at c()
SMILEY PROMOTED The VSGA has promoted Matt Smiley, Director of Rules and Competitions, to the newly created role of Assistant Executive Director, VSGA Executive Director Jamie Conkling announced.
Smiley joined the VSGA staff in 2003 after two stints as a USGA P. J. Boatwright Intern and has served as the Association’ s Rules and Competitions Director since 2008. Smiley will continue to oversee the VSGA’ s Department of Rules and Competitions.
“ Matt has been a valuable member of the VSGA staff for more than 15 years, and he is ready to take this next step in his career,” Conkling said.“ Under his watch, VSGA championships have grown in both quantity and in stature, and we’ re excited to see what he can bring to the organization in an increased capacity.”
A lifelong Virginian, Smiley was born in Danville before moving to Wytheville with his family at age seven. Smiley played golf and basketball for George Wythe High School. In
Michelle Holmes Linda Gaudi Leighann Albaugh
TOP 50 RECOGNITION
U. S. Kids Golf has recognized three Virginians in the 2016 class of Top 50 Kids Teachers. Michelle Holmes of Cahoon Plantation in Chesapeake and Leighann Albaugh of Magnolia Green Golf Club in Moseley were recognized as Top 50 Kids Teachers.
Linda Gaudi of The Country Club of Fairfax was recognized as one of nine Masters Kids Teachers, an award that honors instructors for their ongoing efforts to grow the game of golf among kids. These individuals have earned the distinction by winning the Top 50 Kids Teacher Award three or more times.
Holmes is one of the VSGA’ s five Junior Golf Circuit regional coordinators. The VSGA has added three regional coordinators recently, with Peter Weisel( Roanoke) and Edward Gill and Robert Nowak, PGA( Charlottesville-Richmond co-coordinators) joining Holmes, LPGA( Hampton Roads) and Tommy Smith, PGA( Northern Virginia).
2002, he graduated from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg. During his time there, Smiley played for the Tribe’ s golf team. Smiley served as the VSGA’ s Women’ s Tournament Manager and Assistant Director of Rules and Competitions before being promoted in 2008.
OLD WHITE TO RE-OPEN Devastating floods in West Virginia last summer shut down The Greenbrier’ s Old
More Green. Less Fee.
A golfer’ s dream. Unlimited play on our green and lush 6,400-yard Shenandoah Valley course nestled amid Virginia’ s equally beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. Package includes meals and lodging, greens fees and cart for 18 holes daily and extra round for cart fees only!
For more details check out www. LurayCaverns. com or call( 888) 443-6551.
3 Day / 2 Night Packages from
$ 245
Per person, double occupancy, plus tax
White TPC, forcing the cancellation of The Greenbrier Classic, the first time since 2009 that a PGA Tour event had been called off.
The Old White TPC is one of four courses on The Greenbrier property that will re-open after months of restoration. The Old White will host the 2017 Greenbrier Classic from July 6 – 9 before re-opening for public play on July 10. The Greenbrier Classic is a favorite of golf fans in Southwest Virginia, many of whom flock across the border to see the tournament on a yearly basis.
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT Feb. 21 marked a special anniversary for VSGA member Ron Patrick. The 30-year-old from Stafford posted the round of his life during a scramble at Aquia Harbour Golf Course on that day in 2016, a 59 that broke his own course record by five shots. During the round, Patrick made three eagles, all three coming from off the green.
Patrick, who is now the president of the Aquia Harbour Golf Association, plays to a 6.4 Handicap Index. Since his record-breaking round, he’ s posted two more scores in the 60s at Aquia Harbour, a 69 on June 18 and then a 63 on Aug. 13. Consistency has been an issue, he said, but for good reason. Soon after posting his 59, he suffered a broken wrist that nagged him for the rest of 2016. Now pain-free, he posted scores of 69 and 70 in mid-February.
8 V IRGINIA G OLFER | M ARCH / A PRIL 2017 vsga. org