Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, November 9, 1993 TAG: 9311090050
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The Cascades' fall from 52nd to 95th - the biggest drop by a course from last year's list - can be attributed primarily to its policy that players can't walk and carry their own bags. A golfer either has to ride a cart or use a caddy.
This year, for the first time ever in the rankings supplied by a 430-member panel, two bonus points were awarded to courses that allow unrestricted walking. At least half of the 13 courses that made the top 100 this year for the first time did so as a result of the walking policy. Similarly, nearly half of the 13 courses that dropped out did so because of non-walking practices.
The two bonus points meant the difference between a tie for 61st and 95th for the Cascades, designed in 1923 by noted course architect William Flynn.
"Adding the bonus points for unrestricted walking was just something we decided to do this year," said Stu Schneider, Golf Digest spokesman. "We think it's important that people are allowed to walk and play golf. It made a big difference for a lot of courses, not just the Cascades. Some dropped off the list, so it could have been worse."
The panel consisting of golfers and golf administrators evaluated hundreds of courses for the scratch golfer. Up to 10 points were awarded based on shot values, design balance, memorability, resistance to scoring, esthetics and conditioning. Extra points were awarded based on tradition. A course has to be open for more than three years to be considered.
The ultra-private Pine Valley (N.J.) Golf Club remained No. 1 on the list, followed by Pebble Beach (Calif.) Golf Links and Augusta (Ga.) National Golf Club.
\ HALL OF FAME BANQUET: Longtime Blue Hills head professional Billy King will be inducted into the Roanoke Valley Golf Hall of Fame at the organization's annual banquet at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Holiday Inn-Tanglewood.
In addition to inducting King, the Hall of Fame will honor the valley's top high school players.
David Partridge, the reigning Virginia State Amateur champion from Richmond, will be the banquet's guest speaker.
\ TOURNAMENT ROUNDUP: The Roanoke team of Holley Updike, Margie Ricketson, Ethel Waldron and Betsy Moir won the gross competition in the recent VSGA Women's Two-Best Balls of Four tournament at Danville's Tuscarora Country Club. . . . Hanging Rock teaching pro Chip Sullivan and partner John Stone tied for first but lost in a playoff to Rick Schuller and Mark Evenson in the recent Middle Atlantic PGA Two-Man Team Championship at Shenandoah Valley Golf Club. . . . The Virginian Golf Club in Bristol has been selected the host site for the 1994 Virginias-Carolinas Cup Matches next Oct. 7-9. The event on the Tom Fazio-designed course will mark the first time a VSGA event has been held west of Roanoke. . . . The Nike Dominion Open, the only Virginia stop on the Nike Tour, is scheduled for June 16-19 next year.
\ SAND BLASTS: Zimbabwe phenom Lewis Chitengwa has committed to the University of Virginia. . . . . . . Arnold Palmer has accepted a special invitation to compete in the 1994 U.S. Open at Oakmont, Pa. . . . In addition to winning his first PGA Senior Tour title, Hot Springs native J.C. Snead banked a career-high $463,000 this season. . . . Marylander Jenny Chuasiriporn, 15, winner of the girls' title in this year's Scott Robertson Memorial, was selected this week to the 10-member Rolex Junior All-American team. Robert Floyd, runner-up in the Robertson in 1992, made the boys' squad that was led by Tiger Woods and Ted Oh.
by CNB