The challenging 9th hole at The Honors Course starts with a tee shot from an island tee box
photo by Darren Reese, Tennessee Golf Foundation
When the 69th U.S. Senior Amateur concluded last Thursday with Louis Brown becoming the fourth Georgian in the past 11 years to win the event, the Marietta resident’s exemplary performance paled in comparison with the true star of the week.
The Honors Course once again stole the show, which should come as no surprise. Hosting a USGA championship for the sixth time, the vision of founder Jack Lupton more than held its own over the course of six days of competition.
When it was originally designed by Pete Dye more than four decades ago, it was considered a radical and bold proposition. With expansive areas of meticulously chosen tall native grasses coupled with risk-and-reward green complexes perched at uninviting angles, The Honors Course typified Dye’s architectural style similar to that deployed at his TPC Sawgrass’ Stadium Course.
The golf course remained relatively untouched for years until Gil Hanse led a restoration movement two years ago. The golf course lost hundreds of trees during the tornado outbreak on Easter 2020, and Hanse’s handiwork was to bring about some upgrades to bring The Honors Course in line with the modern game.
Fairway bunkers were relocated or extended to bring them into play, the 10th and 11th greens were reworked to align with their original configuration, and two creeks were exposed in front of the 18th green. Additionally, the fairways were replaced with the new Zeon Zoysia hybrid for optimal playability and firmness.
With the U.S. Senior Am serving as The Honors Course’s coming-out party displaying Hanse’s handiwork after last year’s dress rehearsal at the Southern Amateur, the golf course served as the ultimate test for the best 55-and-over golfers in the world.
Only four golfers broke par during the 36-holes of stroke play among the field of 155, with an average score of 79.6 strokes. The cut line of 13-over 157 for the 64 advancing into match play was the highest in 24 years for the U.S. Senior Am.
“The Honors Course has always been a challenging test of golf, and it is a testament to Pete Dye that his designs continue to demand great play under championship conditions to this day,” said Hanse in an email. “Part of the brilliance of Pete’s designs is that they can be set up to create a wide variety in scoring. From the scoring in the U.S. Senior Amateur it would show that when the course is set up under championship conditions, it can more than hold its own against the best in the world.”
The expertise of Hanse and his team in updating Dye’s masterpiece was particularly rewarding given The Honors Course’s historic reputation.
“It is very meaningful to us to feel like our touches on the golf course did nothing to diminish the overall quality of Pete’s design,” Hanse said. “Our goal with any restoration is to provide a seamless connection from past to present requirements for championship golf, and to do so in a manner that looks like we were never there. We are also happy for the membership and staff for conducting such a great national championship, and being rightfully proud of their golf course.”
Throughout the competition, The Honors Course drew rave reviews from the participants who were tested by the challenging layout and lightning-quick greens.
“On this golf course you are one swing away from losing every hole,” said Todd White of Spartanburg, S.C., who entered the tournament as reigning champion. “That’s a good championship golf course because it will test you every second that you are out there.”
Dan Sullivan of Pasadena, Calif., who finished runner-up to Brown, has been a regular visitor to The Honors Course for the John T. Lupton Memorial held in May. He has come to recognize the challenges presented by the golf course.
“I think this can be an uncomfortable place to play,” Sullivan said. “The more often you play it, the more comfortable I think you get at being uncomfortable here. I have hit it just about everywhere you can hit it in bad spots. It tends to narrow my focus.”
Paul Simson of Raleigh, N.C. has enjoyed success at The Honors Course as a five-time winner of the Lupton senior division. Having won the U.S. Senior Amateur twice, Simson was effusive in his praise of being back at his favorite golf course.
“From the first time I stepped out on this place some 33 years ago, I have just loved every step,” Simson said. ““It’s not ostentatious. You don’t feel like you are walking on eggshells. It’s a very comfortable place. The people are great and they have been here forever. Jack Lupton just had a wonderful vision when he did this, and he made sure it continued after he was gone.”
But one of the most poignant comments was offered by England’s Stephen Creed, who was making his initial appearance at The Honors Course.
“It is amazing to have a course that is dedicated purely for the amateur, but can literally test them to an inch of their lives where only the best will prevail,” Creed said. “If you could imagine the one golf course you want to play in your eternity, I believe this would be it.”
With The Honors Course scheduled to host the 2026 U.S. Women’s Amateur and the 2031 U.S. Amateur, Hanse credits Dye’s mastery in creating a golf course that stands the test of time.
“Pete was a genius at constructing complex and interesting tests of golf,” Hanse said. “His use of angles, visual deception, and meaningful penalties are on display every year at TPC Sawgrass. What makes the Honors so special is that he created the same type of examination in a wonderfully natural setting.”
Brock Missing U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur but Smith Selected: Chattanooga’s Blakesly Brock is disappointed she will be unable to compete in this week’s U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur that opens play on Saturday in West Newton, Mass. At Brae Burn Country Club.
The former Baylor School and University of Tennessee golfer won this event in 2021 South Carolina’s Berkeley Hall Club, but a medical procedure done earlier in the year has prevented Brock from returning to her competitive form.
However, Chattanooga will have a representative in the field as Ciara Smith was offered an invite having earned an alternate slot at qualifying. The 28-year-old Black Creek Club member graduated from Tusculum in 2018 where she was a four-time All-South Atlantic Conference performer. She is married to former Pioneer golfer Taylor Smith, who will be serving as her caddie during the tournament.
Also carrying Tennessee’s banner in this event will be a pair of golfers from Clarksville, Hanley Long and Caroline Ludwikowski.
Nashville’s Bevell Wins State PGA Professional Title: Josh Bevell finished 8-under par 208 at the 56th Tennessee PGA Professional Championship last week at Chickasaw Country Club in Memphis to win by three strokes.
The professional at Nashville’s Profectus Golf is one of five who qualified to compete in the 2025 PGA Professional Championship next April at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla.
Others who earned a spot were Chase Harris of the host Chickasaw CC (5-under 211), Adam Forgey of Crossville’s Heatherhurst Golf Club (4-under 212), four-time champion Johan Kok of Nashville’s Troubadour Golf and Field Club (2-under 214) and Chris McCue of Cherokee Country Club in Knoxville (1-under 215).
Council Fire Club’s Chris DeBusk was T26 at 11-over 227, while Brandon Arnold finished 37th at 18-over 234. Former long-time Council Fire professional Hunt Gilliland who is now at Valleybrook, was T38 at 19-over 235.
Tennessee Mid-Amateur Four Ball Back This Week: After being postponed in early May due to heavy rains making Spring Hill’s Towhee Club unplayable, the Tennessee Mid-Amateur Four-Ball Championship is slated to be replayed Sept. 7-8 at the same site.
The rescheduled event will have a fresh start with none of the previous results carrying over. Current State Amateur champion Payne Denman and Lucas Armstrong are defending champions.
CDGA Season Nearing Conclusion: With only the Moccasin Bend City Four-Ball on Sept. 28-29 remaining on the Chattanooga District Golf Association schedule to improve golfers’ point status, plenty of focus will be on the event in order to qualify for the Chattanooga TPC at Council Fire in early October.
The current leader in the Regular division is Keoni Vidrine, followed by Andrew Weathers. Dylan Lillard is in third, Seth Brandon is fourth and Bennett McNabb sits in fifth.
Joe Markham Jr. is on top in the Senior Division, just ahead of Jay Potter. Zeb Patten is currently third, Steve Johnson is fourth and Shonn Weldon fifth.
UTC Men’s Golf Announces 2024-25 Schedule: The fall portion of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men’s golf schedule will kick off at a site where the Mocs are defending champions at the Bearcat Invitational in Cincinnati on Sept. 16-17.
Coach Blaine Woodruff’s squad will also return to Loxley, Ala. for the last of their four tournaments scheduled for this fall.
The spring portion will include two trips to California as well as visits to Pinehurst, N.C., Houston, South Carolina and Indiana.
The complete schedule is:
Sept. 16-17: Bearcat Invitational at Coldstream Country Club in Cincinnati, Ohio
Oct 7-8: Cullan Brown Invitational at Lexington Country Club in Lexington, Ky.
Oct 14-15: Qubein Cup at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, N.C.
Oct 26-27: Steelwood Intercollegiate at Steelwood Country Club in Loxley, Ala.
Jan 27-29: Southwestern Invitational at Sherwood Country Club in Westlake Village, Calif.
Feb 10-11: Bentwater intercollegiate at Miller Course at Bentwater in Houston, Texas
Mar 2-3: Colleton River Intercollegiate at Colleton River Club in Bluffton, S.C.
Mar 10-11: Ross Intercollegiate at Mid Pines Inn & Golf Club in Pinehurst, N.C.
April 5-6: Hoosier Invitational at the Pfau Course in Bloomington, Ind.
April 12-14: Western Intercollegiate at Pasatiempo Golf Club in Santa Cruz, Calif.
April 20-22: Southern Conference Championship at Reynolds Lake Oconee in Eatonton, Ga.
May 12-14: NCAA Regionals/TBA
May 23-28: NCAA Championship at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, Calif.
Paul Payne can be emailed at paulpayne6249@gmail.com
Paul Paynephoto by
