GolfCarolina.com Notebook: Stonebridge Strides Forward

TravelGolf.com Staff Report

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Nov. 28, 2001) – News and notes from around the Carolinas …

Travel Council
Honors Hensley

Golf writer and publicist Bill Hensley of Charlotte has been named winner of the Charles Kuralt Award for 2001. The honor is given annually by the Travel Council of North Carolina to the writer whose stories best portray the N.C. travel image. Hensley, who’s written many golf travel stories about North Carolina, was presented the award at a September banquet in Hickory.

Hensley is also a member of the Carolinas Golf Hall of Fame and the North Carolina Journalism Hall of Fame. He is a long-time member of the Carolinas Golf Reporters Association and a graduate of Wake Forest.

Stonebridge Thrives Under New Ownership

Stonebridge Golf Club near Monroe has a bright future these days thanks to a recent change in ownership and management.

The club is now under the ownership of James Hirsch. Hirsch is a Missouri businessman who was the original lender at Stonebridge, an upscale semi-private course that opened in 1997. To ensure the highest level of service, Hirsch brought in Signet Golf Associates to run the new Stonebridge. Signet is a golf management firm based in Pinehurst that specializes in upscale semi-private and daily-fee golf courses.

Barry Embler of Signet sees a positive future for the par-72 course because it’s enjoyable and provides a fair test without being too difficult for the average golfer.

Two key employees who’ve been at the club since its inception will spearhead the new Stonebridge. Tim Mervosh remains director of golf, while Brent Thompson continues as superintendent. To assist Thompson, the new owner recently invested a half-million dollars in high tech turf maintenance equipment.

Stonebridge will continue to operate as a semi-private facility for the near future, with an emphasis on growing membership. A new membership program has been implemented with four levels, including full golf family memberships, corporate memberships, associate memberships and junior memberships for those under 35.

“I’ve always considered Stonebridge to be a gem, maybe built a few years before its time,” said Hirsch. “And I’m totally committed to its success.”

For info on Stonebridge or to book a tee time, call (888) 337-2582.

Emory Takes Senior Am Tour Title

Mike Emory of Lake Wylie, S.C., shot an even-par total of 144 to win the Senior Amateur Tour Championship, held Nov. 6-7 in the Pinehurst area.

Emory opened with a 73 at The Legacy and then fired a 71 on the Pines Course at the Country Club of Whispering Pines. He finished five shots ahead of Monroe’s Cliff Cunningham in the championship flight. Cunningham, the 1997 U.S. Senior Amateur champ, shot 72-77—149. Third place went to Terry Rathman of Gastonia, who shot 73-80—153.

• Feature: Spotlight on Wilmington

The three-year-old Senior Amateur Tour is open to amateur golfers age 50 and over with handicaps from 0-20. The championship drew a field of more than 100 golfers from six regional markets in the Carolinas: Charlotte, Triad, Fayetteville/Pinehurst, Wilmington/Myrtle Beach, Raleigh and New Bern/Washington. In the A Flight, for 6-10 handicappers, Forrest Kenley shot 73-78—151 and won a playoff over Wally Pratt, who also shot 73-78—151. In the B Flight, for 11-15 handicappers, Ron Pinner took top honors at 80-81—161. First place in the C Flight (16-20 handicaps) went to Bobby Dail at 80-91—171.

Signet Scores Charlotte Trifecta

Pinehurst-based golf management firm Signet Golf Associates pulled off a trifecta recently as three of its courses were ranked among the top 10 golf values in the Charlotte area.

According to GolfCarolina.com, a popular golf website that conducted the rankings, Stonebridge Golf Club was the best golfing value in greater Charlotte, while Crescent Golf Club was fourth and Rocky River Golf Club was 10th. All three are managed by Signet.

The website surveyed 60 courses within a 45-minute drive of downtown Charlotte. It reviewed course design and condition, service levels, value, and other traits.

GolfCarolina.com’s Shane Sharp had this to say about Stonebridge: “Rich Osborne designed this traditional course, and it’s worth the drive to Union County. Stonebridge is devoid of housing, in excellent condition, and a pleasure to walk. Head pro Tim Mervosh is knowledgeable and accommodating, and management keeps greens fees in the $30-$55 range.”

As for Crescent, Sharp wrote: “John LaFoy designed the course, which winds its way through an old dairy farm and is as interesting and in as good of shape as anything you’ll find in Charlotte for the money.”

Rocky River was noted for its Dan Maples design, which brings a bit of the Pinehurst experience to Charlotte. For details on the rankings, visit: www.golfcarolina.com.

Carolina Blonde Unveils Golf-Friendly Bottles

Carolina Blonde beer, sponsor of the popular Carolina Blonde Amateur Golf Tour, has launched a new shatterproof plastic bottle to sell at golf courses and other outdoor venues. The 16-ounce bottle, dubbed the Tall Blonde, is filled with Carolina Blonde beer and makes Carolina Blonde one of only a few beers nationwide available in a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle.

“The Tall Blonde allows us to go where we haven’t been before, and allows Carolina Blonde drinkers to sip their beer of choice on the links,” said Mike Smith, CEO of Carolina Blonde. “Plus, it fits in all golf cart beverage holders.”

Carolina Blonde’s new containers have a multi-layer construction. The inner Oxbar layer removes oxygen from the beer, preventing staleness. The middle layer prevents oxygen from penetrating the bottle, while the amber outer layer refracts light that damages the beer.

“The consumer should know that this is a far superior product to cans,” Smith said. “And it has many advantages over glass bottles, such as being resealable with twist-on caps. You don’t have to consume the whole beverage at one time.”

The label on the Tall Blonde is also unique. According to Smith, it’s the only vinyl wrap-around beer label in the country, so it won’t fall off, deteriorate or fade if soaked in ice.

Carolina Beer Co., which brews Carolina Blonde, was founded in 1996. It’s products are available in all metro markets in the Carolinas, as well as Atlanta, Savannah, Ga., Knoxville, Tenn., and the Tidewater area of Virginia.

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