Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, April 11, 1993 TAG: 9304110067
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B11 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Randy King
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
IN JUNE, ANOTHER LAKE COURSE WILL TRY TO STAY AFLOAT
Finally, there is good news to report from the Smith Mountain Lake golf front.In the wake of recent bankruptcy-forced shutdowns of two lake courses - Stone Manor and Chestnut Creek - word comes that new investors have begun resurrection of Deerwood Pointe, which was bunkered by financial woes in 1990.
Alta-Drew Investments, a Martinsville-based company that has more than 60 years experience in managing and operating golf courses, has purchased the 145-acre tract from J.W. Development, the Lynchburg company that acquired the entire 840-acre development through auction last year.
The course, which will be called Mariner's Landing, will have nine holes ready for play June 1, general manager Greg Haley said. The nine-hole layout originally was designed by noted golf architect Robert Trent Jones in 1988.
"It had been sitting there for about five years," Haley said. "Trent Jones had put the traps in, built the tees and greens. It was in pretty bad shape. The greens were here, and that's about it. Everything else was broom sage.
"It looks pretty good now. The fairways were seeded last year, and we came back in and did the same thing this year. The second seeding hasn't come up yet, but here in the next week or so everything should be fully covered.
"It's going to be an exceptional course. Robert Trent Jones has designed 16 or 18 of the top 100 courses in the country, according to Golf Digest. I think eventually this will be one of the premier courses in the state.
"The two things we have going for us is it's a Trent Jones course, which should be a big draw, and the fact the course will be the only lake course located on the Bedford-Roanoke side of the lake."
Haley said construction on the second nine holes will begin soon, and those should be open by June 1994.
"There's plenty of land," Haley said. "Originally, it was actually designed for 27 holes."
Haley said the nine holes opening in June include three man-made lakes. There will be four to six sets of tees on every hole, the back tees measuring 3,666 yards.
Initial plans for the second nine include a string of holes adjacent to the Smith Mountain shoreline.
Haley said construction on a pro shop will begin in the next two to four weeks. Plans call for the shop to be enlarged before the second nine holes are completed.
Mariner's Landing, on Virginia 626 in Huddleston, one mile from Smith Mountain Lake State Park, will begin as a semiprivate facility. Haley said memberships are available.
"It will always be open to the public, but in the later years we will be structured more toward membership," Haley said.
Stan Jones, a 25-year-old Martinsville native, will serve as head professional. Jones is a former Kentucky State Amateur champion, and he recently played on mini-tours in Florida and the Carolinas.
\ GGO APPETIZER: If you can't go to the Kmart Greater Greensboro Open from April 22-25, you might want to try to make it to Forest Oaks Country Club on April 20 to get a glimpse of the PGA Tour and some of its stars.
The day's busy schedule includes an exhibition by trick-shot artist Joey O. at 11 a.m.; a women's clinic featuring UNC Greensboro coach Mary Beth McGirr at noon; a long-drive contest featuring heavy-hitting John Daly at 1 p.m.; the Merrill Lynch Shoot-Out, a nine-hole, 10-man competition among top PGA players at 2 p.m.; and a youth clinic for ages 14 and under featuring Fuzzy Zoeller and Big Cat Williams at 4 p.m. Tickets are $7. Children under 14 will be admitted free.
\ RVGA MEMBERSHIP DRIVE: The Roanoke Valley Golf Association tees up its 1993 season with a signup and social at Countryside on Monday at 7 p.m. For a $25 membership fee, golfers can play in more than 10 RVGA-sponsored tournaments and attend the organization's season-ending dance and social.
\ WHERE'S THE CADDY? Talk about freak injuries. Virginia Tech's Clayton Friend dislocated his thumb on the second day of a recent tournament in New Bern, N.C., when he went to pick up his golf bag. The bag's strap broke, catching Friend's thumb and dislocating it. He was 2 under at the time. The Hokies finished second in the 18-team field behind Virginia.
\ SAND BLASTS: Victories by Helen Alfredsson of Sweden, Nick Price of Zimbabwe and Bob Charles of New Zealand two Sundays ago marked the first time foreign golfers have swept a weekend's worth of LPGA, PGA and Senior PGA events. . . . Doris O'Brien, a five-time Richmond city champion and four-time State Seniors titlist, died recently at age 74. . . . Former Franklin County golfer Glenn Prillaman, who had a first-place and two seconds in Roanoke College's first three matches, owns the second-lowest stroke average in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference at 77.6.
***CORRECTION***
Published correction ran on April 13, 1993.
Chestnut Creek Golf Course on Smith Mountain Lake remains open for play. Because of a reporter's error, it was reported Sunday that the course was shut down.
Memo: Correction