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Out of the Bag Out of the Bag

Courses in the mid-Atlantic endured another tough year propel Tobacco Road into the future,” said
as we watched more of them close. A second go-round Tobacco Road Co-owner Mark Stewart.
for Cannon Ridge in Fredericksburg, VA, unfortunately “Tobacco Road is one of the most iconic
concluded the same way as the first one. The golf course golf course designs in the country, and we
tried to make a comeback in 2016 after a multi-year are privileged to help make this facility the
closure, but it just didn’t work for the demand Deane best that it can be,” said KemperSports
Beman/Bobby Weed design. Those who venture to Myrtle CEO Steve Skinner. Tobacco Road ranks
Beach may be surprised to hear that the delightful as the No. 6 Best Public Course in North
Heather Glen Golf Links, the 27-hole facility in Little Carolina by Golfweek magazine and No.
River, NC, has closed after 30 years and is designated 88 on GOLF Magazine's Top-100 Public
to become a real estate development. The owners of Courses.
Westpark Golf Club in Leesburg have sold its property to
CalAtlantic, a large home developer. The situation there is The USGA has announced that Woodmont Country Club in
very fluid, so it remains to be seen what will happen to the Rockville, MD, will host the 120th U.S. Women’s Amateur
course ready for their 50th anniversary this year. Some Championship. Scheduled for August 3-9, 2020, this will be
other lofty courses in our region have now come up for the first USGA championship contested at Woodmont, which
sale. No one knows what might happen at Bulle Rock, the has hosted U.S. Open sectional qualifying for 30 of the last
#1 ranked public course in Maryland. It would be a dark day if this Pete Dye masterpiece 31 years. While Woodmont traces its roots to 1913, it moved
were to disappear. Two of the most unique courses near Williamsburg have also both to its current location in 1950. Alfred Tull designed the North
turned up on the trading block. The Tradition Clubs at Stonehouse and Royal New Kent Course, which will host the championship. In 1999, the course
futures appear to be in a holding pattern. Hopefully, the powers that be will see what these underwent extensive renovations by Arthur Hills that included
two Strantz-designed courses have to offer. work on bunkers and teeing grounds. In 2007, Hills completed further work, replacing all
18 original greens, rebuilding greenside bunkers, and installing a new irrigation system.
A non-profit group has started turning some heads in its work “It is an honor for Woodmont Country Club to have been selected to host the 2020 U.S.
assisting junior golf. Born in Northern California, Youth on Course Women’s Amateur, and to bring this distinguished championship to the nation’s capital,”
provides young people with subsidized golf, college scholarships, said Barry Forman, president of Woodmont Country Club. Notable U.S. Women’s
caddie programs, and paid internships. The organization is growing Amateur champions include Juli Inkster, Patty Berg, Babe Didrikson Zaharias, Carol
throughout America and now exists in 19 regions but strives to Semple Thompson, and Lydia Ko. The South Course at Woodmont plays a part in golf and
be in all 50 states soon. More than 30,000 kids ages 6-18 can USGA history, as well. In the first round of 2000 U.S. Open sectional qualifying, Shigeki
play at more than 700 partner courses. The organization enabled Maruyama shot a 58 on the course, a U.S. Open qualifying record.
junior golfers to play more than 100,000 rounds at $5 or less last
year and awarded $315,000 in college scholarships. “We are on a 1757 Golf Club in Dulles, VA, has been named the 2017 “Public
mission to inspire the 2.9 million golfers ages 6-17 who are starting Golf Leader” by the National Golf Course Owners Association
the game earlier in life,” says Adam Heieck, Youth on Course Mid-Atlantic. This award was presented to Dave Ahart, Director
Executive Director. NBA MVP Steph Curry serves as a vocal ambassador of the program. of Golf at 1757, in recognition of the programs executed by this
For information and list of partners, visit youthoncourse.org. public facility to promote golf in the region. 1757 is owned and
operated by Billy Casper Golf (BCG). “Refining our approach and making our public golf
Another more established organization that promotes youth experience better is a never-ending mission,” says Aaron Czajka, BCG Regional Director
in golf, The First Tee (thefirsttee.org), recognized outstanding of Operations for the Mid-Atlantic. “We're really excited about what the future holds for
contributors during its 20th anniversary meeting held last 1757.”
November. Founder’s Award recipients included Johnson &
Johnson, The Golf Channel, and World Golf Hall of Fame
member Annika Sorenstam. The First Tee of Hampton Roads
VA received $20,000 in scholarships from Shell Oil Company,
the Founding Corporate Partner.
KemperSports has been selected by the owners of Tobacco
Road Golf Club to provide consulting services for their golf
club. Widely considered one of the most ambitious golf course
designs in the last 20 years, Tobacco Road was the vision of
famed architect Mike Strantz. Located just over 20 miles from The Village of Pinehurst
in Sanford, NC, the layout was built on land that was previously used for tobacco farming
until sand mining and excavation shaped the landscape into dynamic land forms. “In
today's competitive golf market, we felt that KemperSports was the right partner to help

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