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

July 22, 2003

The Chattanooga golf community was saddened on April 12 of this year when Ira Templeton passed away at the age of 79.

Since that date, the folks at the Tennessee Section PGA and other golf notables in Chattanooga have been seeking a way to memorialize Templeton, a terrific golfer who owned the Creeks Bend Golf Club.

In a meeting not long ago involving Danny Tribble, Billy Buchanan and Templeton's son, Buddy Templeton, an idea emerged. The meeting was with Gary Davis of the Chattanooga Cola-Cola Bottling Company in conjunction with the annual Coca-Cola Open that is held at Creeks Bend.

"It was really ironic because we had all been trying to come up with a way to remember Ira,'' said Tribble, the tournament's director. "Then Gary Davis actually mentioned naming the tournament after Ira as an idea. We jumped on it because we knew the people at the Tennessee Section PGA wanted to do something for Ira.''

The idea became a reality on Monday when the tournament was re-named the Ira Templeton Chattanooga Open. It will still be sponsored by the Chattanooga Cola-Cola Bottling Company.

"Coca-Cola has been great to the Chattanooga golf community through the years,'' Tribble said. "We are pleased that they have agreed to change the name and that they will continue to support the tournament.''

Said Buddy Templeton, "There was never a question about keeping the tournament, but we were a little concerned with financing. But Coca-Cola will continue their support, we've changed the name and we're pleased with that.

"Coke has supported this tournament for 20-something years and we appreciate them. They are good people. Gary Davis is such a nice individual.''

The tournament, a Tennessee Section PGA event, has been held in Chattanooga since 1976. It features professionals and amateurs from around the state, and was won this year by Patrick Williams.

"It was held the first year as a one-day event at Brainerd,'' Tribble said. "When we first started, it was hard to get sites for tournaments. In 1977, Ira accepted it at Creeks Bend and he became an integral part of the annual event. We wanted to memorialize him for that contribution.''

The Ira Templeton Chattanooga Open will be a fabulous way to remember an old friend. It is something he richly deserves.

"It is a great deal,'' Tribble said. "We still have some more work to do, but at least we still have the tournament going.''

Said Buddy Templeton, "I think this is a really nice way to honor dad. I think he would be pleased. Dad always said not to have a memorial tournament for him, like for raising money for something.

"He said you can't do that for everybody who dies. But this is not a tournament for him, but one honoring his name.''

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

*** Feedback ***
click here to give us your comments about this article,
 or suggest a subject for a future article