"IF YOU LIKE GOLF"
weekly online golf column
by
Stan Crawley

April 23, 2002

Gibby Gilbert III has to play the waiting game for one more week.

The former mini-tour player and son of Senior Tour player Gibby Gilbert has signed a 20-year lease to run Valleybrook Golf and Country Club. Gilbert can’t begin his master plan for improving the course until May 1, the day his lease begins.

"It’s going to be a tough beginning because there is no transition at all,’’ Gilbert III said. "Still, it shouldn’t take too long to get it going again.’’

Gilbert III will have an option to buy the property in 2012. The course is owned by David Drake of Chattanooga and his two sisters, Carolyn Drake and Nancy Donelson, both of Nashville. Rob Landham had leased the course from the late Carl Drake for the last 22 years. Landham’s lease expires April 30.

"We’re going to do an extensive cleanup of the clubhouse and the entire course,’’ Gilbert III said. "The course is in good shape, but not like it should be. It has been neglected for awhile. Our plan is to take the course where it should be.’’

The renovation will begin May 1 in the restaurant area.

"We may have to shut the restaurant down for a little while,’’ Gilbert III said. "We’ll be bringing in all new restaurant equipment.

"We also plan to re-do the pro shop. We have a lot of plans, but don’t know exactly what we’ll face until we get in there, and we can’t do that until May 1. In the meantime, we’ve been talking to members and getting input from them.’’

The annual Red Bud Invitational is scheduled May 31-June 2 at Valleybrook. Gilbert III said his general manager, Wes Gilliland, plans to negotiate for a later date in the summer for the tournament.

"We’ll wait and see about the Red Bud, but we would like to have it later in the summer,’’ Gilbert III said. "We will have it. We definitely want to keep it. It’s a tradition at Valleybrook.’’

Gilbert III had been running a driving range on Hixson Pike, less than a mile from the course. He lost his lease on the range when the property was purchased by Hixson Church of Christ. He is currently negotiating with staff members at Valleybrook, including pro Lee Cantrell and superintendent Jeff Reed.

"We’re trying to keep everybody,’’ Gilbert III said. "We’ve heard a lot of good things about all the employees.’’

The Drake family has been involved in ownership since Valleybrook opened more than 40 years ago.

"We just thought it was time for a change,’’ David Drake told the Chattanooga Times Free Press. "I think Rob did a credible job over the years, but I told him this was a young man’s job, and we wanted to turn it over to Gibby.’’

That all begins May 1, and "Little Gibby’’ can’t wait.

SIGNAL MOUNTAIN NOT FAR AWAY: The Signal Mountain Invitational that traditionally kicks off the summer golf schedule in Chattanooga will be played May 3-5 at the Signal Mountain Golf and Country Club.

Pro Scott Hare said the field will include 186 players, a few less than in the past.

"We decided to try to help the pace a little bit, although eight fewer players might not help a lot,’’ he said.

Hare said the course is in good shape because of the warm weather the last few weeks.

"The fairways are coming in and the rough is growing faster than we can keep up with it,’’ he said. "The greens are in great shape. In fact, everybody says the course is in the best shape ever.

"The biggest challenge in the tournament will be the rough, although typically the greens will give some people problems. To score well, you will have to hit it in the fairway. It will be a challenge if you don’t keep it in play.’’

Toby Geren, the defending champion, has yet to submit an application. Others notables in the field, Hare said, are Richard Keene, Robbie and Chris Treadway, King Oehmig, Mike Miller, Aon Miller, Kevin Law, Darrell Atchley, Lex Tarumianz, Larry McGill, Larry Williams, Patrick Williams, Phillip Guess, Pat Corey, Doug Stein, Jeff Sherrill, Mike Jenkins and Josh Nelms.

"It's a good field,’’ Hare said. "It’s going to be pretty competitive.’’

Double-crossover starts will be held each day starting at 8 a.m.

BLACK LEADS VOLS: Senior Andrew Black from Chattanooga helped Tennessee finish the 2002 SEC Championships at the Seaside Course in Sea Island, Ga., in seventh place. The Vols finished with a three-round scorecard of 296-285-300--881.

Black finished in a tie for 17th place, with a 74-74-71--219. Finishing one stroke behind Black was freshman Ross McGowan and junior Andrew Pratt. Both players finished tied for 20th with scores of 220.

McGowan had a scorecard of 76-68-76--220, while Pratt had a 73-69-78--220. Freshman David Skinns finished tied for 27th with a 73-74-75--222, while junior Ian Parnaby rounded out the Vols scores with a 76-75-78--229, tying him for 48th.

The 12th-ranked Auburn Tigers won their third SEC tournament title with a 285-282-290--857. Florida finished runner-up with scores of 284-294-286--864, seven shots behind the Tigers, while No. 15 Georgia rounded out the top three (298-284-284-866).

Camilo Benedetti of Florida won the individual portion of the tournament with scores of 70-72-68--210.

Chattanooga’s Jimmy White has not played in a match for the Vols since the Seminole Intercollegiate on March 11-12. He lost his spot during a team qualifying playoff.

"Jimmy just lost his spot to another of our players,’’ Tennessee coach Jim Kelson said. "He has played pretty well at times, in three-quarters of the tournaments he has shot 75 or higher.

"We’re going to give him an opportunity to get back in there for the rest of the year. It didn’t show last weekend, but this has been a pretty tough team to make. We’re pulling for Jimmy to get back in there. He’s a good player and a great kid.’’

Tennessee's next match is slated for May 9-10 at the Atlanta Classic at Eagles Landing Country Club.

CRAIG’S ACES: Mike Craig has made two holes-in-one at Black Creek. He recently made the second one within one day of being exactly one year after the first one.

LAWWILL’S 69: Stewart Lawwill has been a dominant tennis player in town for years. He has been working on his golf game hard the last few years, and recently shot 69 at Chattanooga Golf and Country Club.