident when he talks about his experience with both. In his Hall of Fame induction speech in August 2025, he mentioned something he learned from

legendary football coach Jon Gruden. In his enshrinement speech, he said “Jon Gruden taught me, ‘don’t study defenses or defensive backs, study other receivers.’”

Sharpe brought this same lesson to golf.

“I didn’t start playing until I was 33, so I needed a way to accumulate information quickly. I figured the best thing I could do was to go and watch,” says Sharpe. “If I’m playing with a guy and I try to figure out what I would do in his situation and I watch what he does, I learn to play golf better and faster than probably most people getting lessons or most people just coming out working on their game by themselves.”

As for his golf, unless he is playing a charity event or a pro-am, it’s mostly at Cobblestone.

“I play Cobblestone all the time. I think I can get everything I need (here). I love the people here, the membership has been really wonderful to me,” he says. “It is really fun being here. I can come out at 9 a.m. and play with the seniors, I’m 60 now, I can come out here on Tuesdays and play with the ladies, they are a lot of fun to play with. I think I have played with about every specialty group out here from the seniors to the women to the juniors. Being here as long as I have, I’ve gotten a chance to see a lot of growth and development from the guys, girls and ladies that are members here, and that growth and development is a lot of fun.”

All in the

For The Water’s Edge Country Club manager, decades of service at Smith Mountain Lake have forged lasting relationships with members and co-workers

by John Jeter

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT

You may see him behind the bar one evening mixing your cocktail, or in the restaurant serving your meal. For 32 years, Robert Lambert has served as the steady hand running things as club manager, a role that has made The Water’s Edge Country Club part of his family story.

What you may not know is that he was born in the Philippines, moved to the U.S. at age 8, and grew up in Tazewell, Virginia, where he learned the value of hard work and community. That early work ethic showed up in other ways, too. Lambert played football, basketball and ran track throughout school. He also spent summers working alongside his father, a builder, learning craftsmanship that shaped how he leads today.

Lambert’s path into hospitality began in college at Domino’s Pizza, followed by positions at the Holiday Inn and Mountain Lake Lodge in Pembroke, Virginia, a primary location for filming the movie “Dirty Dancing.”

Starting as a banquet captain, he rose to dining room manager of the lodge’s 200-seat dining hall and met his future wife along the way.

In 1993, he interviewed for the assistant manager position at The Water’s Edge Country Club. Just a few months later, he was promoted to club manager — a post he has embraced ever since. “The Water’s Edge is such a special place,” he says, “and now it’s a big part of my family story.”

That family story has only deepened with time. Not long after he started, members threw a

baby shower for his wife, Renae. Today, their three children are grown, with both sons married last year, and their daughter, Jenna, is planning her own wedding at the club next year. The couple also looks forward to becoming grandparents in February. “It’s an exciting new chapter,” Lambert says, and it’s one that makes the club even more meaningful to the family.

Lambert credits his parents — his father in particular — as role models. Working with his dad taught him to value doing things with integrity and to lead by example. These same values were reinforced by the owners he’s worked under. When Ron Willard ran the club, there was a phrase printed on every pay stub: “Good enough will not do; it must be right.” Today, John McConnell’s vision continues to shape the Penhook, Virginia club.

The club is more than a top-tier golf course and facility. It’s the heart and

soul of its membership, and under Lambert’s leadership, its ties to the community have only strengthened. “I’ve had many conversations with John McConnell over the years, often at the bar,” Lambert says. He especially remembers when McConnell praised the team’s strength despite rural hiring challenges; that praise stuck with him.

Patrick Favero met Lambert 25 years ago when he worked at the club during college as a dishwasher and lifeguard. Now a family physician and a member of the club, Favero says, “The most impressive thing about Robert is that he really pays attention to detail, and he expects the employees to pay attention to detail.” He adds, “Robert’s always happy to jump in and help.” That respect for both the craft and the people reflects the lessons Lambert learned early on from his father and the leaders he admires.

Bill Kite, an original member from 40 years ago whose daughters once worked at the club, agrees. “With family members working there,” he says, “it really became a family club, and that’s what I think Robert had a lot to do with developing.”

For Lambert, that’s the legacy that matters most. “The members have been a big part of our lives,” he reflects. “They have come to invest in our lives, good or bad. They’re always there for us.” After 32 years, he doesn’t call The Water’s Edge a workplace — he calls it home.

“The members have been a big part of our lives. They have come to invest in our lives, good or bad. They’re always there for us.”

From Concept to Plate

The Art of Menu Creation at McConnell Golf

by J. Morgan McCallum

CULINARY

As unique as each McConnell Golf property is proud to be, the dishes they serve, menus they craft and meals they deliver all share one unexpected ingredient — and it isn’t food.

“It all starts with the team,” says Executive Chef John Crawford. “We keep things fun in the kitchen — there’s a lot of laughter and teamwork. I’ve set clear expectations for how we operate, but at the same time, I want everyone coming to work with a good attitude and leaving proud of what we’ve accomplished. Recognition goes a long way, and when someone does a phenomenal job, I make it a point to celebrate that moment with the whole team.”

From the mountains to the coast, across more than a dozen lively kitchens and welcoming dining rooms, culinary artistry is rooted in community at McConnell Golf. For the chefs who are leading the service, it’s about fostering trust and camaraderie among their teams. When creating a menu, it means tapping neighboring farms and listening to what members and their families are hungry for. And when dreaming up events or hosting tasting societies, their focus is on bringing people together to break bread and build relationships. At its heart, food feeds a stronger sense of family all around.

“The main thing for me is good food — quality food, local food,” says Crawford. “Whenever I write a menu, I try to have at least one item that I’ve never had before or that nobody else has had before. That goes a long way. We have a lot of tools that let us play with different techniques — our game changer smoker, our combi oven, sous vide — all of those allow us to perfect a dish. You can cook a shrimp exactly to 145 degrees and it’s actually bigger than before it was cooked. That precision and creativity really make a difference.”

He emphasizes that the experience extends beyond the kitchen: “It’s constant communication between the front of the house and the back of the house so that the servers can give members the best experience possible,” he said. “Their food knowledge

is very important, and we talk daily about every dish. I want them to know exactly what they’re serving. Anytime we make a change in the kitchen, everyone knows immediately.”

“When a menu or a new dining feature comes out, we know if it’s been a hit or not because

we ask our members — and they enjoy telling us what they loved, or what surprised them,” says Executive Chef Ricky Martin of Porters Neck Country Club. “Sometimes we know exactly what people love, and we’ll challenge ourselves to add a twist or variation to it.”

(CONTINUED

“When a menu or a new dining feature comes out, we know if it’s been a hit or not because we ask our members — and they enjoy telling us what they loved, or what surprised them.”

Ricky Martin

Martin adds, “In this way, we’re progressing each menu by paying attention to how our members take to it — elevating the food we serve with respect to the tastes of the community we serve.”

“We have a wide variety of members, and a pretty good food scene here in Asheville,” adds Executive Chef Michael Monahan of Country Club of Asheville. “Some of our members prefer more traditional country club dishes, but we also have a good group of members who frequent a lot of the nearby restaurants and are looking for new and interesting dishes and techniques or new ways of preparing ingredients. When we write our menus, we try to reflect all of those interests.”

Inventiveness takes center stage when Monahan crafts culinary experiences for tasting societies like the Cork & Barrel Club. Originally focused on great wines — like the McConnell “M” Series — many of these club-based groups also pair food with libations from local breweries or distilleries. “To create those menus, we collaborate with the winemaker or the brewer, learn the provenance of the wine or the ingredients used, taste everything and make sure the dishes go well together,” says Monahan. “With all of those tools, we’re able to create a really memorable experience that you can’t really get anywhere else.”

Just as each course reflects the natural elements that define the region around it, the ingredients sourced by each chef and their team play a key role on how each menu reflects the best of a community. “Greatness comes from paying attention to the small things — including working with really good quality ingredients,” reflects Martin. “As we’ve learned more about the farms nearby, we’ve been able to incorporate more seasonal products. If one of our cooks is blanching vegetables to make a new sauce, I’ll encourage him to experiment… let the ingredients do the talking.”

“Some of our members prefer more traditional country club dishes, but we also have a good group of members who frequent a lot of the nearby restaurants and are looking for new and interesting dishes and techniques or new ways of preparing ingredients.”

Michael Monahan

In the lush, green Blue Ridge Foothills outside Asheville, Monahan’s team digs even deeper. “My culinary philosophy is focused

on what is in peak season,” he says. “We have several different menus that change with the time of year, and the first thing I do before

writing them is pull up what fish are running at that time, what vegetables are growing. We try very hard to avoid products that are overfished, for instance — sustainability and availability is a big point.”

To accomplish that, chefs like Monahan lean on the skills of their team and build fruitful relationships with local vendors.

“I actually grow the microgreens that we use, and we source local ingredients from Mountain Food Products, one of our purveyors. We get all of our mushrooms from a woman who grows them right here in Asheville … so, we try to bring in as much locally as possible.”

There’s an art and a science to creating memorable meals, from the casual family lunch to the elegant themed tournament dinner. For all of McConnell Golf’s chefs, it requires balancing great ideas with flawless execution — not just in the team coordination that goes into baking 200

• next to hayashi in wakefield crossing •

CULINARY

scones for brunch, but in pulling together experts across the entire property to make a casino-themed party come to life with perfectly timed courses, flower arrangements and fire performances. “We have a lot of meetings,” laughs Martin. “It’s a lot of communicating, team building and trust being passed to all the people down their way.”

For the culinary family at McConnell Golf, the hard work behind the scenes is always worth it when you’re doing it for your community — and you hear positive feedback daily from members like Katie Nery of the Asheville club.

“The chef’s crab cakes are amazing, so a group of us asked for a cooking class — we learned how to make them, and then we all sat down to eat them together,” smiles Nery. “Country club food can be kind of basic, but Chef Monahan takes it to the next level. When he comes out to ask questions, he’s truly curious how we feel about the menu, what we’d like to see. It really makes it feel like the McConnell team is listening and looking out for what the membership wants.”

“To create those menus, we collaborate with the winemaker or the brewer, learn the provenance of the wine or the ingredients used, taste everything and make sure the dishes go well together.”

Michael Monahan

FROM THE VINES TO THE PINES

EXPERIENCE EXCELLENCE

BY CRISTIE KERR & KERR CELLARS

Available at all North Carolina McConnell Golf properties

Rapid Fire

with Porters Neck Country Club’s

Executive Chef Ricky Martin

What’s one local ingredient you love to work with?

CHEF: “Fish. I grew up on a canal, fishing and crabbing off the dock with my family. Later, we’d all gather for a feast as the sun went down over the Intracoastal.”

What’s one dish that reminds you why you love cooking?

CHEF: “Crab reminds me of childhood fun — checking nets early in the morning and experiencing the sweetness of the sea for the first time. Nothing brings you closer to food than being part of the process from beginning to end.”

What do you hope members feel when they sit down to one of your meals?

CHEF: “Fulfilled by the experience of tasting, not just by feeling full. I love leaving a dining experience inspired, already thinking about the next dish I want to create.”

What’s something about your process or team that might surprise members?

CHEF: “That I’m not the one making all of the amazing dishes. I simply see the talents of our culinary staff and draw them out by learning from my team and growing with them. It’s a collective effort.”

GREATNESS Grounds for

Four Winners Champion McConnell Golf Courses

by Amanda Capps

Across the Carolinas and Tennessee, four McConnell Golf champions came to their respective clubs with talent and drive. Their stories are as varied as their winning strategies, but they have more in common than their many trophies.

Billy Clark, Walter Todd, Patrick Thompson and Melissa Walsh agree that impeccable and demanding courses have refined the way they play. Each has found not only a proving ground for their abilities, but also a place where friendships deepen, along with the love of the game.

THE POWER OF PATIENCE AT COUNTRY CLUB OF ASHEVILLE

In the four decades Patrick Thompson has been a member of Country Club of Asheville, he’s amassed an amazing record of 15 Men’s Club Championships and 11 Senior Club Championships — and he’s tied the course’s all-time best score of 63 six times. Obviously, there’s a notable amount of skill and practice behind his accomplishments, but Thompson says patience also plays an essential role.

“Solid play is the key. You have to know when to be patient and when to attack the course. If you’re overly aggressive, you’ll end up with bogeys or worse,” he says. “If you can get the lead here, by even two strokes, you can make them come get you.”

Thompson rates the greens and green complexes at Country Club of Asheville at a United States Golf Association level of difficulty and says the Donald Ross course is “excellent prep” for any other course or tournament.

“They really tricked up the greens. There are some spots where it’s definitely better to be just off the green and chip up rather than hitting the green but leaving a long putt with multiple slopes,” Thompson says, adding that three-time PGA TOUR winner Chris DiMarco once called the greens there “diabolical.”

Part of the experience for the 67-year-old golfer, who almost

“Solid play is the key. You have to know when to be patient and when to attack the course. If you’re overly aggressive, you’ll end up with bogeys or worse,” he says. “If you can get the lead here, by even two strokes, you can make them come get you.”

Patrick Thompson

went pro in his 50s, is walking the course and spending time with friends.

“This place is really important to me, and much of that is due to the greatest bunch of guys and ladies you’d ever want to meet,” Thompson says.

BUILDING COMMUNITY THROUGH COMPETITION AT HOLSTON HILLS COUNTRY CLUB

Since joining Holston Hills Country Club, Melissa Walsh has claimed every ladies’ championship tournament, but her story isn’t one of rivalries. She’s found both competition and camaraderie at the Knoxville, Tennessee, club where the players celebrate each other’s games while raising the profile of the program.

A former member of the golf team at Eastern Kentucky University, Walsh missed the game and became a member of Holston Hills in 2014. The Ladies’ League was

well-established but has consistently grown under the McConnell Golf banner.

“Some women whose husbands had been playing for years developed an interest, and we have lots of newcomers, so there’s a wide range of ages and backgrounds,” Walsh says.

Despite her history, Walsh admits to feeling nervous before every tournament — but she always has a game plan. Typically playing from the men’s tees, she moves to the women’s about a week before an event, and she concentrates on her short game and any shots she considers weak.

“There are a couple of holes that are par 4 — par 5 from the ladies’ tees. I treat them like a par 4, so I can walk away with a birdie,” she says.

Walsh’s goal is to earn “a respectable score” in every tournament, and she’s eyeing an even bigger prize, the alltime record for ladies’ club championships. Fifteen will tie that record, and 16 will break it. When asked how her fellow players perceive her exceptional streak, she says they are “super supportive of one another.”

“I like competition but low-level,” she laughs. “It’s just nice to have other women to play with. We’re building such a great place here.”

MASTERING THE MYSTIQUE OF BROOK VALLEY COUNTRY CLUB

The man who holds the record for championships at Brook Valley Country Club has always had a unique view of the Greenville, North Carolina, club. Billy Clark moved to the area in 1965, when he was a high school

sophomore. As the club and community were just taking shape, he and his father spotted course architect Ellis Maples and developer Reynolds May walking the grounds. He knew then it was a special place — one he now enjoys from his home on the 13th hole when he’s not actually playing.

“If it’s possible to be in love with a piece of real estate, it’s this one. I love Brook Valley,” Clark says.

In the early years, the course was tough but fair, according to Clark. Crediting McConnell Golf with saving the club when it took ownership, he calls the organization first

GOLF

class and appreciates the changes they’ve made over the years. His close proximity and familiarity with the course make him a keen observer of its nuances. One example Clark notes is a severe right-to-left slope that caused balls to run left when hit, which has since been leveled.

Referring to a phenomenon he calls the “Brook Valley Mystique,” Clark understands concerns about the green complexes and the number of holes where the greens are not visible from the tee boxes. However, he insists the

course can be easily “attacked.”

“On certain holes, you want to stay under the pin. This isn’t a course where you can just aim and hit,” he says. “Golf is a game that’s played mainly between the ears. You can be successful here, and if you play this course every day, you will become a better golfer. If you go to almost any other course, it will be easier for you.”

Other courses may be less challenging, but Clark prefers to live where he plays and play where he lives.

“Golf is a game that’s played mainly between the ears. You can be successful here, and if you play this course every day, you will become a better golfer. If you go to almost any other course, it will be easier for you.”

Billy Clark

STAY. PLAY. EXPLORE

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FROM CLUB CHAMPION TO HALL OF FAMER AT MUSGROVE MILL GOLF CLUB

Walter Todd watched as Musgrove Mill Golf Club was under construction in 1988. In 1989, he became its first club champion, and today, as a member of the South Carolina Golf Association Hall of Fame, he champions the “world-class course” in his home county, taking pride in the events Musgrove hosts, along with its local and out-of-state membership roster.

Musgrove’s amenities include dining and lodging, but the Clinton, South Carolina, club is unapologetically focused on golf. Todd says the Arnold Palmer course has definitely improved his game, and McConnell Golf’s modifications have only enhanced the experience.

“McConnell Golf took out certain cart paths and made some good improvements. They’ve softened it a little, and that’s a good thing,” Todd says.

At 65, he still thrives on competition — against other players, the course and himself. To prepare for a tournament, he prefers to work on his short game as opposed to spending long hours on the driving range.

“Two to three weeks before a tournament, I’ll practice more. I do

“I do better playing and hitting balls — chipping and putting. I practice more 100 yards in, and Musgrove is a good venue for that. The greens are firm and fast the way they’re cut certain times of year.”

Walter Todd

GOLF

better playing and hitting balls — chipping and putting. I practice more 100 yards in, and Musgrove is a good venue for that. The greens are firm and fast the way they’re cut certain times of year,” Todd says.

As a past president of the Carolinas Golf Association, Todd is an ambassador for the sport and the club. Golf has been an integral part of life for three generations of his family, and Todd’s two young grandsons will likely continue the tradition.

“They motivate me to keep my game and my body in shape so I can play at Musgrove with them soon,” Todd says.

Each of these champions has found something deeper than victory — a connection to the courses

CHAMPIONS

BY THE NUMBERS

PATRICK THOMPSON

Country Club of Asheville

Club Champion (13): 2002, 2005–07, 2009, 2012–13, 2015, 2017, 2019–21, 2023

Senior Club Champion (10): 2009–10, 2012, 2017–18, 2020–25

MELISSA WALSH

Holston Hills Country Club

Ladies’ Club Champion (12): 2014–25

BILLY

CLARK

Brook Valley Country Club

Men’s Club Champion (6): 1979, 1981, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1997

WALTER TODD

Musgrove Mill Golf Club

Reunion Club Champion (9): 1989, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2004, 2008, 2018

Senior Club Champion (3): 2017, 2022, 2025

S.C. Golf Hall of Fame, 2024

that challenge them and the communities that celebrate them. As McConnell Golf Vice President of Golf Operations Brian Kittler notes, “Club Championships are special events not only within McConnell Golf but at all clubs throughout the country. To win a club championship against the best golfers at your respective club, over 36 to 54 holes, is a significant accomplishment — especially over time, when members see their names on the trophy, the club champions plaque in the clubhouse or the Wall of Champions.”

He adds that the pride of those victories never fades. “Anytime I see a former club champion and talk to them about their win or wins, you can see the great sense of pride light up on their face — not only for winning, but for what it means to represent their club as the champion.”

“To win a club championship against the best golfers at your respective club, over 36 to 54 holes, is a significant accomplishment — especially over time, when members see their names on the trophy, the club champions plaque in the clubhouse or the Wall of Champions.”

Brian Kittler

EXPERIENCE my club

JUNIOR GOLF & TENNIS AT MCCONNELL GOLF

From first swings to championship wins, young golfers and tennis players across McConnell Golf are finding more than just great instruction. McConnell Golf’s junior programs are building friendships, mentorships and a community that encourages players every step of the way. Here’s what our members are saying about what makes these programs such a meaningful part of club life.

PORTERS NECK COUNTRY CLUB

“I began playing tennis a few years ago because I wanted to try a new sport out, and the clinics always looked like fun! I have loved learning to become a better tennis player and athlete by going to the clinics. They teach us skills through fun games and competitions. Coach Rafa and Coach Patty are great coaches who push us and motivate us to be better tennis players and athletes.” —

STELLA DESELMS

SEDGEFIELD COUNTRY CLUB

PROVIDENCE COUNTRY CLUB

“I like how the coaches are really passionate about tennis, and you can tell they enjoy teaching us. The clinics are a fun way to learn and practice with my friends, and the games we play make it even better.” — MATTHEW FOX

“My kids have developed such a genuine love for tennis under Pierce’s exceptional coaching. What started as an introduction to the sport has blossomed into something much deeper — each of my children has found their own unique connection to the game. Pierce has this wonderful ability to meet each child where they are and nurture their individual strengths. Over the years, I’ve watched my kids transform not just in their technical skills, but in their confidence, discipline and love for the sport. Kayla, now seasoned in competitive play, is embarking on another exciting year of matches. She’s developed such mental toughness and strategic thinking through her years at SCC. Her dedication to improvement is inspiring, and she approaches each match with the skills and confidence Pierce instilled in her. Christopher represents such a success story for us. Thanks to Pierce’s patient coaching and encouragement, Christopher’s built the confidence to start his first year of competitive matches. And then there’s Kristen, who beautifully illustrates that tennis can be appreciated in so many different ways. She’s found her own artistic expression through the sport — loving the rhythm, the movement, the pure joy of hitting the ball. Pierce has created an environment where she can simply enjoy tennis for the pure love of playing. What I appreciate most about the program at SCC is how it celebrates each child’s individual relationship with tennis. The program honors both approaches, and that’s created such a positive, inclusive environment for all our kids.” — SHAWNETT KRANTZ

PORTERS NECK COUNTRY CLUB

BROOK VALLEY COUNTRY CLUB

“Junior Golf at BVCC had such a big impact on my passion for the game. I created friendships with other juniors that will last a lifetime. The community support from the members at BVCC meant the world to me as I transitioned to college golf at UNC Wilmington.”

— GRAY MITCHUM

“Tennis lessons at Porters Neck Country Club have kept me consistent on court. Coach Rafa arms me with the right tools to problem solve during competitive matches. I am grateful he has given me the confidence to complete four tournaments as the champion last summer! Under Coach Rafa’s guidance, I have now earned a seat on Hoggard High School’s varsity tennis team.”

— KENZIE LE

THE COUNTRY CLUB AT WAKEFIELD PLANTATION

“Tennis has become a true passion for my daughter Harper. She started playing only three years ago, and the program at Wakefield has been the perfect combination of fun and discipline. I would like to give a huge shout-out to Davis for really igniting the fire within her to find a sport she loves. I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the other pros who have collectively developed a program that fosters fun, competitiveness and community. We feel very fortunate to benefit from such an awesome team!”

THE COUNTRY CLUB AT WAKEFIELD PLANTATION

RALEIGH COUNTRY CLUB

“Practicing and playing at RCC has definitely helped me prepare for tournament golf. I especially love the green complexes. The challenge they present has definitely helped my short game and hopefully will help me as I transition to college golf.”

— PRESTON HAGE

OLD NORTH STATE CLUB

— SHANNON COLLINS

“I love tennis, but Coach Chris makes me love it even more. Coach doesn’t make a big deal about messing up. He finds the good even when you make a mistake.” — AUBREY SWOOPE

“I became a Wakefield member 10 years ago, and there isn’t a bad thing I can say about the place. The facilities and courses are great, and they have really helped develop my game. The members are some of the best people I’ve ever met. They treated me well even when I was a little 9-yearold running for ‘mayor’ of the club. Some even let me caddy for them during member-guest tournaments. What really makes Wakefield a second home to me is the staff. I’ve built relationships there that mean the world to me, especially Michael, Joey, Adele, Brandon, Tom, Swizz, all the cart guys and Rocky, who has become a father figure to me. Back before COVID, when I was about 11, I was on the putting green after dinner one Wednesday with friends when a guy holding a wine glass, with a stain on his shirt, walked up and said, ‘Make a 50-footer and I’ll give you 100 bucks.’ A crowd gathered, and when I sank the putt, everyone went crazy. My friends and I went to his house just off hole 1, where he wrote me a check for $100. Wakefield will always hold a special place in my heart. It’s where I had my first hole-in-one, met some of my best friends, grew my love for golf, and connected with some of the most influential people in my life.” —

CHASE DUNCAN

“What I love most about tennis at WCC is the incredible environment. There are always people out on the courts, which makes it so easy to find both juniors and adults to hit with, and the energy is always lively and fun. It truly feels like a family, where everyone supports each other and loves being out there together. I’ve been looking for a place to play tennis for years, and I feel so lucky to have finally found the perfect place. Jake brings so much passion and enthusiasm to the game; he makes every clinic exciting and motivating. His communication is amazing, and everything he organizes, from clinics to tournaments, runs so smoothly. You can tell how much everyone enjoys being part of the program, and I know it will only continue to grow.”

— MCKENNA ROWE

WILSON COUNTRY CLUB

“I like golf because I’m learning something new, and it’s actually fun. Before Coach Thomas, I couldn’t get the ball out of the sand at all — now I can! I never really liked other sports that much, but golf makes me feel more confident. I’ve made a bunch of new friends, some younger and some older, which makes it even better. My main goal? Beat my dad!” — BEN BAKER

by Brad King

A breakthrough win, a showcase for emerging stars — and the people who make Sedgefield sing

The Wyndham Championship has always been more than a date on the PGA TOUR calendar. For Greensboro and for members of Sedgefield Country Club, it’s a ritual that blends championship golf with community muscle — history on a Donald Ross canvas, run by people who treat the week like their home city’s calling card.

This year, that identity produced a fitting finish: A long-awaited breakthrough by a player with deep North Carolina ties, a leaderboard that mixed rising names with steady hands and a tournament week made possible by members who give up their course and then volunteer to keep the entire operation moving.

Cameron Young had hovered near this moment for a while.

A Wake Forest alum with seven runner-up finishes, he kept showing up on leaderboards and showing the power and polish of a top-tier pro. Still, he kept hearing the one question that follows every player who hasn’t closed the loop: When?

At Sedgefield, he answered it decisively. Rounds of 63-62-65-68 carried him to 22-under par and a six-shot win. It wasn’t just his first PGA TOUR title. It also made Young the 1,000th unique winner in PGA TOUR history, and the 23rd player to make the Wyndham his breakthrough.

“It was a long time coming,” Young said. “But I wasn’t going to let it get away from me this time.”

The Sunday details reinforced the theme. He bogeyed the opening hole — the kind of stumble that can nudge doubt into a final round — then rattled off five straight birdies. By the turn, the chase had turned into a procession. The win vaulted him to No. 16 in the FedExCup standings and to No. 15 in U.S. Ryder Cup points — timely validation at a point in the year when positioning matters — and ultimately a spot on the U.S. Ryder Cup team.

For fans here, the Wake Forest-to-Greensboro thread was part of the appeal. A Demon Deacon winning on a Ross course in the Piedmont fits how this tournament sees itself: a classic venue, modern field and local ties that never feel forced.

Calling the Wyndham a “launchpad” isn’t a trope; it’s the record. Since returning to Sedgefield in 2008, the event has crowned a steady run of first-timers.

Cameron Young embraces his caddie after securing his first PGA TOUR victory.

Webb Simpson (2011) claimed his first PGA TOUR win here before adding a U.S. Open. Patrick Reed’s first TOUR title (2013) came at Sedgefield, preceding a career that would stack up Ryder Cup points and a Masters.

Si Woo Kim’s first win (2016) came on these slopes; he’d win THE PLAYERS the next season. J.T. Poston’s first win (2019) was bogey-free for the week, which was the first on TOUR since Lee Trevino in 1974.

Layer in Brandt Snedeker’s historic 59 in 2018 (he finished the job two days later), and the tournament’s role in the wider story is obvious: Sedgefield tells future truths early.

This year’s field kept that pattern intact by blending the “now” with the “next.” Harry Higgs, winner of the 2024 Visit Knoxville Open, brought his recent form and familiar presence. Kaito Onishi, who won the 2024 UNC Health Championship in Raleigh, showed why he’s been pegged as one to watch. Rico Hoey (2023 Visit Knoxville Open) and Davis Thompson (2023 REX Hospital Open) added more Korn Ferry pedigree to the week.

It’s a setup that suits the moment the Wyndham occupies on the schedule. The tournament attracts veterans trying to lock down playoff spots, established names tuning up and fresh graduates testing themselves on a stage where every shot carries postseason weight.

The leaderboard reflected that blend. Mac Meissner finished solo second

PLAYER POS

CAMERON YOUNG

MAC MEISSNER

MARK HUBBARD

ALEX NOREN

JACKSON KOIVUN

CHRIS KIRK

AARON RAI

at 16-under. Mark Hubbard and Alex Noren tied for third at 15-under. Defending champion Aaron Rai posted another solid showing, tying for fifth at 14-under.

And then there was the line everyone in Greensboro learns to follow by Saturday afternoon: the FedExCup bubble. Germany’s Matti Schmid grabbed the final playoffs berth at No. 70, edging Thompson at No. 71 by the thinnest of margins. That kind of ledger math — one Sunday swing deciding whether your year extends or ends — is part of what makes this stop unique.

Roles Inside the Ropes

The Wyndham’s competitive profile is national; its execution is local. The difference shows up in the way members talk about their assignments. They don’t view them as “volunteer roles” in the abstract. They’re jobs with rosters, logistics and repeat customers. A few snapshots capture what that means here.

Bill Richardson has been a Sedgefield member for nearly 25 years and has captained gallery control at the ninth green since the tournament returned to the course in 2008. He explains his post the way a small-unit commander would: personnel counts, pressure points and contingency plans.

“I’ve got 20 people on the hole at any one time — 20 in the morning and 20 in the afternoon. It takes about 80 people to run the hole,” he said.

The back-of-green corridor — where the cart path, ropes and hospitality converge — drives the staffing. “It’s constant, constant traffic,” Richardson said. “And for some reason the golfers don’t like people moving back there while they’re on the green.”

He walks through the routine: freeze the cart path in three places while players putt, monitor movement at the tent, hold quiet paddles around the green, control the chute to No. 10 tee and keep an eye on the ballroom stairs where players exit. The choreography repeats every 11 minutes all afternoon.

Recruiting starts when volunteer registration opens in late April or early May. Richardson runs half-day shifts to keep his mostly older crew fresh. “If you don’t keep volunteers happy, they won’t come back,” he said.

Weather can turn the job into a marathon. “Last year was a living hell,” he admitted.

“From first light to too dark to see. If we’d had another year like that, I might’ve told them, ‘You’ve got to find somebody else. I’m too old.’” This time, cool temperatures later in the week and an on-time pace made the difference.

He has the big-crowd memory every Greensboro marshal seems to carry — Tiger Woods in 2015 — and a quieter one that explains why people keep signing up. When J.T. Poston’s grandmother arrived by cart during his 2019 run, “we made sure she got from 9 to 10 to watch him,” Richardson said. For him, the point is simple: “It’s a perfect event — good for Sedgefield, good for Greensboro.”

Longtime Sedgefield member Mitchell Hunt has worked the Wyndham since 2008, starting as a marshal on No. 3, then serving as captain at 18. Now he chairs Guest Services and leads EVAC (weather evacuation). He describes both with the same phrase: “Basically, I’m in the people-moving business.”

Guest Services is the visible layer — getting VIPs and fans where they need to be, coordinating with hospitality and operating a Special Needs team that makes sure guests with disabilities and older veterans can actually see golf instead of trying to see around it.

The evacuation plan is the layer everyone hopes stays invisible. “We station carts around the course the Sunday before the tournament,” Hunt said. The routes are mapped and tested. When the horn blows, the routine is practiced, not improvised.

Like Richardson, Hunt has a 2015 story. He was part of the marshal team that moved a hole ahead of Woods all week. “He and Davis Love III did a Tuesday practice round; I got to be with both — great gentlemen,” he said. “Tiger even signed a hat for me.”

The tone changes Thursday morning. “That’s typical of 99% of the players,” Hunt said. “Tuesday they’ll talk and laugh with you. Thursday to Sunday, they’re in their office.”

Why keep showing up? “I love golf, and it’s a chance to help people,” he said. “The leadership team makes everything flow well. It’s a great event for Sedgefield and Greensboro.”

Earl Oxendine, a Porters Neck Country Club member, has been to the Wyndham nearly a

dozen times. He sums up the spectator advantage here in one line. “It’s easy to navigate the grounds and you can get close-up views of the players.”

This year’s unseasonably cool weather later in the week — 70s in August — made the walking even better. His favorite part of the Wyndham’s positioning is the cut-line and bubble drama. “There is a lot of drama to see who will make the cut,” he said. He also points to history. The event’s roots stretch back to the 1930s, and you can feel it. “You can feel that tradition everywhere.”

FEATURE

Sedgefield’s architecture remains the through-line that connects the tournament’s past to its present. Donald Ross built the course in 1926; the tournament’s roots go back to 1938, when Sam Snead won the first Greater Greensboro Open. Snead would win here eight times, a record that still defines the event’s early identity.

After a generation of venue changes, the tournament returned to Sedgefield in 2008 and re-established a look and feel that stands out on TOUR: tree-lined corridors demanding placement, sloping Ross greens that reward the correct angle and punish the wrong quadrant and bunkering that frames decisions instead of simply catching misses.

The result is a modern leaderboard that rarely feels one-note. Big hitters can win here — if they control spin and trajectory into sections. Precision players can win here — if they’re disciplined off the tee and tight with their speeds on the greens. And first-time winners often break through here because the test is clear. If you do A, B and C correctly for four days, you don’t need luck to have a chance.

It’s also a walkable footprint that lets fans do what Oxendine describes: see more golf with less effort, stay near shade when

August acts like August and still feel close to shots that matter. That intimacy is part of why volunteer jobs like Richardson’s need so many hands. Sedgefield puts spectators near the action by design. The trade-off is that crowd and cart movement must be choreographed, not assumed.

Sedgefield’s course closes a week before tournament play begins and reopens the Tuesday after the final round, allowing time for final course preparations and post-tournament maintenance. Still, members embrace the brief disruption, knowing the event’s civic, charitable and reputational impact benefits both the community and the club.

But the logistics are real. The build begins, then the tournament arrives, then the teardown follows. For several weeks, the places where members normally play become places where scoreboards, tents, rope lines and TV towers have to work.

That’s the context for Richardson’s and Hunt’s roles. You can’t move 30,000 people a day around a classic course without planning it street by street. That’s why Richardson starts recruiting in spring and splits shifts to keep veterans fresh in the August sun. It’s why Hunt’s team hardwires guest routes and evacuation paths on Sunday before a shot is struck. It’s why, when everything works, the tournament feels less like a heavy lift and more like a citywide open house.

The details members talk about are small and practical. Where to hold a rope — and when to let a grandmother’s cart through. Where to station

a water cooler for volunteers. Which path behind a green needs a pair of quiet paddles at 2 p.m. instead of at 10 a.m. Which shaded hill gives the best view of two holes for a veteran who can’t walk far. It’s not glossy work. It’s what makes the week feel easy for everyone else.

The Wyndham is the sixth-oldest event on the PGA TOUR. That’s not a slogan; it’s a timeline that runs through golf’s American history. The event changed homes and sponsors and names over the decades, then came back to Sedgefield for good reason. The Ross routing plays to modern standards without losing what makes

it classic. The course’s greenspeed and contour match tournament golf. The walk works for galleries. The town embraces the week. It’s a combination that produces recurring patterns: first-time winners, storylines that translate on television and crowds that feel close enough to matter without becoming the story.

If you’ve been to the Wyndham often, you probably have a preferred route: where to park, where to come through the gate and which holes to watch in which order. Oxendine’s shorthand — “easy to navigate the grounds and you can get close-up views

of the players” — covers most of it. Sedgefield’s footprint makes that possible. You can stand at 9 green and watch groups finish, then catch them again on the walk toward 10 tee. You can sit on a shaded hill and watch two holes without moving. You can get between greens and tees quickly enough that the tournament feels connected, not scattered.

Did You Know? In 2010, the Wyndham Championship made history as the first PGA TOUR event to allow spectators to bring and use cell phones on the tournament grounds.

FEATURE

The schedule also teaches a rhythm. Tuesday is the day Hunt likes to remember because players are looser and more likely to talk. Thursday morning quiets everything down. Friday afternoon becomes a version of musical chairs near the cut line. Saturday finds its pace in the middle of the day, when the course knows who’s in the fight and who’s trying to post early. Sunday belongs to the last four groups and to the golfers hovering around numerical lines — trophy, points, exemptions — where a single birdie means more than normal.

Members see a different timeline layered on top of that one: when the carts get staged, when volunteer call times start, when the first standard-bearer checks in, when the first radio crackles about a bottleneck at a rope break, when the first evacuation drill starts even if the radar looks clean. The two views — fan and member — add up to a single impression: the week is big, but it runs small.

At Sedgefield, the winner leaves with the Sam Snead Cup and the kind of validation that follows first-time champions for years. Young’s check — $1.48 million — fits the event’s status and the field’s depth. The points mattered too, especially given the week’s spot in the season. Moving to No. 16 in the FedExCup standings was more than a number. It was breathing room. Rising to No. 15 in Ryder Cup points was more than a headline. It was placement before an autumn when head-to-head comparisons form.

Ask Richardson what a good Sunday feels like and he’ll skip straight to operations. “It ran smoothly and pretty much on time,” he said of this year. That line — downtime avoided, pace sustained — means spectators got what they came for, players did their jobs without preventable distractions, and volunteers went home tired instead of wrung out.

Ask Hunt and he’ll give you a moment: a veteran making it to the Military Outpost thanks to a Special Needs cart; a family finding a spot where their child could see over a rope without being jostled; an evac

dry-run that stays a drill. Ask Oxendine and he’ll tell you about where he stood when Young’s five-birdie burst turned the day, and how it felt to check two leaderboards at once — one for the trophy, one for the 70th slot.

The common thread in those answers is ownership. The Wyndham is the PGA TOUR’s event, and it is Greensboro’s. The only way both can be true is if the people who live here treat the week like theirs — and they do.

Which leaves Greensboro with what it likes best: a champion whose résumé now includes this week, and a plan that looks a lot like next year.

The tournament belongs to the TOUR. It also belongs to Sedgefield Country Club and to the city that fills the ropes. That’s not rhetoric. It’s why the week keeps producing results that feel inevitable after they’re done.

The right players win. The right stories get told. The right people make it feel easy. Call that the Wyndham equation.

In a sport that often chases bigger and louder, Greensboro keeps proving that the best kind of big is the kind that runs small.

From the opening tee shot to the final putt, the 2025 Wyndham Championship was elevated by the support of our members. The tournament highlighted not only world-class golf, but also the camaraderie and spirit that makes McConnell Golf a community like no other.

SEE YOU AT NEXT YEAR’S WYNDHAM CHAMPIONSHIP: AUGUST 5 - 9, 2026

McConnell Golf Creed

In everything we do, we believe in thinking differently and challenging the status quo.

We are innovators in the club industry.

We believe in “Building Clubs of the Future” with our members and staff being a club’s true product.

We believe in being environmentally responsible and a pillar in our communities.

We believe in being more inclusive than exclusive.

We believe in pure golf for the true golfer and that every day is an opportunity to make a difference.

Musgrove Mill member reflects on highlights of his journey to play thousands of golf courses

by John Jeter

Daryl Boe takes the “game of inches” a bit farther than most golfers. In his 30-plus years playing, Boe has walked — or carted — some 49,000 holes over 18 million yards, which translates to about 10,200 miles, roughly the equivalent of a trip halfway around the world.

Boe has documented every course he’s played toward his “Quest for 3,000,” and this is just one fun factoid revealed from back-of-thenapkin calculations.

As of Aug. 20 this year, his Excel spreadsheets list more than 2,700 courses in every U.S. state except Alaska, as well as 13 countries. By early September, Boe had played all 17 McConnell Golf properties throughout North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

Boe started keeping track in 1994, a few months before he joined Musgrove Mill Golf Club in Clinton, South Carolina, about a 45-mile drive southeast of his home in Greenville. He was on his way to the McConnell Golf property on a recent hot summer day when he told his story.

Boe grew up in a tiny South Dakota town, not widely known for golf, certainly not much for its golfing opportunities. He played college basketball. “I’m a college athlete. I thought, ‘How hard can this game be?’ So I threw myself into golf, and I was quickly humbled,” says Boe, who went on to earn an engineering degree and, later, sell large industrial equipment.

His first job after college took him to Latrobe, Pennsylvania, the hometown of Arnold Palmer, who also designed Musgrove Mill. Boe places Latrobe Country Club at No. 323 on his list. He then joined a company whose old-school boss believed a club

membership was essential for building sales relationships. Boe could choose a place in the Southeast near a great golf course and a good airport, stay in a hotel for six months and decide if he liked the area. If membership costs were reasonable, why, that would be included in his benefits package.

“I found Greenville and I fell in love. I live in Greenville because I found Musgrove Mill,” he says, noting that while the club grandfathered his former employer’s initiation fee, Boe pays his membership fees as he continues golfing wherever his new sales job takes him.

“When I first started, I was out every night on the road. I’d be sitting in a sports bar drinking beer and eating wings. And I started getting bigger and bigger. I finally said, ‘Alright, this is ridiculous,’” the 59-year-old engineer recalls.

At his home club, he became a panelist for Golf Digest. The magazine explains that it carefully vets its panel of course raters, who are responsible for their own travel and lodging. Raters are assigned the courses they rank; none may leverage their position — no free lunch, either, literally or figuratively. They are also assigned courses within their region.

When Boe’s work sends him to a city with a course not featured on his Golf Digest list, he still makes time to drop in, introduce himself to the pro and share his Quest for 3,000 — along with his McConnell Golf affiliation.

One day, Boe found himself near Wilson Country Club, a course in Eastern North Carolina that wasn’t on his Golf Digest list and one he’d never played. So he decided to stop in. As he was driving in, he noticed the sign: a McConnell Golf property — an unexpected connection just an hour from the company’s flagship in Raleigh.

Although Boe knew that full-golf members have reciprocity to play other properties — with certain limitations at select clubs — he says he forgot the 110-year-old club had been purchased by McConnell Golf in 2023. “We started chatting,” he says of his visit with Wilson CC’s pro, “and I said I was coming in just to genuflect and ask humbly if I could come out and play.” The pro happened to mention Jeff Tallman, the Director of Golf at Musgrove Mill. Tallman started at The Mill a few years after Boe did.

Tallman considers Boe’s Quest to 3,000 a “feather in his cap,” one that Boe’s good fortune allows him to wear because of his job and his work with Golf Digest. Tallman says his longest stretch consisted of the 100 consecutive holes he played in the club’s Make-A-Wish fundraiser. This leads to another fun back-of-the-napkin calculation: If Tallman had walked that same 100-hole distance from Clinton to Boe’s residence in Greenville, he would have only been shy about 15 miles from his front door.

“I never even thought about him trying to accomplish a goal,” he says, noting that he sees Boe’s journey more as a self-competitive challenge. Or has the goal become an obsession?

“Oh, gosh, I don’t even want to think about that because it started a long time ago. I think probably my buddies are all laughing,” Boe says. “They’re like, ‘Twenty-seven hundred courses is ridiculous in and of

itself — and the fact that you are still employed.’” He also points out that he and his wife, Linda, are still married after 24 years.

Now closing in on his remarkable milestone, home is always where his cart is. Boe remembers the days before McConnell Golf purchased the then member-owned Musgrove Mill.

“We never had enough money to get the things done that we needed. We needed new cart paths, and unexpected setbacks made it difficult to move forward,” he says. “So when John McConnell came in and bought us, it was a godsend.”

On this hot summer day, Boe prepares for another round at his home — a round that doesn’t count on his Quest list. “Obviously, I have nothing but the utmost great things to say about John McConnell,” Boe says. “Musgrove Mill is such an awesome place and always has been. It’s just unique.”

Through his Instagram account, Boe chronicles his mission, capturing each new stop with course insights and design notes — offering followers a glimpse into the game’s incredible variety and geography.

TEEING OFF AT THE TOP COURSES

Through nearly 2,800 courses, Boe has played 99 out of Golf Digest's Top 100 courses in the U.S. and 82 out of the Top 100 in the world as of this writing. The list below illustrates the publication's Top 5 courses in the country and where the course appears in Boe's spreadsheet.

No. 1 | Pine Valley Golf Club | Pine Valley, New Jersey | #1,715

No. 2 | Augusta National Golf Club | Augusta, Georgia | To Be Determined

No. 3 | Cypress Point Club | Pebble Beach, California | #484

No. 4 | Shinnecock Hills Golf Club | Southampton, New York | #837

No. 5 | Oakmont Country Club | Oakmont, Pennsylvania | #1,245

THE TOP PRIZE STILL MISSING

Boe’s list doesn’t include one of golf’s crown jewels: Augusta National. Yet. “Wouldn’t that be great? But you don’t schedule Augusta, they schedule you,” he says, laughing. “What if something happens when I’m at 2,800, say I break a leg or have a stroke? So if I get the invite tomorrow, I’m going to play it, I don’t care what number it is.”

MAPPING OUT THE QUEST

Across the country, Boe’s Quest to 3,000 has taken shape one tee box at a time. This map traces his 2024 and 2025 stops — a colorful path through cities and courses that showcase the variety, beauty and camaraderie found in American golf.

Course Played in 2024

Course Played in 2025

2024-25 "THE QUEST" COURSES PLAYED

A GLOBAL GOLF EXPERIENCE

Of the world’s Top 100 international courses, Boe has played 82 — a milestone that reflects both his passion for the game and his love of exploration. Each course has offered something different, from breathtaking scenery to unforgettable design. A few of his favorites include:

No. 3 | The Old Course at St Andrews St Andrews, Scotland | #284

No. 8 | Trump Turnberry - Ailsa Turnberry, Scotland | #1,322

No. 24 | Lofoten Links Gimsøysand, Norway | #1,840

No. 28 | Royal Troon Golf Club Troon, Scotland | #282

No. 38 | St. George’s Golf & Country Club Etobicoke, Canada | #1,513

No. 47 | Diamante Golf Club: Dunes Cabo San Lucas, Mexico | #2,178

No. 63 | Royal Liverpool Golf Club Hoylake, England | #1,656

No. 90 | The European Club Brittas Bay, Ireland | #1,655

MEMORIES THROUGHOUT MCCONNELL GOLF Making

Making

MEMORIES THROUGHOUT MCCONNELL GOLF

THE RESERVE GOLF CLUB

 THE COURSE

Designed by Greg Norman and opened in 1998, The Reserve Golf Club blends seamlessly with Pawleys Island’s natural Lowcountry setting, where native vegetation, wildlife and the club’s wellknown wild turkeys remain mainstays. Known for its strategic bunkering, natural contours and challenging greens, The Reserve offers a world-class experience that keeps golfers of all levels coming back for more.

Over the years, The Reserve has hosted some of the region’s most prestigious tournaments, including:

• Carolinas PGA Section Championships (2001-2002)

• Carolinas PGA Pro-Assistant Championship (2011-12)

• Carolinas Golf Association Mid-Amateur Championship (2014, 2019)

• ACC Women’s Golf Championship (2017, 2022)

• South Carolina Golf Association Senior Four-Ball Championship (2017, 2023)

• Carolinas PGA South Carolina Senior Open (2020)



INSTAGRAMMABLE SPOTS

The par-5 18th at The Reserve is as breathtaking as it is demanding. Stretching more than 600 yards, the finishing hole frames a sweeping view of the fairway, water and clubhouse. Most players lay up short of the waste bunker before taking on the approach over water — but whether you make par or birdie, the real reward is the view. The reflections on the pond and the clubhouse at sunset make it one of the most photographed spots on the course.



DID YOU KNOW?

A preserved quarter-mile stretch of the original King’s Highway runs through The Reserve’s property. Built in the 1600s to connect Boston to Charleston, the road carried goods from the Lowcountry to ports for shipment overseas, supported troop movements during the Revolutionary War, and in 1791 welcomed President George Washington as he traveled the route during his Southern Tour. To locate, turn left at the club’s parking lot onto Villa Oak Circle. The remnants are behind the first Golf Club Villa townhome currently under construction.

“From the moment we joined The Reserve Golf Club way back when, we knew it had a warm and caring staff and that feeling continues to date. In June, we celebrated Donald Clement’s (DC) retirement with cheers and many tears, and quickly welcomed Chris Dibble’s arrival. Thanks to Justin Morris and Steve Kuchka, along with everyone else, Chris’ days so far have been smooth sailing. The club continues to embody the spirit of ‘we are family!’ The Reserve is a special place to play golf especially since the greens are the finest anywhere, thanks to our dear Ronald Crowe and his maintenance crew.”

Barry & Jill Lieberman, Members of The Reserve Golf Club

“Happy Campers” McConnell Golf Clubs Bring New Meaning to

From summer camps to holiday magic, McConnell Golf clubs make family memories year-round

by Amanda Capps

�e term “country club” o�en evokes images of golf courses, tennis courts and swimming pools — classic membership amenities — but at McConnell Golf, it also means golf cart drive-in movies, full-scale festivals, a�er-school adventures and camps where imagination rules the day.

Creativity and commitment fuel McConnell Golf’s

standout programs for all ages. With backgrounds spanning education, hospitality, sports, health care and more, the sta� brings a notable blend of skills to event planning, child care and member services.

From escape rooms and all-you-can-eat snow cones to Space STEM Camp and Bunny Brunch, the options are endless, and the experiences last a lifetime.

THE COUNTRY CLUB AT WAKEFIELD PLANTATION: WHERE CLUB CULTURE IS KID CULTURE

Summer fun is a given at The Country Club at Wakefield Plantation, but Activities Director Erica Pendergraft keeps the excitement going through Christmas, when it’s time for one of the legendary camps. In addition to holiday happenings, it hosted Rescue Rangers Camp, offering a glimpse into the world of first responders.

“We had lifeguards from Aquatic Management Group, three deputies

from Wake County and a therapy dog. EMS came with an ambulance and talked about what to do if you have to call 911, and we got a firetruck ride — complete with sirens,” Pendergraft says.

When member Jordan Bracamonte’s family moved from California, they found a “warm, welcoming place” where staffers knew everyone’s name. She says her kids run out the door to go to Wakefield events.

“It’s a side of the club that’s not as well-known, but the camps and other kids’ activities have built a lot of the club culture,” Pendergraft says.

COUNTRY CLUB OF ASHEVILLE: DROP & PLAY ALL DAY — OR COME FOR A NIGHT OUT

The event lawn at Country Club of Asheville saw a lot of action this summer with 15 camps, including an Olympic field competition. Drop & Play Manager Danielle Bullock also offered a Disney Camp, and “wet and wild” days called for Slip ’N Slides to beat the heat. Space STEM Camp, along with tennis and junior golf, added to a season stretching from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

Member Amanda Byerly says her family has made a lot of memories at brunches and holiday meals, and their two girls have made great friends at camps and other events. “We also love taking advantage of the themed Kids Club nights so we can occasionally have a quiet adults-only dinner date, and ‘Drop and Play’ comes in clutch when my husband plays golf. Most importantly, we love that our daughters feel safe and comfortable with the child care staff. They are topnotch!” Byerly says.

PORTERS NECK COUNTRY CLUB: CREATIVE CUSTOMS IN WILMINGTON

Porters Neck Activities and Aquatics Director Jen Hancock has presided over Princess and Pirate Camp, planned hayrides for hundreds, and positioned her club as the coolest place for after-school pursuits in Wilmington.

Fall has brought a little “Hocus Pocus,” along with appearances by the “Sanderson sisters” and a makeup artist from the famous film’s sequel. “Elf” is a Christmastime tradition, and the whole golf course is covered in lights for a three-night winter carnival.

“I brainstorm ideas with staff from other clubs, but McConnell Golf doesn’t have a set template. We develop programs that fit our communities, our facilities and our members,” Hancock says, noting that the lineup includes Spring Break Camp and clubs for fans of Lego or American Girl dolls.

KIDS CAMPS

“I brainstorm ideas with staff from other

clubs,

but McConnell Golf doesn’t have a set template. We develop programs that fit our communities, our facilities and our members.”

Jen Hancock

The swim team was a big draw for Charity Delaney’s family. Her three children have also attended camps, and one competed in USTA tennis. In five years at Porters Neck, they’ve tried everything from pickleball to bocce, and Charity took part in a guided kayak trip on the Intracoastal Waterway.

“The program has really grown. I hope they keep investing in it at Porters Neck,” Delaney says.

PROVIDENCE COUNTRY CLUB: A PLACE FOR PARENTS, KIDS AND “IN-BETWEENS”

Although Aimee Reichert began her career as a kindergarten teacher, it was as a sixth-grade substitute that she came to understand a special age group — one that’s not always easy to please. Bringing that insight to her role as activities director at Charlotte’s Providence Country Club, she designed a ’tween program.

“They’re tricky to entice. They have one foot in each world,” Reichert says.

Calling the ’tween program “a gift,” member Katie Woodward says she goes to work knowing her daughters are in a positive environment that supports their well-being.

“It’s wonderful to have them at the same location. Elie, who’s 10, loves the games, the pool time with the older group and the independence

of being treated like a ‘bigger kid,’” Woodward says. “Instead of being glued to an iPad, she’s active and engaged in real-life friendships. She’s already asked to do even more camp weeks next summer, and that says it all!”

Reichert promotes her camps as reminiscent of childhood summers in the 1980s — full of outdoor activities and little time for screens. Phones are allowed but Capture the Flag usually wins.

“It’s fantastic to see how happy they are just playing games with the other kids and our counselors,” Reichert says.

Across McConnell Golf properties, these programs don’t just fi ll the calendar — they create the kind of memories that define childhood, strengthen families, and shape the club culture for years to come.

“It’s fantastic to see how happy they are just playing games with the other kids and our counselors.”

Aimee Reichert

Joey Denton McConnell

Eastern U.S. Director - Links Players joey@linksplayers.com 704-576-1323

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