Canyon Ridge sets rates, grand opening date

RISING FAWN, Ga.—The visually stunning Canyon Ridge Club, with views on a clear day ranging 100 miles to the Great Smoky Mountains, has scheduled the grand opening of its Rick Robbins-designed golf course for June 24.

Located on Lookout Mountain about 30 minutes from Chattanooga, Tenn., Canyon Ridge Club will open to the general public a day later with special rates and packages for golfers who have eagerly awaited the completion of the spectacular layout.

“At least for the 2005 season we want to give people an opportunity to come up and experience this great golf course,” Baker said. “We are going to open up in a semi-private state and then to convert to a private facility. People are going to be amazed at how intimidating the course looks from the tee, but how fair and reasonable it is. It will blow people away.”

After the opening specials, rack rates will be $65 on weekdays and $85 on the weekend.

The 18-hole golf course is the centerpiece of a 420-acre community that will include Founding Member Club Cottages on the property’s rocky cliffs and 500 residences.

New head professional and general manager John Speiss, who left the same positions at the TPC at Southwind near Memphis, the host of the St. Jude FedEx Classic, for Canyon Ridge, says that members will be well treated.

“It was exciting working with the PGA Tour in Memphis,” Speiss said. “But the opportunity to help this property develop was exciting. So many times in this industry you come into a club and it’s already got a history of its own and a culture of its own. Here we’re going to develop those and lead the club in the right direction.

“We want our members and the people who play here to be treated right. Randy’s buzzword is casual elegance. We want a first-class club—we’ve already got a great golf course—where people can come and relax.

“We this can be one of the top mountain top communities in the country.”

Keith Burdette qualifies for Chattanooga Classic

Keith Burdette (Harrison) finished at –2 under par, 70 to earn one of the three spots in the field in the Chattanooga Classic in Tennessee Section PGA qualifying. He did so with 4 birdies on the back 9 holes. Keith Kail (Olive Branch, MS) carded 5 birdies on his way to shooting a –1 under par, 71 in today’s qualifier. Tied for 3rd place was Patrick Christovich (Nashville) and Virgil Herring (Nashville). These two had to go to a sudden death playoff to determine who received the third qualifying spot. Patrick was –3 under par through 6 holes but then had a double and a quadruple bogey to end up +3 at the turn. However, Patrick had 3 birdies on the back 9 to get back to even par for the day. Virgil had the most birdies in the field with 7 birdies, he also had a quadruple bogey to end up tied with Patrick in the third spot. Those two went to the second playoff hole where Patrick stuck his tee shot about 5 feet on the par 3 11th hole and knocked in the birdie put to receive the final qualifying spot.

Virgil will be the first alternate in case one of the three qualifiers can not make the field for some reason. Receiving the second alternate spot was Kelvin Burgin (Crossville) who beat out fellow Bear Trace professional Rob Hessing (Selmer) on the first playoff hole after they each shot +1 over par during the round.

Titans Help Round Out Classic Skins Game Field

The First Tennessee Bank Pro-Celebrity Skins Game has taken on an all-Tennessee flavor.

The game is a part of the Chattanooga Classic Presented by Cummings Cove RealtyCenter/GMAC Super Tuesday on May 31.

Country music superstar Vince Gill, who lives in Nashville, was the first celebrity announced for the Skins Game.

Three of the four pros were also announced and they have Tennessee connections. Kip Henley, Big Break II winner, lives in Crossville and was born in Chattanooga. Casey Wittenberg is from Memphis. Jim Gallagher Jr. is arguably the best golfer in University of Tennessee history.

Now the Tennessee Titans are chipping into the connection.

A trio of Titans round out the celebrity field for the First Tennessee game. Frank Wycheck, Billy Volek and Craig Hentrich have committed to participate with Gill in the May 31st contest at Black Creek Club.

Wycheck, who played for the Titans for nine seasons before retiring in January of 2005, was one of the most popular members of the team and one of the most prolific tight ends in NFL history. When he left the game, Wycheck ranked as the fourth all-time pass catcher among tight ends with 205 career receptions.

Volek started eight games at quarterback for the Titans when Steve McNair went down with an injury. Volek has established himself as one of the top back-up quarterbacks in the league and is heir apparent to McNair’s job when he retires.

Hentrich has long been one of the NFL’s top punters and like Wycheck is a two-time All-Pro. He is also one of the most versatile of the NFL punters. In addition to punting, he kicks off, holds on place kicks and kicks long-range field goals.

Hentrich has played in three Super Bowls, winning one with the Green Bay Packers (XXXI). He has also played in two Pro Bowls.

Hentrich and Wycheck are also stellar golfers. Hentrich won the NFL Cadillac Classic in 2000 and finished in the top five of that event two other times. Wycheck is a 6-handicapper and a five-time participant in the NFL Cadillac Classic.

The Skins Game is one of three activities on Super Tuesday. The day begins at 10:30 with The First Tee of Chattanooga Youth Clinic at the Black Creek driving Range. At noon, the Franklin American Mortgage Long Drive Contest will be held at the course’s ninth tee.

The Skins Game begins at 1:30 at No. 1. Charities involved in the $10,000 Skins game are Alexian Brothers (Jim Phifer Endowment for Alzheimer’s, Bethel Bible Village, Hospice of Chattanooga and Orange Grove. Cost of admission is $5. All proceeds will go to the charities.

Jeff Sherrill, former McCallie and Furman golf, now area golf instructor

Jeff Sherrill, a former McCallie and Furman University golfer has set up a mobile golf instruction business. He is offering golf lessons (private or group) as well as playing lessons, short game tips and practice drills to help golfers enjoy "Golf for a Lifetime." He has been around golf since he was 11 years old and has taken lessons from many of the local P.G.A. pros as well as some nationally known instructors.

Jeff took his first golf lesson from the "OLD PRO," Don Malarkey. He then learned to love the game from his Dad, the late Lynah Sherrill, and is wanting to pass on that golf legacy via the newly formed mobile golf instruction business.

A private lesson is $50.00 for a 45 minute session and his group clinics are $40.00 per person per session. Private lesson appoinments can be submitted through his website www.sherrillgolf.com. Players can see their lesson appointments on the Sherrill Golf website calendar to verify a lesson is booked, the time and location. Also, players can check out dates and locations of upcoming clinics.

Video instruction is offered as well. Jeff believes this is an extremely vital part of today's teaching. "In this day of technology you need to video your swing to see what you are doing correctly and what you are doing incorrectly. Plus, after you see the changes you need to make, then I can help you "feel" those changes. In other words, seeing and feeling is believing."

For more information, contact Jeff directly at 423-595-3660.

Gill to Play in Chattanooga Classic Skins Game

Country music superstar Vince Gill, a long-time friend of Tennessee golf, has agreed to play in the Pro-Celebrity Skins Game, a warm-up event for the Nationwide Chattanooga Classic, set May 30-June 5 at Black Creek.

Gill's celebrity's partners have yet to be selected, but three of the four pros were announced on Monday. Former Chattanoogan Kip Henley, who won the Golf Channel's Big Break II, will play, along with Casey Whittenberg of Memphis and Jim Gallagher, Jr., a former University of Tennessee and PGA Tour stalwart. All proceeds go to charity.

The Skins Game will be part of the tournament's "Super Tuesday" on May 31. Other events include the First Tee of Chattanooga Youth Clinic, set for 10:30 a.m. and the Franklin American Mortgage Long Drive Contest at noon. The Skins game begins at 1:30.

First Tennessee Bank has agreed to sponsor the Skins Game and Regions Bank/Morgan Keegan is sponsoring Birdies for Dollars, which pays $200 for each birdied recorded during the Classic at the par-3 11th hole. All proceeds will go to the First Tee of Chattanooga.

Classic organizers are still looking for volunteers to help during the 72-hole tournament. To volunteer, sign up at www.ChattanoogaClassic.org.