"IF YOU LIKE GOLF"
weekly online golf column
by
Chris Dortch

April 26, 2005

One of the great things about golf is that it’s the ultimate goal-setting game. Whether your goal is modest, say, breaking 100, or a little more lofty, the opportunity is there. It all depends on how hard you want to work.

David Noll has set a lofty goal for himself, and for the last nine months and change, he’s been willing to put in the time to attain it. Noll, a Dalton, Ga., businessman, former touring professional and reinstated amateur, wants to make the 2005 U.S. Walker Cup team, and he’ll stop at nothing to achieve his goal. Since Aug. 11, 2004, Noll has played or practiced every day. The fact Noll’s an executive in a family-run business makes that possible, but think for a minute the total dedication that takes. Most of us who play golf are hooked, but how many of us can say we were on the course or the practice range for nine months straight?

“I know that sounds a little crazy,” Noll said, laughing. “We’ve had some rainy days, and cold like you wouldn’t believe. But making the Walker Cup team is important to me. I’m lucky enough with [the family business] and the fact that my wife is supportive to have the time to do this. I’m going for it.”

This is no crazy pipe dream Noll has set his sights upon. He’s No. 33 in the latest Golfweek/Titleist Men's Amateur Rankings. More importantly, and Noll keeps tabs on this regularly, he’s 14^th on the Walker Cup points list.

“To make the team, you’ve got to be in the top 12,” Walker said. “One win [in a national amateur event] and a couple of top fives and I’m there.”

Noll is giving himself ample opportunity. He’ll play in 34 tournaments this year, more than many touring pros. Not all those events will gain him Walker Cup points, but he’ll hit all the biggies: Western Amateur, Northeast Amateur, Southern Amateur, Porter Cup, Sunnehanna.

Noll’s recent play has given him reason to believe that when the Walker Cup matches convene at Chicago Golf Club Aug 12-14, he’ll be wearing red, white and blue. In his last seven national amateur tournaments, Noll hasn’t finished out of the top seven. In March, he finished second in the Gasparrilla Invitational after taking the lead on the 15^th hole. Only a double-bogey at No. 17 cost him the title. Noll shot a final-round 66.

Two months earlier, Noll and partner Jack Hall of Macon, Ga. finished fifth in the Southern International Four Ball.

Those finishes are typical of Noll’s recent play. In 2004, he finished second in the Southeastern Invitational, fourth in the Southern Amateur at The Honors Course, sixth in the Azaela and ninth in the Sunnehanna.

“It’s a difficult goal,” Noll said of his quest for a Walker Cup berth. “But you’ve got to set the bar high to get better.”

Noll’s playing partners at Dalton Country Club would attest to the fact that he’s getting better. A good day for Noll is 16- to 18 greens in regulation and 15 legitimate birdie chances. He’s been knocking flags down for months.

“My ball striking has been good for a while,” said the 32-year-old Noll, who played college golf at Middle Tennessee State. “My short game’s solid. But the biggest thing is just learning how to play. I’ve matured. I’ve figured out how to turn a 73 into a 69, to score when I’m not hitting the ball as well as I can.”

Noll has another motivation guiding him. That’s why he has all his golf hats custom made with an orange ribbon emblazoned on the front. The ribbon is a tribute to his father, David Noll, Sr., who passed away in October, 2003. Noll the elder loved the University of Tennessee’s football team, so his son couldn’t think of a better tribute than to wear a bit of orange.

“I’ll do that for the rest of my life,” Noll said. “My dad and I were close. My biggest goal my whole life was to walk off a golf course and have my dad say he was proud of me.”

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