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Out of the Bag Out of the Bag

One of the nicest clubhouses in our region Willow Springs Golf Course found just off
is adding some space for events. Maryland I-70 in West Friendship, MD, unveils their
National Golf Club in Middletown, MD, is new clubhouse this spring. A November
expanding their existing facility to cater 2016 fire destroyed the old farmhouse,
more efficiently to full field outings and and the course has worked out of a trailer
larger weddings and parties. A bump-out since. The fresh digs will nearly triple the
of around 20 feet will add more than 50 size of the former pro shop and snack bar.
seats to the main room and create a larger Additional outdoor seating under a huge
backyard patio area that can be accessed porch area will make a perfect after-round
by a new outside stairway. setting.
The United States Golf Association (USGA) presented the Joe Dey Award to Gib Palmer, The Tri-State PGA Section Teacher of the Year is Nemacolin Woodlands Resort Director
of Midlothian, VA. The honor presented in February at the USGA’s annual meeting in of Instruction Eric Johnson. With this honor, Johnson joins legendary Pittsburgh
Florida recognizes an individual’s meritorious service to the game as a volunteer. Palmer PGA Professional Chuck Scally as the only four-time recipients of the Tri-State PGA’s
has served on the USGA’s Junior Championship Committee since 1996. He also served as highly coveted award. Johnson, who arrived at Nemacolin in the Laurel Highlands of
a rules official at nearly 20 U.S. Junior Amateur Championships while also volunteering southwestern Pennsylvania just days after his former course, Oakmont Country Club,
at numerous other USGA championships. Palmer also serves as an instrumental leader of hosted the 2016 U.S. Open, also received the section’s Teacher of the Year award in 2005,
the Virginia State Golf Association and the Virginia Golf Hall of Fame, an organization he 2008, and 2011. Recognized by Golf Magazine as a Top-100 teacher since 2011, Johnson
helped to establish. is also in the running for the PGA of America’s National Teacher of the Year award.
In other USGA announcements that concern a couple of regional golf courses, Locust Hill I’m sure you have heard by now, but it’s worth
Golf Club in Charles Town, WV, is one of 25 courses and 4 international sites that will repeating, that Tiger Woods will return this year to
host a sectional qualifier for the 73rd U.S. Women’s Open Championship. The 36-hole the DMV area to play in the 2018 National to be
qualifier at Locust Hill will take place on Thursday, May 10. Shoal Creek in Birmingham, held June 25-July 1 at TPC Potomac. “I am really
AL, will host the championship May 31 through June 3. The championship is open to looking forward to being back in the D.C. area this
female professionals and female amateurs. A Virginia course has not hosted a USGA summer playing in The National,” Woods said. “As a two-time champion of this event
Championship since 2013. Kinloch Golf Club in Manakin-Sabot, VA, has been selected benefiting my foundation, The National has always been a special event for me.” With
as the host site for the 40th U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship. Independence Golf Club, the support of Lockheed Martin, The National is proudly offering complimentary tickets
a nearby public facility in Midlothian, VA, will serve as the stroke-play co-host course for to members of the military. More than 30,000 tickets to the tournament are distributed
the championship, which will be contested September 12-17, 2020. Kinloch previously annually to active, retired, and reserve members of the United States Armed Forces. Past
hosted the 2011 U.S. Senior Amateur. “The USGA is pleased to return to Kinloch Golf champions of The National include tournament host Woods, defending champion Kyle
Club and to bring this championship to the venue for the first time,” said Stuart Francis, Stanley, Bill Haas, Billy Hurley III, and Justin Rose. Tickets for the tournament can be
USGA Championship Committee chairman. “The U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship purchased at NationalGolfTournament.com and start at $15.
consistently identifies the world’s best mid-amateur players. With its risk-reward holes,
Kinloch will challenge the players to think and execute in their quest to hoist the Robert T. The Mid Atlantic PGA (MAPGA) has
Jones Memorial Trophy.” announced their 2019 Hall of Fame Class,
and these two gentlemen of the game
Dustin Johnson returned to TPC Myrtle are well deserving of the honor: Mike
Beach to break ground on the state-of-the- Ahrnsbrak and Wayne DeFrancesco. Mike
art Dustin Johnson Golf Performance Center, is the senior writer for The Golf Guide and
reinforcing the World No. 1’s commitment has been a PGA member for 37 years. He
to giving back to the game. Construction was secretary of the MAPGA in 1991,
on the 3,100 square foot building will ultimately rising to president in November
be complete by Memorial Day, and the 1995. He also served at the national level as the District-10 director position in 2010. He
facility will serve as home to the Dustin is well known for being the head PGA professional at courses including Shenandoah Valley
Johnson Golf School and the Dustin Johnson GC, Musket Ridge GC, and Blue Ridge Shadows GC. Mike and his wife Ann recently
Foundation. “To bring this Performance moved to Wilmington, NC, where Mike serves as the general manager at Pine Valley
Center to my hometown and be able to give CC. DeFrancesco is an accomplished player, almost legendary in this region. Wayne won
golfers a competitive edge is exciting,” said three section championships, three Maryland Opens and three MAPGA match play titles.
Johnson, a 17-time PGA TOUR winner and major champion. The new building will have However, perhaps his biggest win was the 2001 National Club Professional Championship.
three indoor hitting bays, three covered hitting areas, a fitness center, and room to provide Wayne was a four-time MAPGA Player of the Year as well as the 1994 MAPGA Teacher
instructional seminars. The Dustin Johnson Foundation was founded with the primary of the Year and 1998 MAPGA Horton Smith Trophy award winner. Wayne was an
focus of promoting and supporting youth and college golf programs, programs he credits instructor at Woodholme CC and Woodmont CC and has been at Lakewood CC since
for his development. For more information, visit dustinjohnsongolfschool.com. 2014.

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