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

September 7, 2004

It couldn't have happened to a nicer person.

Mike Miller, assistant golf professional at the Chattanooga Golf and Country Club, will be sponsored on a professional tour the next five years by Chattanooga businessman and Country Club member John "Thunder'' Thornton.

"Mr. Thornton will be my backer,'' the 39-year-old Miller said. "My only backer. It's a great opportunity and I will try to do the best that I can.''

Except for two years when he played professionally and worked at the Moccasin Bend Golf Club, Miller has been employed at the Chattanooga Golf and Country Club since 1986.

"Mike has been given a chance of a lifetime to follow his dream of playing golf professionally,'' Chattanooga Golf and Country Club professional Bruce Etter said. "Mike has been a huge asset, friend and confidant and I will miss him dearly. It will be next to impossible to replace him, and I wish him the absolute best on this chapter of his life.''

Miller, clearly one of Chattanooga's best amateur golfers, approached Thornton about the sponsorship.

"He believes in people chasing their dreams,'' Miller said. "And, yeah, I was shocked when he said yes. If we had been by ourselves, I probably would have just fallen down. But since our wives were there, I tried to keep my cool.

"I really didn't think he would say yes to the whole five years, but that's what he promised me. If I want to quit before then, it would be my decision.''

Miller, who taught Thornton's son, Ryan, for two years, will start on the Golden Bear Tour on Jan. 12. He plans to remain at CG&CC until Nov. 15.

"I've finished second in almost every tournament in town,'' Miller said. "I've been second five or six times in the Public Links.

"My game is getting better, too. I'm seeing Danny Elkins in Atlanta. He also teaches Luke List and Bryce Ledford. (UTC assistant golf coach) Mark Guhne put me on him. Guhne has already done a great job helping me with my swing, and Danny has helped more and given me the confidence to get the swing on track.''

Miller said he will leave the Country Club with ambivalent feelings.

"I'll miss everyone, but the Country Club has granted me permission to play or practice here at any time,'' he said. "Meanwhile, I've been wanting to get back to my dream for the last 13 years. Now, that dream has become reality, and well, I've got to get it going.''

Since getting a commitment from Thornton, Miller has been working on a lifestyle change.

"I'm working out 15 times more than ever, watching what I eat, lifting,'' he said. "This is a five-year commitment, and I want to win the money back. I want to go more than five years. The Senior Tour is just around the corner.

"I want to stay healthy, get better and learn about the tour. I hope to learn a lot. I'm expecting good things, but I know it will take a lot of hard work. Mentally and physically, I should be able to get better.''

Miller wants to make one thing perfectly clear about his future.

"Just be sure you let the Country Club and Mr. Thornton know how much I appreciate them,'' he said.

(E-mail Stan Crawley at wscrawley@earthlink.net)

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