Mirmichi and Westhaven: Two new courses making a big splash in Tennessee Golf

I'm often told that I am incredibly lucky to be doing what I'm doing, and I have to concur. My job affords me the chance to step foot on our state's finest golf courses and to experience things that I otherwise would never be able to. A couple of weeks ago I was lucky enough to have such an opportunity, not once but twice.

As most of you know my job duties include that of course rating. Amongst the hustle and bustle of tournament season I am lucky enough to have a couple of weeks to indulge in this area of my expertise and recently was able to rate two new golf courses that I think will make a big splash in Tennessee golf. First on my list was Mirimichi in Millington, Tennessee. Once known as the Club at Big Creek, Mirimichi (meaning "place of happy retreat") is a renovation masterpiece. Owner, Justin Timberlake, has invested $16 million into turning his childhood course into the "greenest" golfing destination in the nation. Not only does Mirimichi have 18 holes of championship golf, it will also include a 9-hole executive course and be one of nine locations to hold a Callaway Custom Fitting Center all while remaining open to the public. I speak for myself and all of the TGA staff when I say this place is simply "amazing". It is not often we find ourselves on a new course immediately thinking of how soon we can bring championships to the site, but here we were. With five sets of tees, and boasting a back tee yardage of more than 7400 yards it offers the ability to host a myriad of events. Set to open on July 24, 2009 Mirimichi has quickly become one of my favorites and I hope that everyone gets a chance to see what all the fuss is about! For more information on Mirimichi visit their website at www.mirimichi.com.

Ratings

Black Rock(M) - 76.6/137
Blue Sky(M) - 74.2/134
Gold Sun(M) - 71.4/131
White Sand(M) - 68.3/122
White Sand(W) - 73.3/129
Red Clay(W) - 69.8/125






Westhaven Golf Club in Franklin, Tennessee was next on our list. Designed by renowned architect Arthur Hills, Westhaven Golf Club is a private, championship 18-hole golf course that prides itself on being a "core" course which allows players a true escape from the outside world. With the course scheduled to open in mid to late August my staff and I ventured out a couple of weeks ago to finalize their course and slope ratings. Wow, what a golf course! While it may not be a overly long course, back tee of 6,968 yards, it is a course that requires precision on absolutely every shot. At first glance, you'll notice that the course has several short par 4's, ranging in yardage from 310 to 370 from the back tees, but do not let this fool you. For example, hole #2 is a 310 yard par 4 in which the player finds himself very easily tempted to pull out driver. What is not immediately recognized is that the margin of error is next to none. With a water hazard lining the entire left side of the hole and OB right, a player's need for an accurate tee shot is a must. What makes the hole even more difficult is a fairway bunker that sits directly in the middle of the landing area which forces players to have to hit something in the neighborhood of 250 yards to carry but will force an approach shot of over 100 yards if they decide to lay up. As if that wasn't enough, players are then forced to deal with several pot bunkers and an additional water hazard directly behind the highly contoured green. It is these kind of descisions that place a premium on course management at Westhaven. While it seems that so many courses are becoming longer to defend themselves against technology, Westhaven brings back the game of shot placement and creativity which is so often forgotten. For more information on Westhaven Golf Club visit them online at www.golfwesthaven.com.

Ratings

Gold(M) - 73.9/138
Blue(M) - 71.7/131
Green(M) - 69.1/126
White(M) - 66.6/118
Green(W) - 74.9/135
White(W) - 71.4/127
Red(W) - 67.9/122

A busy month of June...

It is safe to say that our tournament season is in full swing. June tends to be an extremely busy month for the TGA and this year nothing has changed. Having traveled from one end of the state to the other the past couple of weeks, we find ourselves home once again preparing for 2 state championships that will take place next week in Middle TN.

On June 8th we found ourselves in Memphis running the U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying which was held at Germantown and Ridgeway Country Clubs. It was a 36-hole single day event that awarded 13 players the chance to head to Bethpage Black as contestants of the 2009 U.S. Open. The event was a huge success and it was extremely exciting to witness some of the big names in golf competing for those much desired qualifying spots. The following day several of us headed over to Windyke Country Club to assist the TPGA with the St. Jude Open Qualifier. There we witnessed an amazing round by one of our local amateurs, Rob Garland, who carded a 65 and captured a spot into the St. Jude Classic which was being held at TPC Southwind.

Leaving Memphis, we pit-stopped back at the office for a couple of days to prepare for the Four-Ball/Senior-Four Ball Championship which was held at Toqua Golf Club in Loudon, TN on June 18-21. This was the first time hosting the Four-Ball Championship for Toqua Golf Club and I commend Jim West, Mark Wickendon, Lisa Vaught and their staff for an incredible job well done. The Four-Ball/Senior Four-Ball Championship began with two days of stroke play qualifying in which the top 16 teams (Regular Division) and top 8 teams (Senior Division) moved onto the weekends match play format. After four days of blistering heat and several weather delays the winners emerged. Grant Milner/Sam Pressley defeated Lexus Keoninh/Steven Fox 1up in the finals of the regular division, while Bill Liberato/Gene Lomax defeated David Hallford/Tim Thompson 2&1 in the senior division finals.

This week we find ourselves preparing for two state championships which take place next week. The Match Play Championship begins June 30th at the Vanderbilt Legends Club in Franklin, TN. Also beginning on June 30th is the 46th Annual Boy's Junior Amateur Championship which will be held at Champions Run in Rockvale, TN. The TGA is extremely excited about the upcoming championships and are waiting in anticipation to crown several state champions.

Off and Running...

Final preparations are being made as the TGA heads down to Memphis this weekend to run the U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying. There will be 110 players fighting for 12 spots into this year's U.S. Open which will be held on June 15-21, 2009 at Bethpage State Park (Black Course) in Farmingdale, NY. Monday's Sectional Qualifying will be a 36-hole stroke play competiton in which players will play both Germantown and Ridgeway Country Club.

Tuesday finds several of the TGA staff serving as Rules Officials in the Stanford St. Jude Qualifier being held at Windyke Country Club. Qualifiers will compete in the Stanford St. Jude which will take place on June 11-14 at TPC Southwind, also located in Memphis. It is definitely a change of pace for us, working professional events, as we typically are involved with amateur
events.

The following week we will be headed up to Loudon, TN for the 2009 Four-Ball/Senior Four-Ball Championship which will be held at Toqua Golf Club. This years event includes 40 Regular Division teams and 30 Senior Division teams. The tournament format will be two days of stroke-play qualifying followed by team vs. team match play until a winner emerges. It is a favorite event of many of our players because of the atmosphere and team comraderie. We are excited for a great Championship and look forward to seeing all of you there.


*Please don't forget that the State Amateur Deadline is Wednesday, June 24th, at 5:00 p.m. CDT. This year's State Amateur Championship will be held on August 4-7, 2009, at The Honors Course in Ooltewah, TN.

2009 State Open

Preparations are well in hand for the 61st Annual State Open which will be conducted next week (May 19-21) at Gaylord Springs Golf Links in Nashville. The TGA is looking forward to another great championship season which will kick off Tuesday, May 19 at 7:30 a.m. with the first tee shot.

This year's field is once again very strong with nine past champions including defending champion, Cody Hale, who won last year as an amateur, but it back to defend as a professional. Also scheduled to compete is Garrett Willis who finished third only a few weeks ago in the South Georgia Classic - Nationwide Tour event, and won the 2000 State Open. Also in the field are past champions Derek Rende (2007), Justin Metzger (2006), Tim Jackson (2003), Rob Long (1987 & 2002), Trey Lewis (2001), Steve Munson (1991), Bob Wolcott (1983).

On Monday, May 18th, the TGA will host over 100 sponsor guests in the annual Pro-Am that preceeds the championship proper. 148 players will compete in the first two rounds on Tuesday and Wednesday which will feature 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. double-tee starts. The field will be cut to the low 60 players and ties after the second round. The final round will begin at 8:00 a.m. with a single tee start.

Follow the action online as our website (http://www.golfhousetennessee.com/) will feature a mini-leaderboard and live scoring for the lead groups during the final round.

RE/MAX World Long Drive Championships coming to Twelve Stones Crossing Golf Club

Twleve Stones Crossing Golf Club, Goodlettsville, TN will host a qualifying event for the 2009 RE/MAX World Drive Championship, the premier event in power golf, on April 26, 2009.

Area golfers are invited to see how they stack up as power hitters. Long drive competition takes place in three adult divisions: Open, Senior (45+), Super Senior (53+).

Qualifying lasts from 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

Entry fees are $40 per try. Golfers may enter multiple times and, if age eligible, multiple, divisions.

Top finishers at Twelve Stones Crossing Golf Club will advance to the regional finals of the 2009 RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship. The ultimate goal is to earn a spot at the RE/MAX world finals, scheduled for October 25-30, 2009, in scenic Mesquite, Nevada.

To learn more about the adrenaline-drenched sport of long drive visit www.longdrivers.com, and make plans to tee it up and take your best shot at Twelve Stones Crossing Golf Club on April 26, 2009.

For More Information contact:

James McClellan - 615-596-0951

Or

Pro Shop at Twelve Stones Crossing Golf Club - 615-851-4653

Tournament Registration - Now Open!

Tournament Registration for all TGA events officially opened up on March 1st. This year we've decided to do things a little differently than we have in the past. Typically, we have opened up our tournament registration in stages. This year we have decided to open up registration for all events at the same time...giving our players the ability to sign up for their full season of tournaments at one time. It is our hope that this offers our players an easier opportunity to enter events as well as allowing them the peace of mind that they don't have to remember to check back in later in the year to see if registration has opened for the other tournaments.

If you have not signed up for any 2009 tournaments and would like to do so, please follow this link to our tournament registration page.

TGA Tournament Registration

If you are new to the TGA and have not yet signed up for a TGA Players Club ID and Password please follow the link above and click on the link titled "Click here to sign up for online registration", or contact the TGA office at 615.790.7600 and we can set up an account for you.

*Reminder*

This year's tournament season starts off with a TGA Championship Series Event on April 6-7 at the Governor's Club in Brentwood, TN. Registration for this event closes on March 23. This event is a 36 hole stroke play event open to all Mid Am (25+) and Senior Ams (55+).

Christmas Already?!

Of course its not, it was 2 months ago...but around the office you would have thought otherwise. Its been years since a lot of us here in the office have changed golf equipment...the fact is none of us really get to play as much golf as you might think. The old adage, "If you want to play golf, don't get into the golf business.", is true in a lot of respects, but we do get our time to shine out on the links every once in a while. Until now I've been able to use the excuse of, "The only reason I played so badly is the clubs. I mean they were made back in the early 80's", for which we all know is a completely invalid excuse. The fact is its most of the time always going to be the Indian, not the arrow, but in golf, I think having a new arrow every once in a while pays off. It feels as if golf club manufacturers have been secretly conversing with cell phone providers. Let's make the newest greatest thing on the market, and in four months lets replace it with an even better product....and then lets change that products color and call it a "pro series". To keep up with technology is something that not even the Jones' can do, but oh do they keep all of our eyes anxiously awaiting "the next best thing".

So I guess 2009 has officially been our year of change here in the office in regards to golf equipment, our feeble attempt to keep up with the Jones'. I would almost say it has taken a domino effect. One person gets this club, and that causes the other guy to think, "Man I want that!". Then someone else gets a set of this or that, and that sparks an excitement in someone else ...you know the drill. It would be a safe bet to say that this is typical behavior around most offices around the world, especially those in and around the game of golf.

So I know your asking, "What did you all get?". I'll lay it out in the said domino effect that took place! Maybe in the future weeks and months we can all write some reviews on how the new sticks are working out for us.

Matt gets his new Victory Reds!

Steve Mac get his new Tour Preferred Irons!



David then gets his new Callaway X Forged Irons



along with his new FT9 Driver


Steve Mac then decides on the Burner TP's



Nate and myself then catch a little of the "Man I want that!" bug that I discussed earlier. For some its easy to suppress this feeling, but I would venture to say for 99% of all warm blooded males... its a battle that's not worth fighting. Simply put its a case of, "Gimme, Gimme, Gimme".

Nate decides on the Mizuno MP67's


along with the new Titleist 909 D3 driver




And Finally.....

I chose the TaylorMade TP MB Smokes





and the new Cobra S9-1 Pro S







So there's a glimpse into our February X-mas! Needless to say we are all ready for Mr. Spring to finally warm us up so we can confidently stroll out to the course. Now I'm not saying records are going to be set...all I'm saying is there is a group of young Indians, ready to unleash a few new arrows!