New course in Hudson busy with work, patrons

Heritage Pines opened three weeks ago and head pro John McFadden is finding "a lot of things still to do out here.''

By KEVIN KELLY

© St. Petersburg Times, published February 17, 2000

As with any new course, Heritage Pines head professional John McFadden finds there are the little kinks to work out.

The 18-hole, par-71 course -- part of a U.S. Homes community in Hudson -- opened three weeks ago.

"There's a lot of things still to do out here," said McFadden, who came from River Ridge Golf Club.

Course traffic has been high so far.

"We're doing excellent business right now," McFadden said. "We're turning the carts over twice a day."

With several dogleg holes, the course seems to play longer from the back tees than its 6,304 yards, McFadden said.

"There's a par-5 that's close to 600 yards but it plays longer than that," he said. "On No. 5 you have to hit it over two bodies of water. Basically, there's water on four of the holes. Other than that, they're mainly doglegs. It's a nice terrain."

The course will become private in two to three years. Until then, the public can play for $28. The price includes tax and use of a cart. For more information, call the Heritage Pines pro shop at (727) 861-1645.

GTE QUALIFIER: Although rain washed out the GTE Classic qualifier on Monday at Fox Hollow Golf Club, visiting senior golfers and Senior PGA Tour officials were highly complimentary of the condition of the greens and fairways.

"This golf course is one of the the best we've played on," Senior PGA Tour official Butch Brooks said.

Because of the rain, the three qualifiers for this weekend's GTE Classic at the TPC of Tampa Bay were chosen based on the 1999 money list. They were Buzz Thomas, Bobby Stroble and Barney Thompson.

It would have been the fifth consecutive time the course has played host to the qualifier.

BUY.COM TOUR: Former Gulf High and Florida Southern star Darron Stiles missed the cut for the Lakeland Classic last week at the Grasslands Golf and Country Club. He shot even-par 144 in two rounds.

Stiles tied for 35th in the Florida Classic on Feb. 6 at the Gainesville County Club.

His lone win on the tour, then the Nike Tour, came at the Dominion Open last May in Richmond, Va. Stiles finished 22nd in the 1999 Nike Tour standings, just seven spots from earning his PGA Tour card, and earned $100,223.

COMING UP: Timber Oaks will play host to the LPGA Teaching and Club Professional Division tournament on Feb. 27. The pro-am is expected to draw club professionals from as far away as Sarasota and Orlando.

The Sherman Hills Golf Academy is hosting a school for women with handicaps of 25 or above Feb. 28-March 1. Marion Walker, the 1996 LPGA professional of the year and head pro at Sherman Hills Golf Course, and Valerie Brown, director of instruction at Sherman Hills, will lead the school. The cost is $300 per person and includes 18 hours of instruction, lunch each day, on-course instruction and range balls. For more information, call (352) 544-0990.

-- Kevin Kelly is the Pasco Times golf writer. To reach him with feature story ideas, results or Local Link suggestions, call (727) 869-6237, send e-mail to kkelly@sptimes.com, or send a fax to (727) 869-6233.

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