"IF YOU LIKE GOLF"
weekly online golf column
by
Stan Crawley

October 21, 2003

Notes and quotes from around Hamilton County as the 2003 golf season winds down.

Bear Trace at Harrison Bay: After being shut down for two months, Bear Trace re-opened Sept. 12 and is having a busy fall. "Every green on the golf course is new and they are in the best shape ever, Bear Trace's Robin Boyer said. "We're hoping for a mild winter and really looking forward to next summer. We think it will be our breakout year.''

Black Creek Club: After playing host to several state events the last few years, there are none scheduled for next year at Black Creek. The Nationwide Tour will return to Black Creek next spring on May 3-9. It was held there last summer on July 28-Aug. 3. In 2005, the U.S. Mid-Amateur will be held in Chattanooga at Black Creek and The Honors Course.

Brainerd Golf Course: Doyal Chadwick says the cool nights have really helped the bent grass greens at Brainerd.

Chattanooga Golf and Country Club: The only item on the Riverview agenda is Men's Closing Day on Oct. 29.

Council Fire Golf Club: The Arthritis Foundation will hold its annual golf tournament Nov. 4 at Council Fire, where Hunt Gilliland reports the course is "absolutely perfect.'' Council Fire will play host to the Tennessee Senior Amateur next year.

Hickory Valley Golf Course: Pro-am tournament director Danny Tribble from Hickory Valley reminds that the Chattanooga Chapter PGA championship will be Nov. 3 at Black Creek. Tribble says he is getting fair play at his course. "The course is in great shape,'' he said. "Some say it's the best ever, but I know better. But it is good.''

Lookout Mountain Golf Club: A pro-am benefit will be held on Nov. 6 for former Lookout Mountain pro Brett Mullin.

Moccasin Bend Golf Club: Course conditions at Moccasin Bend were outstanding all summer. "We had very good results with some of the horticulture things we did last winter,'' Devere Keller said. "We hope to do some of those same things and look to be even better next year. We feel like we're on the right track.''

Signal Mountain Golf and Country Club: The tournament season at Signal Mountain will end with Ladies Closing Day on Oct. 30. Scott Hare reports that there will be some work on the tees in the spring. "We're going to rebuild about five or six tees that we've had trouble with,'' Hare said. "And we plan to begin some type of work on the bunkers this winter, a little at a time.''

Valleybrook Golf and Country Club: All the bunkers have been reworked at Valleybrook except two on No. 16. They will be worked on this winter, Gibby Gilbert III said.

(E-mail Stan Crawley at wscrawley@earthlink.net)

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