With the purchase of one special
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With the purchase of one special
With the purchase of one special trial membership you receive one free guest pass with every visit. Call (918) 384-6700 today for more information. Limited availability. Special Twilight Rate $40 per person • Daily after 2 p.m. Rate includes cart and tax Public welcome I-44 East, Exit 240A • Tulsa, OK (918) 384-6700 • CherokeeCasino.com FIND A COURSE WHERE “BIRDIE” MEANS QUAIL, WHITE-WINGED DOVE AND WILD TURKEY. FIND YOURSELF IN SAN ANTONIO. FEATURES Volume 14, No. 2 Editor Production Manager Marketing Director Copy editor Contributing writers Contributing photographers April-May, 2007 Ken MacLeod James Royal Lacy Lewis Jenk Jones Jr. Vicki Tramel Mal Elliott Dave Holland Barry Lewis Jim Misunas Tim Landes Katharine Dyson Wayne Mills Mel Root Mike Klemme NEW COURSES AND RENOVATIONS...............8 Peninsula, Emerald Falls, Willow Creek, Jimmie Austin, Village Creek, Mountain Ranch profiled. TULSA COMFORTABLY COSMOPOLITAN.........13 SHOWDOWN AT CEDAR RIDGE SemGroup Championship moves to May ............14 Quick start for Stacy P....................................16 Wootens: A Family Tradition ............................18 Cedar Ridge not likely to yield another 61 ..........19 DESTINATIONS Oh Canda, you look fine for golf......................20 Preserving Old Florida ...................................23 THE BIG CHILL..............................................24 FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME .......................28 PGA MERCHANDISE SHOW The hottest new styles in women’s golf................30 Golfers dream big.........................................30 South Central Publications 2723 S. Memorial Drive • Tulsa, OK 74129 918-280-0787 • Fax: 918-280-0797 Website: southcentralgolf.com • E-mail: [email protected] South Central Golf is the official publication of the South Central Section of the PGA of America, which includes all of Oklahoma,Arkansas and southern Kansas. The magazine is endorsed by the Oklahoma, Arkansas and Kansas state golf associations. South Central Golf is published five times annually, including our annual course directory. Subscriptions are $18 and are available by calling 918-280-0787 or on the website. We also welcome your letters and comments via e-mail. SOUTH CENTRAL GOLF Columns 33, Jay Fox, ASGA 34, Superintendent’s Corner 34, Rick Coe, OGA 35, Barry Thompson, PGA 35, Gene Mortensen, Rules 36, Kim Richey, KGA Departments 6, Around the Section 28, Around Kansas 37, Schedules & Results On the cover Stacy Prammansudh photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images 5 AROUND THE SECTION Section names Soerensen pro of year The PGA South Central Section has announced its 2006 award recipients. Brian Soerensen of Kickingbird Golf Club is the Golf Professional of the Year, while Hillcrest Country Club’s Aaron Speaker is Assistant Professional of the Year. Earning the President’s Plaque is Dan Hayes of Tinker AFB Golf Course. Mac McCall of Longhills Golf Club and Mark Curlett of the First Tee of Ft. Smith have been recognized for 25 years of service, while Charles Lewis Jr. of Little Rock, Ark. has been honored for 50 years of service. Merchandiser of the year awards were given to Pat McCrate at LaFortune Park Golf Course (public), Chris Hayes of Pleasant Valley Country Club (private) and Barry Howard at Hot Springs Country Club (resort). Jerry Cozby of Hillcrest Country Club earned the Bill Strausbaugh Award and Bob Phelps of the University of Central Oklahoma earned the Horton Smith Trophy. Janice Gibson of the First Tee of Tulsa earned the Junior Golf Leader, and Steve Ball of Ball Golf Center was named the Teacher of the Year. BLEVINS LEAVING SECTION Lynn Blevins, whose management company, Buffalo Golf, ran Battle Creek Golf Club in Broken Arrow from its inception in 1996 until losing the contract in 2006, has been hired to run two golf course in Ocala, Fla. Blevins will be in charge of the Ocala Golf Club and Pine Oaks Golf Club. Blevins had been a sales representative for EZ-Go Golf Carts since early in 2006, but was eager to get back into golf course operations. “It’s what I’ve done for 25 years,” he said. “This is a great opportunity for me.” MICKELSON TO ALOTIAN Phil Mickelson will be the celebrity golfer at this year’s Jackson T. Stephens Charitable Golf Tournament April 24 at The Alotian Club. The tournament benefits Arkansas charities supported by the late Jack Stephens. The tournament and events surrounding it are by invitation only. A group of children from the Little Rock Air Force Base have been invited to a golf clinic to be conducted by the world’s two-time Masters champion and number two ranked player. Tiger Woods appeared at the event’s debut in 2006. Harriet and Warren Stephens, founder and president of The Alotian Club, have announced a donation on behalf of the Alotian Club will be made to the Mickelson 6 charity program called “Birdies for the Brave.” Each time Mickelson makes a birdie or an Eagle on the PGA Tour, a donation is made to the Phil and Amy Mickelson Charitable Gift Fund to support Homes for Our Troops and the Special Operations Warrior Foundation. Those funds benefit the families of US military personnel. Mickelson’s clinic will be held at the Alotian Club’s 18th hole and will be devoted to the art of chipping the golf ball. “I have been overwhelmed by the response to this tournament from my personal friends and colleagues who have supported it,” Warren Stephens said. “My dad loved golf and the life lessons the game teaches and he also derived tremendous satisfaction from helping others. This tournament allows his philanthropic work to continue as a tribute to his memory while recognizing the love he had for his home state and the game of golf.” COOK JOINS BAILEY RANCH Chris Cook, the former first assistant at Wichita Country Club, has been hired as golf course superintendent at Bailey Ranch Golf Club in Owasso. Cook is a 2004 graduate of the golf course management program at Kansas State University. “We will initially focus on maintaining a high quality on our greens with them being firm, fast and consistent,” Cook said. “Our team is going to make the greens at Bailey Ranch the best of any public course in Tulsa,” “We are very excited to have Chris on our management team at Bailey Ranch”, said Director of Golf Corey Burd. “Chris has an outstanding eye for detail and many noticeable improvements have already been made in the short amount of time he’s been here. We have great expectations for our golf course and Chris is certainly up to the task.” Cook said his goal is for Bailey Ranch to be one of the top destinations for golfers in Green Country. 2008 EXPO AVAILABILITY Space reservations and sponsorship positions are available for the 2008 golf and travel expos in Tulsa, Oklahoma City and northwest Arkansas, according to Expos director Tim Landes. Landes reports the 2007 shows in Tulsa and Oklahoma City were outstanding events, while the Arkansas show was off slightly from 2006 due to a constant rain and severe ice storms in the area. “Also, frankly we didn’t have enough par- Golfers shop for bargains at the Oklahoma City expo. ticipation from the area and region in terms of merchandise available and we’ll make sure to remedy that for 2008.” Sean “The Beast” Fister, three-time world long drive champion, was a special guest at all three expos. Also appearing were Champions Tour golfers David Edwards and Ron Streck, instructor Marshall Smith and many other top instructors. For information on the 2008 events, go to www.southcentralgolfexpos.com or call 918-280-0787. TERRITORY EARNS HIGH MARKS The Territory Golf and Country Club near Duncan, – ranked No. 10 on Golfweek’s “Top 50 Best New Courses” list – has announced that the Southwest Oklahoma Cancer Center will be the charitable beneficiary when the club hosts the 2007 Halliburton Southwest Oklahoma Championship on the Tight Lies Tour event. The tournament is scheduled July 11-14, 2007 on the 18-hole Randy Heckenkemperdesigned course. “The Territory is very pleased to get the opportunity to host a stop on the 2007 Tight Lies Tour,” said Tim Johnson, the Territory’s director of golf and general manager. “The Halliburton Southwest Oklahoma Championship will be a good challenge for the players on the tour this year. It will also be a great opportunity for us to show off The Territory to people from outside the area.” With 26 scheduled events, the Tight Lies Tour is open to any professional or amateur golfer with a handicap of 5 or less who is at least 18 years old. The Tight Lies Tour is one of the nation’s top developmental tours, providing opportunities for successful players to move on to the Nationwide Tour and ultimately PGA Tour. SCG TO PUBLISH SPECIAL ISSUE South Central Golf, the official publication of the South Central Section of the PGA of America, is currently working on a unique commemorative edition for the upcoming 2007 PGA Championship at Southern Hills Country Club in August. This special issue will include features on Tiger Woods and many of the game’s top golfers going into the Championship. It will SOUTH CENTRAL GOLF AROUND also feature the background of Southern Hills, as well as the history of previous tournaments hosted by Southern Hills Country Club. In addition to normal distribution throughout the South Central Section, this special issue will be available at more than 200 locations, including all fine-dining establishments, hotels, and health clubs around the Tulsa Metro Area. For more information, or to get your company involved in this special issue, please contact Lacy Lewis at 918-280-0787 or [email protected]. BATTLE CREEK EXPANDS PROGRAM Many parents wish their child would learn to play golf. Battle Creek is making it affordable, convenient and fun with the help of former collegiate golfer, Amanda Fisher Fisher has recently been hired to manage the golf instruction programs for all juniors and women at Battle Creek. A former collegiate player at Oral Roberts University, Fisher has also received her LPGA teaching certification. “My goal as an LPGA member is to grow SOUTH CENTRAL GOLF THE SECTION women's and junior golf,” says Fisher. “I've always had a passion for teaching kids, watching them learn and helping them grow as individuals. Many junior Amanda Fisher works with Grant golfers have Holley, 4, at Battle Creek. dreams of playing in high school, getting a college scholarship and even playing on the professional tour one day. I want to help them achieve those goals.” Fisher will organize group lessons limited to five students. Friends are encouraged to sign up together. “I believe that every parent who enrolls their child in golf at a young age is setting them up for success,” Fisher said. “I can't thank my parents enough for introducing me to this great sport. It has taken me so many places that most people only dream of going.” For more information on the junior and women's golf instruction at Battle Creek, call Fisher at 918-557-8762. LAFORTUNE PARK SITE OF PLAY GOLF AMERICA DAY LaFortune Park Golf Course in Tulsa will be the site of a special Play Golf America Day associated with the PGA Championship at Southern Hills Country Club. On Aug. 6, the Monday of PGA Championship week, close to 200 youngsters will participate in morning clinics which will include performances by a trick shot artist, skills competitions and instruction from the LaFortune Park staff and other area PGA professionals. Each of 40 local charities will sponsor five children to participate in the morning activities. The public will get a chance to participate in the afternoon. There will be free 10minute golf lessons, another series of exhibitions and clinics, some major manufacturers showing off the latest equipment and other activities. “It should be a really neat event,” said Pat McCrate, director of golf at LaFortune Park. “The kids who come over for the clinics in the morning get to go to the practice round for the PGA Championship in the afternoon.” For more information on the event, call LaFortune Park at 918-596-8627. 7 N E W C O U R S E S A N D R E N O VAT I O N S An artist’s rendering of the planned condo and hotel tower to be built near the tip of Monkey Island at Grand Lake, the centerpiece of the new Peninsula Resort & Club. Grand plans for Peninsula By KEN MACLEOD If Oklahoma is to successfully compete with surrounding states for tourism dollars, projects such as The Peninsula Resort & Club on Grand Lake and Pointe Vista at Lake Texoma will be the reasons why. The two massive projects both hope to break ground this year. Both are counting on the Oklahoma Legislature to provide some tax relief in the form of credits, a prospect to be determined later this spring. At The Peninsula, sales of condo units planned in the initial $160,000 million development have also begun. Owner Peter Boylan III has said the project must pre-sell 32 units at up to $1.5 million each before his development partner Presidian will commence building the 16-story condo and 150room hotel tower. Also in the initial project will be a 45,0000 square foot conference center, a restaurant, yacht club and marina including dry storage for smaller boats, spa, and possibly a wellness center. Matt Benn, director of golf at Shangri-La, said there has been tremendous interest in the condo units since promotions began early in the year. “What we’re finding is the Kansas City market is really fed up with the overcrowding at places like Lake of the Ozarks. Then on the corporate side you have a huge untapped market in northwest Arkansas. A lot of those folks didn’t even know that Grand Lake existed.” Benn said numerous companies through8 out Oklahoma that are now having meetings and conventions in Branson or Las Colinas, Texas, would return to Oklahoma if the facilities were there. The Peninsula project, if completed, would go beyond the original grandeur of Shangri-La, which once attracted as many as 100,000 visitors a year. Those facilities were allowed to run down or were sold off piece meal by previous owners. The former lodge and guestrooms are being converted to a sales office in which potential condo buyers can step onto a faux balcony, flip a switch and see the lake view on a giant wall projector of any condo they may be considering. Benn’s pro shop will also be housed there while the towers are being constructed. The hotel and condo towers are located where the former fitness facilities were, while the convention center location will remain the same. From a golf standpoint, little will change during the initial phase. If all goes as planned, the Gold Course, currently wedged onto 80 acres, will be consolidated to nine new holes built around several mid-level condo towers. A second nine will be built on land to the north of the current maintenance barn. The consolidation and the new nine will be handled by Bland Pittman of Pittman-Poe @ Associates in Tulsa. The Blue Course will remain the flagship course for the facility and recent upgrades in equipment and maintenance have the course in prime condition. Benn said three factors are crucial to the development’s success. One is the presale of the 32 condo units and there has been great interest in that. The second is approval by the Federal Energy & Regulatory Commission on the resort’s request for an expanded marina. The third is the tax incentive plan. Rep. Doug Cox, R-Grove, a staunch supporter of The Penisula, unsuccessfully tried to push through a $30 million tax incentive plan in 2006. This year he is waiting for legal teams for The Peninsula and Pointe Vista, the group that has purchased the Lake Texoma resort from the Commissioners of Land Office, to present a plan on how to pursue the tax credits in this legislative session, which concludes in May. “It will probably go into the tax package bill that we look at in the last month,” Cox said. “At this point the legal people from each project are working with each other to come up with a plan to present to us. “I would like to see both projects succeed. In this case, I think one plus one equals three for the state of Oklahoma.” Randy Heckenkemper, architect of the Chickasaw Pointe course at Lake Texoma, said he is currently working on a redesign of the course to accommodate plans for the resort and condos at what will be called Pointe Vista Resort. He expects construction on the resort and re-routing of the golf course to commence in the fall of 2007. EMERALD FALLS GOLF CLUB One section project that has generated much curiosity and anticipation is the upscale Emerald Falls, located several miles east of Forest Ridge, which has long been recognized as the flagship of upscale daily fee courses in the section. Can a similarly priced course (anticipated greens fees are $75 weekends, $65 weekdays including cart and range balls) within five miles generate the play necessary to pay bills and sell real estate, as more than 650 lots are available? The Oklahoma-based ownership group is betting on it. “We know we’ve got to provide something unique,” said Director of Golf Operations Billy Neal, who knows something about customer service having worked for the Landmark team at PGA West. “We’ve got a great layout, and our conditioning and customer service will set us apart.” Some of those touches Neal mentioned will include greeters in the parking lot and bottled water provided on the carts. The course will be the first in Oklahoma to have the acclaimed Zorro zoysia, with an extremely fine blade, on the fairways, with SOUTH CENTRAL GOLF N E W C O U R S E S A N D R E N O VAT I O N S Meyer zoysia in the rough. The greens have been seeded with a blend of A-1 and A-4 bent grasses, the same grasses used at Southern Hills. Superintendent Tim Schaefer, who previously was an assistant at Spring Creek Ranch in Memphis, said the grasses alone will help set Emerald Falls apart. For now, Schaefer and his crew have their work cut out getting all those grasses –fairways, roughs, tees, greens, as well as fescue waste areas that were not planted by late March, in shape for a July 1 opening. “Yes, there’s a lot left to be done,” said Neal, who pointed out that the snow and ice that limited rounds at other courses also hurt them as far as construction days. “We need some rain and some warm nights and everything will start filling in.” The fairways and roughs were sodded, mostly last summer and fall. After a few heavy rains, it became apparent that some drainage channels had to change and more bridge work was needed. Extensive practice facilities and a driving range are also under construction near the area where the future clubhouse will be built. For now, the pro shop and sales offices are combined in a tasteful remake of what was the clubhouse for Deer Run, the previous 36-hole facility which was bulldozed to make way for Emerald Falls. Jerry Slack, who designed the course, has said it is his best work. At first glance, it looks to be quite a test of golf, with smallish greens in some difficult and scenic settings. The five holes built on land to the west that was purchased and includes more trees and elevation change have a chance to be spectacular if set up fairly, although a few more Mel Root Renovation of the 11th hole at Willow Creek. trees may have to be judiciously removed. For more information on Emerald Falls, call 918-266-2600 or visit emeraldfalls.com. WILLOW CREEK COUNTRY CLUB An extensive renovation is ongoing this spring at Willow Creek Country Club in Oklahoma City, including redoing nine greens, 12 tee boxes and the irrigation system. The renovation includes stretching two of the course’s par-4s into par-5s and expanding the average green size by nearly 2,000 square feet. The greens will still average between 3,500 and 4,000 square feet, small by contemporary standards, but much roomier than those to which the members were accustomed. Willow Creek, which opened in 1952, was built on just 110 acres. The course was a par-70 at just over 6,400 yards, it will now be a par-72 at more than 6,600 yards. Some of the changes being made by golf architect Mark Hayes involve: • No 3, formerly a par-4, will now tee off from the old No. 2 tee, stretching the hole by 90 yards. A new position for the green adds a few more yards and to the difficulty. • No. 17, formerly a long north-south par4 at about 440 yards, is now a risk-reward par-5 of 500 yards. • On the 385-yard par-4 11th hole, the fairway has been turned more to the south and west, making for a sharper dogleg. The green has tripled in size and water has been brought into play in front. The changes include four greens on the front nine and five on the back. Shaping, being done by Chambers Construction, should be done in early April and the green seeded with a planned reopening in the middle of June. The expansion of the other nine greens will take place within five years. Willow Creek expanded its clubhouse and golf shop last year, a project which was completed in June. JIMMIE AUSTIN OU GOLF COURSE The Jimmie Austin University of Oklahoma course has a new leader and will soon have a new look as well. Rodney Young, former general manager of the Desert Willow Golf Resort in Palm Desert, Calif., is the director of golf, replacing Stan Ball, who is now the head professional at Topeka Country Club Young, a native of Enid who played golf at Cameron from 1987-90, was an assistant pro at Oakwood Country Club in Enid for less than three years. He has spent the past 13 years in California, including stops at Rancho LaQuinta and Mission Hills as well as Desert Willow. Although he was content on the West Coast, with two children ages 9 and 13 in Cottonwood Hills GC to open in June HUTCHINSON -- Cottonwood Hills Golf Club is two months away from a June grand opening. The Zoysia fairways and Crenshaw bentgrass greens are greening up quite nicely for nine holes in play and nine holes to be opened to the public June 23. Cottonwood Hills, a public fee public course, is eight miles from Hutchinson and 35 miles from Wichita. Superintendent Ron Lewis said he’s investing most of his time preparing the new holes for play. Several tees have to be reseeded on the new nine holes. He said most of the land needs more time for all the various grasses to mature. The greens, fairways and grassy areas near the fairways and greens require different main- tainance. “Zoysia depends on the right temperatures, but with a little bit of rain, everything should work out great,” said Lewis, who came from Stone Mountain Golf Course in Georgia. “We’re putting fertilizer down. It will require quite a bit of work. It’s one of those projects where you’re never really ever completely finished with a new golf course. There is a lot of maturing with a new golf course.” Lewis said first reviews of the greens have been positive. He can’t get the greens too fast because of the undulations. He’s working with a crew of six people that should double by midsummer. “The condition of the greens don’t con- cern me because they will be in pure condition,” he said. “As the course matures, you will be true putting surfaces. I’m really excited about how the course is coming along.” Nine holes that were in close proximity to the course’s irrigation lake and pump station were opened last fall. Jeff McCormick, director of golf, said the initial response has been positive. The links-style terrain offers changes in elevation and gently rolling sand dunes that reminds players of seaside courses. “It is terrain that is exactly like Prairie Dunes with a much more modern design,” McCormick said. “Prairie Dunes is a classic, Please see COTTONWOOD Page 32 SOUTH CENTRAL GOLF 9 school, he became interested in applying for the position (which attracted more than 80 applicants nationwide) after friends urged him to throw his hat in the ring. “You don’t want to rock a smooth sailing ship, but the more I thought about the quality of life, the opportunity to come back and be around friends and family and to be involved in the University and the quality of life, I thought it was the right move,” Young said. Young did attend OU for one year before transferring to Cameron. He will be now be fully immersed as Jimmie Austin is where the Sooners practice and play. It also boasts one of the nation’s larger junior programs. “I’m getting a grip on all the different programs we run here,” he said. “Stan did an excellent job with the whole facility. I’m following where he’s taken it and seeing what areas can improve.” One area that can improve is the course, which will shut down Aug. 14 for a renovation that will include all new greens, which will be expanded back to their original size from the Bob Cupp renovation 11 years ago. The greens had suffered in recent years from a severe Poa Annua infestation and the course has instituted a strong pre-emergent program to combat the poa. Bunker improvements, creek and bridge work and some other minor improvements will be made while the course is shut down until late November or early December. The course will then have more than a year to get in top form before it hosts the 2009 U.S. Public Links Championship. NORTH HILLS COUNTRY CLUB, SHERWOOD, ARK. A sale to a developer who plans to turn this 105-acres Robert Trent Jones redesign into a housing development has some property owners and members at North Hills in an uproar. Protests have been flooding into city hall and various plans to have the city or other groups purchase the club have been proposed since it was announced in early March that the new owners planned to sell the land to developers. Ron Campbell, one of the new owners, told the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal that he would allow the city to make an offer, but that other groups are ready to begin development of frontage property. If it closes, North Hills would be the second golf course in Pulaski County to be redeveloped. Western Hills Country Club in southwest Little Rock was recently purchased by a group called Western Hills Properties, LLC, for $825,000 and the group plans to use the land for development. The golf course has already been closed. North Hills was redesigned by Robert Trent Jones Sr. in 1980. 10 Stillwater courses feeling effects of newest addition By TIM LANDES The opening of Links Golf & Athletic Club as the fifth 18-hole course in a metro area of more than 40,000 – but about half of them college students -- has sent ripples of concern spreading to its competitors in the Stillwater, Okla., market. OK, they’re not sweating at Karsten Creek, which sets its green fees ($275) in order to ward off excess play. The others – Lakeside Memorial Golf Course, Stillwater Country Club and Cimarron Trails in nearby Perkins – have felt the effects of the newest course, which expanded to 18 holes on July 1 of 2006. Depending on their ecomomic health, cities of 40,000 in this region have successfully supported two courses, but often struggled with the third. Examples are in Enid, where Pheasant Run is still struggling to catch on as the third wheel to Meadowbrook (public) and Oakwood Country Club. In Hutchinson, Kan., Prairie Dunes (private) and Carey Park (public) have done great, while a third course has changed names and owners numerous times. Now, with Cottonwood Hills, a fourth is being added to that market as well. When Links opened in Sept. 2005, there were only nine holes and the course was available to the public. Since the addition of the other nine holes last summer, the course became private, making it only available to apartment dwellers, members, anyone living more than 20 miles away from Stillwater and residents of other Lindsey golf courses, which is now 32 courses in eight states. Annual membership fees are $1,250 plus tax, but Links also offers a monthly membership fee of $125 plus tax. “We’re doing really well. We’ve picked up a lot of players from the other cours- es,” said Links director of golf Blake Dergan. “We now have 250 members. The amount of rounds are down, but we’re making a profit. “I’m pleased with it. We’ll see at the end of summer compared to last summer, since it will be a year since we expanded to 18 holes, but I think it will be a good year.” Lakeside Memorial has noticed the addition of Links due in large part to the courses’ proximity to each other. Lakeside is located less than a mile north of Links. While the course met its average of 30,000 rounds last year, head professional Fred Forbes said the course has lost many of its “members,” which are those that pay annual green fees and cart memberships to play the public course at their convenience. They start at $788 a person, but Forbes said there are many memberships, which include five-day passes, and memberships for families of two, three and four. “Stillwater is definitely oversaturated,” Forbes said. “It’s been steady and rounds were increasing until the winter, but the Links affected us more than anything by taking our memberships.” While Lakeside has been heavily impacted, Stillwater Country Club head professional Dan Pryor said his course has not been hurt as much when it comes to losing memberships, but from gaining new members. Initiation to Stillwater CC is $2,500 and dues are $250 a month. “They’ve had some affect on our memberships, but not greatly,” Pryor said. “We’ve stayed pretty much at 24,000 rounds the last couple of years, but our problem is we’re not getting any growth. “Just a few years ago, we were averaging right at 32,000 a year.” Cimmaron Trails head professional Please see STILLWATER, Page 32 ARKANSAS STATE PARKS The back nine holes at DeGray Lake Resort State Park will be closed May 14 for a project that includes coring out and rebuilding all nine greens. The new greens will have Tif-Eagle Bermuda grass surfaces. The new greens are projected to open Aug. 1, according to Director of Golf Chris Snodgrass. Work on the cart paths should be completed by early November. The greens on the front nine will be closed for renovation in mid-February and should reopen in late April, 2008. Snodgrass said the course will also be renovating the practice green and expanding the driving range. The interior of the pro shop will be remodeled. Work on the Village Creek State Park Please see COURSES, Page 12 SOUTH CENTRAL GOLF