By Kurt Dusterberg Akshay Bhatia wasn’t at his best when he won the prestigious Junior Invitational in April, but he took another step in his development as one of the top junior golfers in the United States. Bhatia overcame seven bogeys for a third-round 76, good for a one-stroke victory at Sage Valley Golf Club…
By David Droschak Growing up in Myrtle Beach three decades ago was reason enough for Martin Barrier III to get hooked on the great game of golf. More than 100 golf courses dotted the Grand Strand at the time. What also was a huge part of the golf scene along the popular South Carolina golf…
By Brad King Perhaps the biggest buzz at this year’s PGA Merchandise Show was generated by Cary-based Stitch Golf. Of course, to even be mentioned in the PGA Show’s “best of” category in Orlando is impressive, considering that more than 1,000 exhibiting companies and brands display their wares to 40,000-plus industry professionals from some 90…
By David Droschak Officially located within the Durham city limits, Lakeshore has always been known as the golf course of Research Triangle Park. But there was really nothing high-tech about the public layout built from scratch in the early 1960s by Marvin Utley, his father and grandfather. The 18-hole course measured just 5,719 yards from…
By David Droschak The numbers associated these days with junior golf are mindboggling for parents and the game’s rising talents. If there is any question that this portion of the game has reached the “big time” check out these numbers: There are more than 600 tours and associations scattered across the U.S. A staggering 12,000…
By David Droschak Kyle Franz remembers skipping high school study hall to watch the 1996 U.S. Women’s Open at Pine Needles. Fast forward more than two decades later and the rising star in the golf course architecture world will once again be focusing on the Southern Pines resort course. This time, however, Franz will be…
By Brad King Scott Patten says the idea originally germinated with his father, Dean, a retired engineer who spends most days of the week playing golf in their hometown of Apex. As part of his retirement gift, the elder Patten received a golf rangefinder that he often found himself misplacing during a round. Eventually he…
Renowned club fitter Randy McGinnis has moved locations and has taken over I-85 Range in Mebane near Tanger Outlets. McGinnis had leased a driving range and club fitting business for 15 years about 7 miles away, but the property had been cut in half a few years ago by one of the range’s owners, prompting…
By Kurt Dusterberg Josh Nichols had a plan. From the time he was in high school he wanted to fine-tune his golf game in college, qualify for the PGA Tour and make some noise with the top players in the world. “I wanted to be like all the guys you see on TV, they’re 21…
By David Droschak With the snap of his fingers – his trademark celebration after a birdie — Chesson Hadley is back on the PGA Tour. If it was only that easy for the former Raleigh prep star and 2010 Atlantic Coast Conference champion. The 6-foot-4 Hadley seemingly had it all after winning PGA Tour Rookie…