( atc )
Nature Lives
Among Us
by CHRIS LANG
A CRACKLE COMES OVER THE RADIO at The Homestead’s Old Course on a cool
summer Friday.
“Hey, there’s a bear roaming in the woods behind 14!”
My curiosity piqued, I drive the cart over from my previous position near the
ninth green, only to find that the tournament staff had played a joke on me. (Nice
one, guys!)
So there was no bear, even though they
make regular early-morning appearances
“Whether it’s a blue
in the greater Hot Springs area. But the
point remains. My co-workers know I’m a
heron in Williamsburg,
sucker for a good wildlife photo when I’m
a herd of deer in
out shooting championships.
the mountains,
Part of the allure of this game is being
outdoors in nature. With that in mind,
or that gaggle of
clubs in Virginia have done a great job of
Canadian geese, well,
merging the golf experience with envi-
everywhere, nature is
ronmental stewardship, even encouraging
an
essential part of the
nature to find a home in protected areas on
the course. Writer Lisa Mickey’s story in
golf experience. ”
this issue on Audubon International certi-
fied courses explores how club superinten-
dents go the extra mile to ensure wildlife
thrives on and around their courses.
Whether it’s a blue heron in Williamsburg, a herd of deer in the mountains, or that
gaggle of Canadian geese, well, everywhere, nature is an essential part of the golf
experience. It’s great to see clubs embracing that notion.
Also in this issue:
• The Dominion Energy Charity Classic is here to stay at the Country Club of Vir-
ginia’s James River Course, until 2029 at least. Arthur Utley takes a closer look
at how the tournament continues to ingrain itself in the Richmond community.
• Want a rocking good time on the golf course? Look no further than Winchester’s
Rock Harbor. Leonard Shapiro gives you the inside scoop on owner Denny Perry,
who turned materials from a nearby quarry into an interesting golf experience.
• Teenagers won the VSGA’s two Amateur championships, and a college sophomore
won the Delta Dental State Open of Virginia. Read more about the youth move-
ment and a recap of the full summer of action in VSGA championships inside.
• A big thank you to all of you who ventured to VSGA.org to take our Rules of Golf
quiz (July-August 2019 issue). Check out this issue’s Rules Corner to see quiz
answers and see which members scored best—including a few perfect scores!
Chris Lang, Editor
6
V I R G I N I A G O L F E R | S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R 2 0 19
News & Notes
FROM TEE TO GREEN:
THE TBOX TOUR ADDS
INCENTIVE TO THE PURSUIT
OF AN ELUSIVE HOLE IN ONE
VSGA member Janet Zwetkow had the
day of a lifetime at Bull Run Golf Club on
June 2, and not just because she made a
hole in one on the par-3 11th hole.
Her ace came in conjunction with her
participation in the TBox Tour, and it
earned her a check worth $29,473.
So how does it work? Founded by
Arlington residents Bryce Harding and
Skip Coleman, The TBox Tour touts itself
as the “only multi-course hole-in-one
challenge.” First, a player must download
the TBox Tour app, and for a nominal
fee, is entered in a sweepstakes of sorts
on certain holes at participating courses.
Along with Bull Run, other VSGA mem-
ber clubs participating in the program
include Augustine Golf Club, Blue Ridge
Shadows, Old Hickory Golf Club, Rasp-
berry Falls Golf & Hunt Club, Stonewall
Golf Club and the Golf Club at Lans-
downe. (The Virginia Golf Center in Clif-
ton is another participating facility.)
Cameras are stationed on both the tee
box and green on the holes in question.
The cash purse starts at $10,000, and
much like the lottery, increases over time
until someone makes an ace to win. At
the TBox Tour website (tboxtour.com),
you can view the aces made by the three
winners so far: Zwetkow, Mike Cloutier at
the Links at Gettysburg in Pennsylvania,
and Dan Savage at Stonewall Golf Club. In
June, the three winners combined to earn
more than $50,000.
TOP TEACHER
Liz Cooper, PGA, of
Springfield Golf &
Country Club was
named the winner
of the 2019 PGA
Player Development
Award. Cooper was
one of 12 nationwide
winners of the PGA of
America’s yearly awards.
The honor bestows a special recog-
nition to a PGA member who has dis-
played extraordinary and exemplary
contributions and achievements in the
vsga.org
Opening Drive