Golf Genius Software has acquired Operation 36 Golf, developers of a beginner golf development program with a unique coaching model that is driving the goal of “1,000,000 Golfers Created”. Operation 36 provides a proprietary software platform and teaching curriculum now in use by nearly 600 golf facilities in 14 countries, and will operate as a…
By David Droschak Where has 2021 gone? It’s hard to believe that the two best holidays of the year in my opinion – Thanksgiving and Christmas – are bearing down on us. Shopping for your favorite golfer — whether it’s your spouse, sister or brother, father or mother, uncle or aunt — could be the most challenging in recent time, so I’m here to…
By David Droschak Was it the best six-month span of women’s prep golf in North Carolina history? That fact would be hard to argue after Reagan High School captured its second 4-A state title in 2021, riding a final-round 65 from senior star Morgan Ketchum to tack on yet another record scoring day. Ketchum, who will play college golf at…
By David Droschak It’s an understatement to say Chris Jones is accustomed to starting golf programs from scratch. Within the last 15 years alone, Jones has launched Northern Guilford High School’s golf teams (2007) and the university programs at Johnson & Wales (2019) in Charlotte. And in late September, Jones took the head coaching job at Pfeiffer University…
By David Droschak In some ways, J.R. Smith’s life has come full circle. Once a teenager in a man’s world as a high school player drafted in the NBA first round, the two-time world champion now finds himself as a 30-something guy, surrounded by a group of much younger, college teammates. Smith, 36, who played…
By David Droschak Kris Spence will stop you in your tracks if you try to label his recent work at Woodlake Country Club as an impending renovation or restoration. The Greensboro-based golf course architect has a much more fitting description of the project. “This is a resurrection from the dead, this thing was gone,” Spence…
By David Droschak Harold Varner III has come close but has yet to win on the PGA Tour. He finished second this past season at the RBC Heritage and played in the final pairing at the 2019 PGA Championship before carding a disappointing 81. Varner, now 31, no longer dwells on the close calls, or pays much…
By David Droschak Macy Pate was seeking warmer weather and the ability to work on her golf game on a full-time basis when her family moved from the North Carolina mountains to Winston-Salem last August. The 15-year-old Pate, a fierce competitor, was also looking for players to push her and challenge a skill set that…
By David Droschak The first lunch meeting in February 2012 between Pine Needles Resort president Kelly Miller and golf course architect Kyle Franz hit on a wide range of topics. At one point, Southern Pines Golf Club came up, and Franz sat up in his chair. Franz had played the 115-year-old course numerous times while…
By Brad King Alex Smalley didn’t quite play his way into the six-man playoff to determine the 2021 Wyndham Championship, eventually won by Kevin Kisner. Nevertheless, the former Duke star captured plenty of attention along the way. Playing on his home course at Sedgefield Country Club, the 24-year-old Smalley carded three rounds in the 60s,…