The Champions Tour has provided a mulligan of sorts for a variety of golfers who have reached their 50th birthdays, including three Georgians who took very different paths before joining the tour in the late 1990s/early 2000s. Marietta’s Larry Nelson took the conventional path to the Champions Tour, enjoying a successful PGA Tour career before becoming one of the top senior … [Read more...]
European seniors take a liking to Sugarloaf; Langer, Jimenez win first 2 in Gwinnett
During the 1980s and ‘90s, European golfers found Georgia to be a very welcoming destination for one week in early April. During that 20-year span, six of Europe’s best tour pros won a combined 11 Masters titles. But in the 15 years since, no European has won in Augusta. After an absence of a dozen years, the Champions Tour returned to the Atlanta area in 2013, and the … [Read more...]
All in the Family: Kepplers (father and son) win three ways in Pot O’ Gold
For the past two decades, Stephen Keppler has started his competitive season in the Pot O’Gold Pro-Am at Sunset Country Club in Moultrie. Club professionals from Georgia and surrounding states annually bring a team of their top amateur members with them to South Georgia for the event, which features competitions for low pro, low am and low team. Coming into this year, … [Read more...]
Georgia PGA schedule features familiar sites; Events set for Pinetree, Peachtree, UGA course
The 2015 Georgia PGA schedule includes several familiar sites, but is losing an event at one of the most popular tournament hosts in the state. The Georgia Open is returning to Pinetree Country Club for a second straight year, while historic Peachtree Golf Club will again host the semifinals and finals of the Georgia Match Play Championship. The Atlanta Open moves to … [Read more...]
Georgia PGA’s top players seek Match Play title; Dixon to defend against big group of contenders
Several of the Georgia PGA’s top players will have a little extra incentive as they compete in the Section’s Match Play Championship, which began in mid-March. The 64-man field will be whittled down to four players, who will play in the semifinals and finals August 24 at Peachtree Golf Club. The first four rounds will be played at courses determined by the participants, with … [Read more...]
Stevens shoots for fourth Ga. Senior Open title
Craig Stevens will shoot for his fourth Yamaha Georgia Senior Open title in the last five years when the tournament returns to the UGA course in Athens April 27-28. Stevens, an instructor at Brookstone Country Club, has won the tournament three of the last four years, finishing a close second the one time he did not win. Each of Stevens’ three victories in the tournament … [Read more...]
Cuscowilla among state’s very best; Superb design earns national status
It’s no secret to those who play golf throughout the state that Georgia’s best collection of courses in a condensed area is found on and around Lake Oconee. State and national lists ranking Georgia’s best courses always include a handful from Lake Oconee, with the Golf Club at Cuscowilla always one of those in a very prominent position. Cuscowilla’s name is well known to … [Read more...]
New greens elevate Dogwood’s status; Unique Cobb club both public and private
At Dogwood Golf Club in southwest Cobb County, change sometimes occurs at a leisurely pace. Dogwood opened for play in 1968 with nine holes and added a second nine several years later. The original Penncross bent grass greens lasted more than 45 years before finally being replaced last year, with the club going to mini-verde Bermuda, a more climate appropriate surface that … [Read more...]
4 Georgians making first starts in Masters; Todd, Harman among ‘rookie’ contingent
For the second straight year, four golfers with Georgia ties will make their Masters debuts . The foursome will join seven other Georgians in the Masters field this April, with the possibility that the number could reach 12 by the time the game’s best players arrive in Augusta. Georgia’s 2015 “rookie” contingent in the Masters consists of three former Georgia Bulldogs and … [Read more...]