Tom Reck
Tribune-Star Correspondent
TERRE HAUTE —
With the early springlike weather being prevalent in the area, golf courses have had better business than usual for this time of the year.
Players have noticed some changes at some of the facilities, including in Terre Haute.
Dave Kennedy is in his eighth season as the pro at Rea Park, and now has additional responsibilities. He is golf operations manager for the city and will be the pro at Rea Park and Hulman Links.
Ed Grayless is the pro shop manager at Hulman Links, while Dave and Don Alumbaugh will continue to serve as superintendents at the two courses.
Kennedy points out new carts are being used at the two courses. “We have 54 at Rea Park and 60 at Hulman Links,” he notes.
He said a new and improved junior golf program at both courses will be directed by Indiana State coach Greg Towne and Jon Holloway, former longtime pro at Rea Park.
“I’ll be involved with Get Golf Ready, a new PGA venture. We want to get more people involved in golf with lots of lessons and lots of clinics available,” Kennedy said.
He said Family Night Clinics are planned with refreshments and nine holes of golf.
With the Golf Headquarters store no longer being in business, he said pro shops at both courses will have a full line of golf apparel and equipment.
“We’re excited about the new year and all the new things,” Kennedy said.
He said Rea Park will have a twilight special beginning in May. Hulman Links has a twilight special after 3 p.m. and has a special deal on Tuesdays and Thursdays with golf and lunch for $27.
Both courses have been open since late February, and business has been good when the weather has been nice — and most days have been nice in March.
“We had 50 to 80 [golfers] most days in the first two or three weeks we were open,” Kennedy said.
Terre Haute South Vigo and West Vigo boys golf teams again will play their home matches at Rea Park; Hulman Links will be the home course for Terre Haute North Vigo.
South’s annual invitational will be in April, and the Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference Championships again will be at Hulman Links.
Kennedy said a two-man best-ball event is scheduled for April 14-15 at Rea Park. Players may sign up at the pro shop.
Terre Haute Golf Association events again will be played at both courses with Rea Park being used for the first round and Hulman Links for the second round on two-day tournaments.
The junior city is slated for July 10-12 with two rounds at Rea Park.
The THGA schedule:
June 16-17 — two-man event
July 7-8 — mini-city
August 11-12 — senior city
Sept. 15-16, 22-23 — WTHI-TV Men’s City Championship
Club championships at both courses will be in August. Terre Haute North’s girls golf team also has its annual invitational scheduled in August at Hulman Links.
Sectional play for high school boys golf teams reportedly will rotate between Phil Harris Course at Linton and Hulman Links with this year’s tournament being at the Greene County course.
Other courses in Vigo County are Idle Creek, Country Club of Terre Haute, Mark’s Par Three and River Bend at The Landing.
• Idle Creek. Ray Goddard is the pro at the course in its 14th season.
Players can play 18 holes of golf and have lunch on Mondays for $25.
Players also may purchase a pass for $50 that will be good for reduced rates all season any day.
Two outings at the facility include those for the Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce and the Indiana State Baseball Alumni.
• Mark’s Par Three. Neil LaGrange and Candy McCord run the course, which has been in operation full-time since 1964. Kenny Walsh is the superintendent.
The twilight rate is in effect after 6 p.m.
Monday is Junior Day with junior golfers between 10 and 14 years of age playing for $6 between noon and 3 p.m. with instruction available.
Monday evenings, green fees are free for juniors when accompanied by an adult player.
Some of the leagues at the course are senior men on Monday, women on Wednesday, Sycamore Club on Wednesday evening and a corporate league Thursday evening.
• River Bend at The Landing. Mike York is the general manager at the facility (the former Elks Club), while Billy Alumbaugh is the superintendent.
Eric Cass is the pro and has special times and events planned for junior golfers. He is in his 21st year of working in golf programs.
The club championship will be June 8-10 and a Junior Open is planned for July 17.
Specials include 18 holes of golf with cart and cold refreshments for $18 on Monday; 18 holes of golf and cart for $15 on Tuesday and nine holes of golf for women from 5:30 p.m. to dusk for $12 on Wednesday.
Men’s league play also is slated from 4 p.m. to dusk on Thursday.
• Country Club of Terre Haute. Jeff Sheets is the pro and Mike Nakai the assistant pro at the Allendale course; Brad Pugh is the superintendent.
The Junior Interclub again will be played the facility and it will be the site of the Missouri Valley Conference women’s golf tournament this spring.
Some of the other events at the course will be the Travis Smith Memorial for the Terre Haute Boys and Girls Club, the Union Hospital Outing and the Boy Scouts of America outing.
Checking out the action outside of the county:
• Matthews Park at Clinton. Tom Bekkering is the superintendent at the course that opened for play in 1958. Dick Brown is the president of the Clinton Golf Association.
Players may play for $10 (green fees and cart) on Wednesday.
The Spaghetti Open is one of the biggest tournaments played each year in September at the course.
Geneva Hills near Clinton. Eddie Kanizer is the manager and J. P. Kanizer the superintendent. Russ Maesch is the director of golf.
One special the course offers is 18 holes of golf with cart for $25 on Monday.
Two-man events again will be played in early May and in the fall.
• Sullivan Elks. David Andre is the pro and superintendent and is in his 33rd year at the facility.
North Central, Sullivan and Union high school golf teams play their matches at the course.
• Phil Harris Course at Linton. Bart Beard is director of golf, and Rodney Bredeg is superintendent.
As noted, sectional play is scheduled at the course.
Beard said one of the big tournaments at the course is the Big Mac team event in September.
Twilight special rates go into effect after 2 p.m., and a Monday Special includes 18 holes of golf and cart for $20.
• Forest Park at Brazil. Tom Cain is superintendent and manager with Troy Farris being the assistant manager.
High school boys golf teams traditionally open their season in the Northview Invitational, set for April 7 this year. Josh Trout is the Northview boys coach this season.
The annual two-man scramble will be April 28-29, and the Brazil Open will be played the last weekend in June.
Specials include $20 with cart for seniors on Tuesday; $20 with cart for ladies on Wednesday and $25 for golf and lunch on Thursday.
Discounts also are available daily for groups of 12 or more players.
• Oak Ridge east of Brazil. Jim Metz is the manager and Brian Metz the superintendent.
A March Special offers 18 holes of golf with cart for $18.
A restaurant is located at the facility and will be open in April.
