Virginia Golfer Jan / Feb 2016 | Page 28

Retiring Virginia Tech football coach FRANK BEAMER, a VSGA member at Blacksburg Country Club, plans to funnel some of his energy to the golf course By NATHAN WARTERS NATHAN WARTERS: You’ve talked about some of the things you want to do in retirement. Where does golf fit into your plans? FRANK BEAMER: I would like to think we’d golf on a regular basis. We’ll spend part of our time down in Georgia at Reynolds Plantation. They have about six or seven courses there, really, and when I’m here I enjoy playing Blacksburg Country Club. I like Ballyhack [Golf Club in Roa- noke]. I plan to get my golf in. I’m not a guy who wants to go play every day, though. I think I’ll try to put a day in between. Two or three times a week is about all I’d really want to do. NW: Who are some of your favorite playing partners? FB: I plan to start developing some new playing partners here, but Wayland Overstreet is one of my good buddies from way way back. That’s one. And John Ballein and A COMPETITIVE SPIRIT W 26 V I R G I N I A G O L F E R | J A N UA R Y / F E B R UA R Y 2 0 1 6 PHOTO CREDIT HERE ith his illustrious coaching career over, Beamer, 69, is confronted by a world of opportunities in retirement. He wants to spend more time with his four grandchildren and travel with his wife, Cheryl. He has also spoken about possibly getting into television. Whatever he decides to do, he is sure golf will be a part of it. Beamer, a Virginia Tech grad, started swinging a club during his senior year of college and has played regularly since. The quest for ACC championships and major bowl games will be replaced by the drive for pars and birdies, but Beamer’s competitive spirit will carry on. Virginia Golfer contributor Nathan Warters, who covered Beamer for multiple newspapers, most recently The Free-Lance Star in Fredericksburg, spoke with him about his golf game and his future in the sport. vsga.org