Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, July 10, 1994 TAG: 9407290020
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Randy King
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
And like ``Long'' John, it appears there is no boundary as to how far the Laurel Fork golfing gem can hit it.
``The people who were around when the place opened [in 1972] probably wouldn't have believed this,'' said Hagen Giles, Olde Mill's head professional.
This summer's project includes the construction of 10 1,200-square-foot condominiums overlooking the 18th green and a combination indoor pool-bath house-exercise room adjacent to the clubhouse parking lot.
A seventh condo, with eight bedrooms, recently was added to the set near the 13th fairway.
All this, though, is simply a knockdown 8-iron shot when compared to the club's future drive.
``Down the road, the owners are thinking [of] some property development,'' Giles said. ``We have 214 lots around the golf course to put houses on.
``I can see a little shopping center coming in. Twenty years from now, we'd like to have our own self-sufficient little community here.''
It wasn't that long ago when Olde Mill was considered a diamond in the rough, a hidden jewel discovered by few.
Not anymore. Just check the license plates in the parking lot, if you don't believe it.
``We've increased our marketing effort,'' Giles said. ``We've gone into a lot of golf and travel shows from Toronto to California.
``Face it, we're not that hidden secret in the mountains anymore.''
Golf Digest magazine recently gave Olde Mill a four-star rating on its list of ``places to play great values'' in Virginia. The revered Cascades in Hot Springs and the Golden Horseshoe (Gold) in Williamsburg were the only two courses rated higher in Virginia, each garnering 41/2 stars.
``As soon as that came out, we had people calling us from all over New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania,'' Giles said. ``Evidently, the magazine's circulation goes there first. We didn't even know about it because we hadn't gotten our magazine yet. People were calling and saying, `You ought to read this.'''
Giles said folks shouldn't worry about any drastic changes in the main attraction - the golf course.
``Other than taking out a few dead trees here and there, the course will stay the same,'' he said. ``Some people might think all the development here will change things. I think it will simply make the golf course itself even prettier.''
STATE OPEN: Richmond's Vinny Giles will attempt to defend his title in this week's AMF-Signet Open at Richmond's Willow Oaks Country Club. Giles shot 10-under last year in becoming the first amateur to win the tournament since Galax's Tom McKnight in 1985.
McKnight, who tied for second last year with Jack Snyder and Bobby Wadkins, heads the Southwestern Virginia entries. Other area amateurs in the field include David Brogan, who was runner-up in Monday's State Amateur final to Scott Inman; Bill Sibbick; Mike Smith; Barry Graham; Ryan Ketron; Ned Baber; Chris Clemens; and Adam Harrell.
Area professionals who qualified include Mark Fry, Tim Holbrook, Roby Roberson, Dave Kuykendall, Jerry Conner and Jimmy Williams.
HOLLIDAY GIFT: The Don Holliday Memorial tournament continues its run of success.
The benefit, held two weekends ago at Hanging Rock, drew a record field of 292 and raised more than $8,000 - all toward a $6,000 college scholarship awarded annually by the Roanoke Valley Golf Hall of Fame.
The tournament, which is named in honor of the late Don Holliday, a district sales manager for Piedmont Airlines, has raised more than $80,000 the past eight years.
The team of Roger Cabiness, Mike Sledd, Roger Whitson and Gary Mitchell won the captain's choice tournament, shooting 13-under. Former Countryside head professional Monty Goff, Tom Welch, Mike Martin and Blaine Shively shot 12-under.
SAND BLASTS: Roanoker Mark Funderburke fired rounds of 69, 67 and 70 to take second place and head a sizable Roanoke contingent in the recent Spring Valley Invitational in Huntington, W.Va. West Virginian Lee Harold won the event for the fifth time, shooting 63, 71 and 70. Mike Stinnette of Roanoke finished fifth. ... Rob Preddy won the Roanoke Valley Golf Association's recent three-club tournament at Countryside. Rob Stanley was second. ... Ryan Ketron of Roanoke shot an 11-over 227 and finished 39th in the 90-player 15-18 age division of the recent American Junior Golf Association's PING Myrtle Beach (S.C.) Class. Georgian John Walker shot a 211 to win. ... Glenvar High School's Nick Varney, who won the Haley Memorial this past week, heads the local entries in this week's 20th Bobby Bowers Junior Championship at Springfield Golf & Country Club. Other local entries in the featured 16-17 age class include Scott Griffin of Troutville, Scott Bailey of Roanoke and Kurt Williams of Blacksburg. Roanoke's Jason Orlando has the third-lowest handicap among the 82 entries in the 14-15 division.
by CNB