By David Droschak At 28 years old and the golf world still reeling from the Great Recession, fresh-faced architect Kyle Franz made a bold prediction after having a hand in the bunkering work at Pinehurst No. 2. “I did an interview in the summer of 2010 right after we finished Pinehurst No. 2 and one…
By STEVE WILLIAMS Despite averaging a solid 72 in 11 events as a freshman, Parker Gillam found himself on the outside looking in during the fall portion of Wake Forest’s schedule. The sophomore from Cary appeared as an extra individual in two of the Demon Deacons’ four events but that’s all. However, he made his…
By David Droschak Payne Stewart’s dramatic winning putt on the final hole of the 1999 U.S. Open galvanized the world of golf 20 years ago this summer and to this day remains one of the game’s most iconic moments. Stewart’s clutch putt played out in front of tens of thousands of fans huddled around the…
By David Droschak The owner of Linville Ridge Country Club talked to anyone who would listen about the great job architect George Cobb had done in creating the 16th hole, a dramatic par-3 that showcases an elevation drop equivalent to an 11-story building and a 50-mile view of the glorious Blue Ridge Mountains off in…
By David Droschak Bob Farren has never won a championship, never hoisted a trophy for a global photo op or sank a clutch putt for hundreds of thousands of dollars. In fact, many causal golfers may have never even heard of his name, let alone know his title at one of golf’s most glorious venues.…
Just how popular has Pinehurst No. 4 become in just a few weeks since reopening under the design of red-hot golf course architect Gil Hanse? Well, in November and December, the course was sold out 23 days … and filling up quickly as word of the “new” Pinehurst Resort layout spreads across the international golfing…
Reagan High School edges out Pinecrest for 4A state championship By David Droschak Sasha Hayes was a multi-sport star growing up in the Triad area, with figure skating and golf emerging as her competitive loves as she entered her teen years. Then it was time for another life altering decision – breaking away from home…
By Brad King Pinehurst-based golf course architect Richard Mandell has too much on his plate these days to stress about the challenges facing his industry. Despite new course construction plummeting during in the past decade, Mandell has remained a busy man. Since forming his company, Richard Mandell Golf Architecture in 1992, he has worked on…
By David Droschak So just how did Quail Ridge Golf Club return to form after the previously dilapidated course had zero takers at auction? A call from the Coca-Cola man, of course. But this success story really has nothing to do with soda pop at all, other than a phone call between friends that set…
By Brad King Golf course architect Kris Spence faced a standing room only crowd of 400-plus gathered in Providence Country Club’s Grand Ballroom in early January for a presentation of the club’s upcoming golf course renovation. Tall and broad-shouldered with auburn hair and a chiseled countenance, Spence was dressed in a dark suit and a…