sixcat

I find the list interesting for the fact that we, as the golfing public, are sold the idea that bigger/longer/tougher equals better. Some of my buddies in Raleigh continually talk about Tobacco Road Golf Club because it is generally regarded as one of the top five toughest courses in America. I think it is a goat track and would be better served as such. Most touring professionals prefer aesthetics and layout over, say #17 at TPC Sawgrass for example. I love old style courses that have the appearance that they have been there forever. If you polled touring professionals, Pine Valley and Cypress Point would win hands down (and has in recent years) as favorite courses but they are NOT up to tour standards today. In my opinion, Greenbrier was not up to Tour standards either a few years ago although they are making strides to get the course more suited for the caliber player that plays on tour.

In an attempt at full disclosure, PGATour.com ranks tournament courses, at tournament setup conditions, in terms of difficulty. The Old White at the Greenbrier ranked 42 out of 52 courses used during the 2010 season. I think this is a better judge of a courses character though. http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-courses/2012-01/photos-worst-tour-courses#slide=1

Most people reading this forum will never know just how funny this is! Nice post.

In my opinion, this is Tiger's new normal. He is 36 with a knee, left knee on top of that, that has been cut on four times. He will win more than his fair share when in contention but the weeks he does not have "it", he will struggle just like everyone else. Tiger's biggest advantage from 1996 to 2008 was the fact that he could win tournaments with his "C" game and everyone else would struggle to make a cut with their "B" game. Tiger wins by 5 shots with a "B" game and when he has his "A" game, well just look at the 2000 US Open results from Pebble Beach or 1997 Masters. Tiger will play less and less as he ages and will contend less and less but when he puts it together for a week here and there, we will get weeks like this past. If you doubt my opinion, look up Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus careers. Palmer never won another major after the 1964 Masters at the age of 35. Nicklaus went long stretches between tournaments from the mid 70's into the 80's. But the weeks he put it all together, you got the '86 Masters.

Galax beat Holston 10-2 last night for the Region C championship.

Interesting topic. A ton of Oak Hill guys Dustin Johnson (several times) Ian Poulter Justin Rose Padraig Harrington Rory McIlroy Rickie Fowler Peter Jacobson Arnold Palmer Jack Nicklaus Nancy Lopez Phil Mickelson John Daly Ben Crenshaw Scott Van Pelt Dang, forgot this years Masters champ Bubba Watson. I have photos of almost all of these by the way. Been to way too many golf tournaments.

I was not living here in the early 2000's, I left at 17 in 1992 and didn't return until 2007. I had heard about some issues over the years before CC was a member of the SWD but that was many years ago. The problem, as it was explained to me, was the head of the association for referees (pre Roanoke Association and Appalachian Association covering this area) was also the longtime principal of CCHS and he would schedule ref's/umps to his/their advantage. That has all been changed from what I understand.

That makes more sense. I don't know Shane personally and doubt he knows me. He would remember my brother as I am sure my brother would remember him. They competed against each other in high school and were two of a select few athletes to go on to compete at the college level. The talent level then is not what it is now for this area. As for the ref's comment and as I have mentioned before, I have never been affiliated with the VHSL and will leave it at that.

Well, I am not from Tazwell and can't say I have ever been there in my life but the fact still remains, Shane is going to have enough to deal with from what I understand about the hierarchy in and around the athletic programs in Tazwell. Don't add to it by getting something unfairly started on a meaningless message board.

Shane believes in hard nosed, smash mouth football. That does not mean nor should it imply that HE is a hard ass. He has enough on his plate, let's not add to it with by taking newspaper quotes out of context. The kids will love him, it's the rest of the community that I am concerned about.

Shane played against my brother back in their high school days. He was a great player. If given a chance, he will be a great coach but from what I understand, that would require great change from the community.

Maybe some but here, its success with basketball and football. All the 10 year old kids that were playing golf two years ago are now playing basketball and football. It's a popularity thing and winning changes perspective. It will be hard for anyone to duplicate Eddie Hanks and Jon Alouf graduating in a few weeks with 5 state championships rings each.

Gotcha. We have had several kids play in those events over the years. It seems to be dwindling a little over the past couple of years for local participation.

I thought you might. Don't you or didn't you at one point run the BRJGT?

That is true but the Old White now plays at 7,274 yards with a slope and rating of 141 and 75.7. The slope and rating was 129 and 72.1 in 2010 with a length of 6,852 yards. In case you don't understand slope and rating, the rating number is what the USGA has assigned the course as an "average" score for the scratch golfer. The slope is a divisor to add in someone's handicap to determine the number of strokes a player should receive for the particular course. Basically the higher the number, the harder the course. Going from 72.1 to 75.7 is HUGE.

Indeed they have. UVA women's program has done what all of the men's programs in Virginia have not been able to do lately, keep the top in-state players in-state. A few like Swanson, Ellenbogen and Jessie Hollandsworth left the state but most stay and play at UVA.

It also changes sight lines and if you play, you know that is key to everything in scoring. Changed site to sight because im an idiot.

If they are, it has not been posted on the NCAA website and I have not heard that. They need to. They may not have been able to keep Meredeth Swanson local because she wanted to go south (South Carolina, she played as team #4 this weekend and SC won NCAA East Regional) but they could have kept Courtney Ellenbogen. I think she would have chosen VT over Duke if that choice were available.

To add to your point, the Old White Course went through some modifications other than length. All 18 greens, as well as the practice putting and pitching greens, were reconstructed following the 2010 final round where Stuart Appleby shot a 59. They narrowed a ton of fairways, added trees, expanded the lake on #16 and reseeded new greens on all 18 holes with Tyee Creeping Bentgrass, which is a VERY fast surface. Edit to add 2010.

I mentioned this little known fact several months ago in another forum on this site but I can repeat. Golf is my deal, I love it more than all other sports combined and know more about the game at all levels than anyone should. I am a golf nerd! Clemson has added women's golf for the 2013-2014 season, which is a requirement to compete in the SEC and Big XII. They have already had a head coach in place for over a year and signed two of the top junior girls in the world late last year. With the facilities and success of the men's program (more PGA Tour players than any other school) they have, it's only a matter of time before they are competing on a national level. Rumor around some of the major golf message boards for two years has been Clemson paving the way to get into the SEC or Big XII and this is evidence of such a move. Don't underestimate how key that simple little thing could be in paving the way for Clemson to depart.

It is against PGA Tour policy to pay appearance fees. This would have had to have been worked out in some other way. It is well known that Tiger's bag sponsor for many years was Buick and he never missed any GM sponsored golf tournaments. Much like Anthony Kim, Luke Donald, Fred Couples, Morgan Pressel, Ernie Els, Jim Furyk and Matt Kuchar are sponsored by RBC and they never miss either of the RBC sponsored tournaments, the RBC Canadian Open and the RBC Heritage at Hilton Head. They find ways around it so it's not considered an "appearance fee".

Thanks Bucfan, good perspective. I also found this to be an interesting article. A friend sent it to me on Twitter shortly after I posted on here. http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/thoughts-on-the-minnesota-marriage-amendment

I am not here to debate or turn this into anything other than the question I pose. You seem to be much more knowledgeable about this than I am so I am asking honest questions. Feel free to PM if you are more comfortable going that route. Why is this such an issue now? I am no Biblical scholar but if God ordained marriage to be between one man and one woman, and you believe the Bible to be true, shouldn't adultery be treated with the same sense of disdain as homosexuality. If I covet another man's wife, is that not equally sin against the nature of marriage? I don't see legislation being added to "protect the sanctity of marriage" from adultery, abuse or any other damaging behavior to marriage as it is with "gay marriage" legeslation.

According to a local newspaper report, Tazwell's punishment was handed down by the VHSL along with a $300 fine. The VHSL saw no need to punish Carroll any further since the school had already handed down a stiffer punishment than the VHSL recommend. Carroll suspended it's entire team for 1 game (Friday against Abingdon) and 5 players were suspended for another game beyond that. The VHSL recommend 1 Carroll player get a 2 game suspension and nothing further. I would post the article but its locked online without a password.

I didn't "get information" from anywhere other than my memory. I was stationed at Ft. Jackson between June 1992 and December 1994. I could't imagine it's changed that much over the years. That area doesn't seem to have been hit by economic impact like smaller areas around here. I saw some great games, teams and players come through there in 2 years. The Gaffney team from 1992 and Greer team from 1994 were incredible. Division 1 talent all over the field. Peter Boulware, Vonnie Holiday and Bobby Ingram are three that stick out in my mind but I don't remember who they played for.