Highly decorated, never duplicated Tobacco Road receives world ranking

        By DAVID DROSCHAK When the Pinehurst/Southern Pines/Aberdeen Area Convention and Visitors Bureau proclaimed itself the “Home of American Golf” neighboring Lee County wasn’t necessarily in the equation. After all, Sanford was once “The Brick Capital of the World” and very little high-end golf existed. But if there was ever a game changer it was Tobacco…

Mike Hicks opens instruction center at Mill Creek

        Former caddy for Payne Stewart shifting golf careers By DAVID DROSCHAK Mike Hicks has read thousands of left-to-right putts on the PGA Tour during his 33 years as a caddy, toted the bag for major champions Payne Stewart and Justin Leonard, traveled the globe, and witnessed professional golf’s psychological pressures up close and personal. A…

Raleigh-based McConnell Golf producing young talent

        The McConnell Golf Junior Scholarship is an innovative program designed to offer instruction, practice and playing opportunities to young golfers that may not have the financial means to practice at first-class facilities. Certain criteria needs to be met, including level of talent, need and commitment to the sport – as well as his proven dedication and…

Myrtle Beach courses riding wave of change to ultradwarf bermudagrass greens

        By JOHN BRASIER No more than a decade ago, replacing healthy bentgrass greens with bermudagrass putting surfaces would have been unpopular and bad for business for elite golf courses along Myrtle Beach’s Grand Strand. “Everybody wanted to play bentgrass greens,” said Max Morgan, vice president of agronomy for National Golf Management’s 22 Myrtle Beach-area courses.…