Tips For A 4-Day Pinehurst Golf Trip Sky Valley Is a Little Piece of Paradise Carraher On Winning Junior Presidents Cup Team October 2026
I want to shine the spotlight on one of Indiana’s talented junior golfers, Taylor Snively, a junior at Zionsville High School. Last month she set an Indiana high school state-record score with an 11-under par 59 in the IHSAA Sectional tournament that was held at the West Chase Golf Club in Brownsburg. Her round included three eagles, seven birdies, and, yes, one bogey -- a 5 at the parfour 7th hole. Taylor, the reigning IHSAA state individual Girls Golf Champion, broke the previous state record of 62 set by Cybil Stillson of NorthWood HS, set in 2021 at the Noble Hawk GC in Kendallville, Indiana. Taylor and her teammates advanced to the Regional tournament held at the Harrison Hills Golf Club in Attica. Taylor shot 72, while her teammate Olivia Patton was the medalist with a three-under 69. As expected, Zionsville qualified as a team for the IHSAA Girls State Golf Finals that were played on October 2-3 at the Battle Ground Golf Club, located near Lafayette. Because of an early deadline with our October issue, our coverage of the IHSAA State Girls Golf Finals will appear in our November issue. Thanks to Double Edge Media for this photo of Taylor Snively. Learn more about another up-andcoming junior golfer from Indiana – Sam Carraher from Crown Point, who made the Junior Presidents Cup-clinching putt for Team USA at the recent Junior Presidents Cup. Sam was the only golfer from Indiana on the U.S. team that was captained by Matt Kuchar. We hope you take full advantage of the October weather and get out and play today! Mike October is a Great Month to Play Golf In Indiana MIKE MAY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF SUBSCRIBE Back 9 Media Group Also Publishes: Ohio Golf Journal Michigan Golf Journal American Golf Journal Back 9 Report Indiana Golf Journal
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32 06 18 30 38 Tips For A 4-Day Pinehurst Golf Trip New Eligibility Requirements For 2028 PGA TOUR Do PGA TOUR Pros Earn Enough? Sam Carraher Shines In Junior Presidents Cup Liz Miller Enjoys Caddying on EPSON Tour Bert Pedigo Sports Caster & First Tee Starter 06 12 16 18 20 23 Review Of Mizuno’s New S-4 Irons Folds Of Honor Collegiate Results Treetops Announces $30 Million Investment Pete Dye Created A Masterpiece At Harbour Town Sky Valley Is A Gem In Georgia Mountains Health Benefits From Walking An English Original: Royal North Devon Be Careful Of Juvenile Wines 26 28 27 30 32 38 34 36 FIND INSIDE Indiana Golf Journal is Published By Back 9 Media Group Publisher: Fred Altvater, USGTF Teaching Professional Advertise with Indiana Golf Journal, Contact us for more information Be sure to take advantage of the links to social media, videos and other content provided within the articles Indiana Golf Journal
Four Days. One Unforgettable Pinehurst Area Golf Trip Planning a golf trip to the Pinehurst, Southern Pines and Aberdeen area presents an unusual problem: There may actually be too many good choices. Nearly 40 courses are concentrated within a remarkably compact area of the North Carolina Sandhills, including U.S. Open venues, restored Donald Ross classics and acclaimed modern designs. Add three distinct downtowns, dozens of restaurants and an expanding collection of short courses, and a group can spend more time debating the itinerary than playing it. The solution is simple: Pick one home base, group courses geographically and minimize time in the car. For a four-day trip, there is no reason to change hotels. Pinehurst, Southern Pines and Aberdeen are close enough that most drives between lodging, golf and dinner can be measured in minutes rather than hours. Here is one way to put it all together. Day 1: Arrive, unpack and start in Southern Pines Golf: Southern Pines Golf Club Start the trip with one of the Sandhills’ great comeback stories. Donald Ross originally designed Southern Pines Golf Club in the early 1900s. Architect Kyle Franz restored the course in 2021, removing hundreds of trees, reopening long views across the property By Brad King Indiana Golf Journal
and restoring Ross’ greens and bunkering. It also makes logistical sense on arrival day. Southern Pines is convenient for groups approaching from Raleigh or traveling north on U.S. 1, and the course provides a memorable introduction to the sandy terrain and strategic golf that define the region. Groups arriving early can make Southern Pines their first full 18. Those arriving later have another option: check in first and save the full round for the following morning. Not feeling the full 18? Then Overhills at Southern Pines Golf Club is your answer. Enjoy this large putting green with enormous hills and undulations reminiscent of the Himalayas at St. Andrews. Bonus golf: If daylight and energy remain, make the first day an introduction to the Sandhills’ growing short-course scene. Bottlebrush at Longleaf Golf & Family Club is a six-hole par-3 course with holes ranging scene has expanded well beyond traditional resort fare, particularly in downtown Southern Pines. Day 2: Make Pinehurst the centerpiece Golf: Pinehurst No. 2 If there is one day around which to build a premium Sandhills golf trip, this is it. Pinehurst No. 2 remains the centerpiece of the Home of American Golf, Donald Ross’ masterpiece and the first U.S. Open anchor site. It hosted its fourth U.S. Open in 2024, with additional championships from 50 to 100 yards and can be played in about 30 minutes. Dinner: Head into downtown Southern Pines, where Chapman’s Food & Spirits makes an easy post-round choice. Groups looking to turn the first night into an occasion can opt for Southern Prime Steakhouse, Chef Warren’s or Ashten’s. The area’s dining
scheduled in 2029, 2035, 2041 and 2047. Make this the day nobody has to hurry. Allow time before the round to explore the Pinehurst clubhouse and practice areas, taking your picture with the iconic Payne Stewart statue, and a visit to the Pro Shop to grab your Pinehurst keepsakes. Afterward, there is no need to go anywhere. The Deuce overlooks No. 2’s 18th green and was created specifically as the gathering place the course once lacked. Grab lunch or a post-round drink and watch the groups behind you finish. Switch it up with a trip to the North & South bourbon bar at The Manor. Enjoy lunch or dinner, craft cocktails, cozy fire pits, and nearly 150 styles of Groups returning to Pinehurst — or those looking to experience the resort’s newest chapter — should also strongly consider Pinehurst No. 10. Tom Doak’s design opened in 2024 as Pinehurst’s first new course in nearly three decades, unfolding across the rugged Sandmines property about four miles south of the main resort clubhouse. Native wiregrass, rolling terrain and dramatic remnants of the land’s former sand-mining operations give No. 10 a character distinctly different from Nos. 2 and 4. For groups with another day or round to work with, it offers an ideal complement to the historic Pinehurst experience rather than simply more of the same. Another option is to make 18 holes enough and enjoy the rest of the Pinehurst experience. Bonus golf: Play The Cradle, Pinehurst’s nine-hole par3 course, or settle some bets on the sprawling Thistle Dhu bourbons, whiskeys, ryes and Scotch. Premium second round: Pinehurst No. 4 Groups intent on 36 holes can pair No. 2 with neighboring Pinehurst No. 4, Gil Hanse’s acclaimed redesign. Because the courses share the main Pinehurst campus, there is virtually no transportation problem between rounds. Indiana Golf Journal
putting course. Both are steps from the clubhouse and turn the afternoon into more of a golf playground than another serious round. Dinner: Stay in the Village. Pinehurst Brewing Company is an excellent casual group option, while Elliott’s on Linden, Villaggio or the 1895 Grille can turn the trip’s marquee golf day into its marquee dinner. Day 3: Double up on Donald Ross Golf: Pine Needles and Mid Pines This is the most natural 36-hole pairing of the trip. Pine Needles and Mid Pines sit virtually next door to one another on Midland Road, the historic corridor connecting Pinehurst and Southern Pines. Both were designed by Donald Ross, but each offers a distinct experience. spend the afternoon exploring Southern Pines — or add a few holes on The Loop, Pine Needles’ four-hole short course. Dinner: Return to downtown Southern Pines. The Bell Tree Tavern and Sly Fox offer relaxed pub atmospheres, while Ironwood or 195 American Fusion provide more elevated alternatives. Enjoy variety at Red’s Corner, where the food truck and beer garden options have something for everyone. At this point, nobody should need a car for anything other than getting back to the hotel. Day 4: Finish with something completely different Golf: Tobacco Road Save Mike Strantz for last. Located northeast of Pinehurst, Tobacco Road provides a Pine Needles has hosted four U.S. Women’s Opens and represents championship Ross at its finest. Mid Pines offers a more intimate journey across rolling Sandhills terrain and has been restored by Kyle Franz to recapture the character of Ross’ original design. Play one in the morning, break for lunch and play the other in the afternoon. The minimal transfer between courses is exactly the sort of routing that makes a multi-course Sandhills trip work. Groups that prefer 18 holes can choose either course and
dramatic departure from the Ross golf that dominates much of the Sandhills. Built across an old sand quarry, the course features enormous waste areas, bold elevation changes, blind shots and some of the most visually intimidating — and entertaining — holes in American golf. Its location also makes it particularly useful as a finalday course for groups heading north or northeast after the round. Play in the morning, have lunch and begin the Pines, Woodlake or another course positioned toward their departure route. The objective on Day 4 is not simply squeezing in one more round. It is avoiding an unnecessary backtrack before a long drive home. Where should the group stay? For most groups, there are four logical approaches. Premium: Stay at Pinehurst Resort. Groups building their trip around Nos. 2, 4, 8 or 10 get the complete Pinehurst experience and the convenience of resort lodging, dining and transportation. Donald Ross stay-and-play: Pine Needles and Mid Pines offer another particularly attractive option for groups, combining lodging with easy access to three historic Donald Ross courses — Pine Needles, drive home rather than returning to Pinehurst simply to pack the car. And the experience is growing. Tobacco Road is adding The Matchbox, a 12-hole par-3 course on seven acres near the 12th and 13th holes. Traveling another direction? This is where the itinerary should be flexible. Groups whose route home makes Tobacco Road inconvenient can use the final round to play Country Club of Whispering Indiana Golf Journal
Mid Pines and Southern Pines. Pine Needles offers traditional lodge rooms as well as private course-side lodges accommodating groups of eight to 20, while the Mid Pines Villas are designed for groups of six or more and sit directly across Midland Road from Pine Needles. For groups planning to make the three Ross courses a major part of the trip, staying here can turn Day 3 — or an entire multiday rotation — into an especially convenient experience. Golf-package option: Talamore Golf Resort provides multibedroom villa accommodations and a natural golf rotation involving Talamore Golf Club, neighboring Mid South Club and Legacy Golf Links. For a group prioritizing golf, shared accommodations and convenience, it is an especially practical home base. Independent option: Choose a hotel, condo or vacation rental in Pinehurst, Southern Pines or Aberdeen and build the golf separately. This works particularly well for groups mixing resort golf with independently operated courses. Getting around A rental SUV is sufficient for a foursome, although four golfers plus travel bags and four sets of clubs can make a larger SUV Cradle as the group’s bonus round. A group looking for greater value doesn’t have to sacrifice quality. Talamore, Mid South and Legacy create a readymade three-course rotation. Southern Pines, Whispering Pines, Woodlake and other area layouts can extend the trip, while a condo, villa, hotel or vacation rental can reduce lodging costs. There is also no rule requiring 36 holes every day. One full round followed by The Cradle, Bottlebrush, The Matchbox or another short-course experience can produce a more relaxed trip — and often a more enjoyable one. That may be the greatest advantage of planning four days in the Home of American Golf. The hard part isn’t finding enough good golf. It’s deciding what to leave for the next trip. or passenger van worth the upgrade. For larger groups, consider a van or local transportation service rather than a convoy of cars. It keeps the group together, eliminates the daily “who’s driving?” discussion and makes post-round dinners considerably easier. Most importantly, don’t change lodging during a four-day stay. The concentration of golf around Pinehurst, Southern Pines and Aberdeen is one of the destination’s greatest logistical advantages. Premium or value? Build the trip your way A premium itinerary can center on Pinehurst Nos. 2, 4, 8 and 10, with Pine Needles, Mid Pines or Tobacco Road filling out the rotation. Stay at Pinehurst Resort and use The
2028 PGA TOUR Eligibility Criteria Explained By George McNeilly The PGA Tour has reimagined professional golf, replacing its current competitive structure with a two-series system that makes every tournament, every cut, and every spot on the leaderboard even more meaningful. PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp sees the new format as an important milestone for the future. “The players were extremely active in every aspect of it, from looking at the data to coming up with ideas to debating, and the staff really facilitated a lot of that discussion. But it was a very indepth, collaborative process.” At the center of the overhaul are the PGA Tour Championship Series, home to the game’s leading stars, and the PGA Tour Challenger Series, “From the beginning, we set out to preserve the meritocracy that makes our sport unique by creating a system where performance dictates opportunity,” Rolapp said. “Through new eligibility criteria and supporting pathways into the PGA Tour, the new competitive model is designed to reward excellence and ensure there is always a clear path for top performers a 144-player proving ground that will include relegated players, former winners, recent college standouts, Korn Ferry Tour graduates and established players seeking to regain their place in the sport’s upper echelon. The two series will run concurrently, with annual promotion and relegation determining who advances and who must claw their way back. Indiana Golf Journal
at every stage of their career. For fans, this means a clear understanding of what is at stake during each PGA Tour competition, whether that is at an event or across a season.” In the Championship Series, the top 90 players will retain membership each year, joined by the top 20 from the Challenger Series. Other routes to Championship Series membership include players who win twice during a Challenger Series season, tournament-winner exemptions, medical extensions, PGA Tour University, and a new fall “last chance” series. Players who win twice during the Challenger Series season will earn Championship Series membership, creating an immediate path for a breakout performer to reach the highest level before the following season’s promotion cycle. While tournament winners will remain protected, the new model sets firmer boundaries on that status. Winners of Championship Series events— including THE PLAYERS Championship and any of the four majors—will receive membership for the season of their victory and the following two seasons. Multiple wins in a single season will not extend that Championship Series exemption beyond the twoyear window. Additionally, the No. 1 player in PGA Tour University after the NCAA Championship will earn Championship Series eligibility for the rest of that season and the following year. Three additional spots will be available through this new “last chance” series, a minimum four-event sprint for players who narrowly miss promotion. The last-chance series in the fall could become one of the most dramatic elements of this reimagination. Eligible competitors include Relegated
Championship Series players, Challenger Series finishers ranked Nos. 21 through 90, the 20 Korn Ferry Tour graduates, PGA Tour University players ranked Nos. 2–5, and the top five Q-School finishers (expanding to the top 10 during the 2027 transition), all competing for just three Championship Series berths. No alternate list will be available, and players must compete in every event unless the PGA Tour grants a medical exclusion. The Challenger Series, meanwhile, will become the sport’s primary competitive bridge. Its 144-player field will include relegated Championship Series players, retained Challenger Series players, Korn Ferry Tour graduates, eligible winners, PGA Tour University and Q-School entrants, designated exemptions and players on medical extensions. The Korn Ferry Tour will remain the primary developmental path, with details of the broader structure expected to be finalized at the PGA Tour’s Nov. 16 board meeting. The Tour is also preserving routes for former winners. For example, those who have won Challenger Series events will receive status for the current and next two seasons. Championship Series winners from the previous four years will be exempt into the Challenger Series as a safety net if they are no longer eligible for the top tier. Players with exceptional PGA Tour careers— currently recognized on the Career Money List— will be eligible for a one-time Career Milestone Exemption starting in 2029. To use it, a player must have held Championship Series membership the previous season and must use the exemption immediately after losing that membership. The transition into 2028 will make 2027 particularly consequential. Players who had already earned exemptions through 2028 or later by the end of the 2026 season will retain their Championship Series access for the duration of those exemptions. That includes tournament winners and players who earned two-year status by finishing in the top 30 of the 2026 FedExCup Points List. For all others, the 2027 standings will serve as a defining test. The top 70 on the final 2027 FedExCup Points List, locked after the TOUR Championship at East Lake, will qualify for the 2028 Championship Series. The top 95 on the final 2027 FedExCup Fall Points List will also earn Championship Series membership, while players ranked Nos. 96–175 will receive Challenger Series membership. The Korn Ferry Tour will offer an unusually direct path during the transition: Its top 10 players in 2027 will advance directly to the Championship Series, and the next 30 Indiana Golf Journal
eligible players will receive Challenger Series membership. The top-ranked player in PGA Tour University will join the Championship Series. Players ranked Nos. 2–10 will receive Korn Ferry Tour membership, and the top five on the 2027 PGA Tour University totalpoints list will earn Challenger Series membership. The leading player on the PGA Tour Americas points list will also earn Challenger Series membership. For the 2028 transition, eligible players in the top 25 and top 50 of the Career Money List at the end of 2027 may elect a one-season Championship Series exemption, provided they play at least 15 PGA Tour events in 2027. The top-level points system is changing, too. Beginning cuts and posting consistently good finishes matter more because players will compete only against others in their own series for points. A non-member’s finish will not displace points from a Championship Series member, although a non-member who wins a major—or a Challenger player promoted after two victories—can begin earning Championship Series points once membership is secured. in 2028, all Championship Series events, including THE PLAYERS and majors, will use the same distribution formula. A win will be worth 300 points, 200 for second, and 150 for third. The curve then flattens sharply, with 125 points for fifth, 100 for 10th, and 30 for 65th. The stated intention is that winning will still carry the greatest reward, while making
Do PGA TOUR Players Receive Too Much Compensation? By Fred Altvater In team sports players receive guaranteed salaries and benefit packages. Golf professionals are independent contractors, plus they cover their own costs for travel, caddies and training, which can run into millions of dollars annually. A superstar, at the top of the Official World Golf Ranking, gets massive payouts, while a With golf at the local level experiencing increased participation, as well as higher incomes, there is massive interest in the game. Major sports leagues MLB, NFL and NHL spend approximately 50% of their annual revenues to their players. PGA TOUR players only receive 28% of annual revenues from golf tournaments. Indiana Golf Journal
lower-ranked player’s income potential is quite a bit less. Ben Griffin, who had a breakout year in 2025, disclosed that playing on the PGA TOUR can easily cost up to $50,000 per week. Multiply that number by 25-30 events played each year the annual cost can reach $1-$1.5 million per year. Remember professional golf is an entertainment business. Fans want to see the top names, Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy and yes even Bryson DeChambeau. When they are not in the field of a particular event, television ratings and fan support decrease, lessening tour revenue. It also leaves the sponsor, who paid up to $30 million, with less bang for their buck. Given the increased costs for the sponsorship of PGA TOUR tournaments, several long-time corporate partners, Honda, Farmers Insurance, Wells Fargo and Rocket Mortgage recently dropped their support. The initiation of the LIV Golf League, with its huge guaranteed salaries enticed top-name professionals to jump to the rival golf tour and forced the PGA TOUR to restructure its purse structure and institute the Signature events. Now with the LIV failing, the PGA TOUR is still stuck with higher purses and is asking sponsors to carry even more of the burden. Professional athletes only have a short window to accumulate wealth. Each shot could be their last. Professional golfers cover their own expenses and depend solely on their performance to earn a living. In 2026, Scottie Scheffler earned over $30 million in prize money, plus another $32 million in bonus payments from the FedEx points standings. On the other end of the spectrum, Billy Horschel finished 2026, ranked No. 100 on the FedEx Cup standings, earned $1.3 million in prize money, barely enough to cover his costs for the year. While the money and bright lights of the PGA TOUR seem lucrative and exciting, it can be a struggle for the lower-ranked players. To reach the top of the money list is financially rewarding, but only a few of the very best can become wealthy.
Sam Carraher Represents U.S. In Junior Presidents Cup By Mike May Crown Point resident Sam Carraher played a big role in last month’s Team USA’s 17.5-6.5 win in the Junior Presidents Cup. It was also the fifth consecutive win for the Americans in this biennial team event held at the historic Medinah Country Club. The 11-point margin of victory marked the largest win in Junior Presidents Cup history. Carraher secured the necessary point for the American team when he drained a 16-foot putt on the 13th green Indiana Golf Journal
Japan, Guatemala, Singapore, Columbia, and Hong Kong. As for Carraher’s future golf plans, he has committed to Purdue University next fall and will pursue a degree in business management. Carraher thoroughly enjoyed having Kuchar as his captain. “He was the best captain. He shared little nuggets of information and wisdom. He has lots of knowledge to share,” said Carraher. “He’s also a very good table tennis player,” Since Crown Point is so close to Medinah, Carraher had strong local support from friends and family. “In addition to my parents, there were nearly 50 people from my local golf club – Youche Country Club – who came to watch,” said Carraher. To be eligible to play in the Junior Presidents Cup, participants for both teams must be at least 12 years old by the start of the 2026 Junior Presidents Cup and cannot have, as of January 1, 2026, either reached their 19th birthday, or graduated high school. Participants must be amateurs who have not yet started college and are not members of a competitive collegiate golf program in order to be eligible to play in the Junior Presidents Cup. to win his singles match versus Fernando Saravia of Guatemala. Carraher was undefeated in the three matches, four-ball, foursomes and singles. In the four-ball matches, Carraher teamed with Brady Barnum (Ohio) to defeat Taisei Nagasaki (Japan) & Zhi Li (China), 4 & 3. Carraher and Barnum were in the first group off on the first day of the two-day event. In the foursomes (alternate shot) competition, Carraher teamed with Sohan Patel (Florida) to defeat the team of Nagasaki and Qiyou Wu (China), 2 &1. Carraher felt honored to be selected for Team USA and to have the privilege of playing in the Junior Presidents Cup. “It is my first time representing the U.S. in a match like this. It was an amazing experience which I’ll never forget,” said Carraher. “Admittedly, I was very nervous with my first tee shot on the first day, but I managed to hit the ball and get it in the fairway.” One of the perks of playing in an international golf match like the Junior Presidents Cup is the complementary clothing and accessories that are given to each participant. “We were given five pairs of pants, five polo shirts, three quarter-zip vests, a range finder, hats, belts, an umbrella and a golf bag from Ping,” said Carraher. At the Junior Presidents Cup, each squad had 12 players. The 2012 PLAYERS Championship winner, Matt Kuchar captained Team USA, while veteran PGA Tour professional C.T. Pan led the International squad. The U.S. team was comprised of players from Florida, Texas, California, Indiana, Ohio, New Jersey, and North Carolina. The players on the International Team hailed from Argentina, South Korea, China, Thailand, New Zealand,
Liz Miller Enjoys Life As A Professional Caddie By Mike May Liz Milller, a 23-year-old native of Jamestown, Ohio, may be one of youngest caddies on the EPSON Tour, but she is definitely one of the most educated. Liz graduated in 2025 with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Milligan University in Johnson City, Tennessee, plus earned her Masters in Business Administration from Cedarville University. While at Milligan, she was also a member of the women’s golf team. Her knowledge of golf and passion for the sport certainly comes in handy as Indiana Golf Journal
a caddie. She understands the mental and emotional needs of her golfer. “You have to be intentional with understanding how your player perceives information and communicates,” said Miller, who is also a 2021 graduate from Legacy Christian Academy in Xenia. “Some people love a challenge, while others thrive with encouragement. Knowing how to build your player’s confidence is key to a great player/caddie working relationship.” There’s an old saying in golf that successful caddies are required to do three things: Show Up, Keep Up, and Shut Up. Miller lives by that motto every day. “The saying hits the big three. You need to be on time, plus be prepped and ready to go. Players move quickly to their ball and need their equipment ASAP, plus a caddie needs to know your place on the golf course. It is easy to start talking and get distracted from your duties, but at the end of the day, it is not about you, it’s about the player and their performance.” In pro golf, Miller insists that you must be physically fit since you are walking many miles every day while carrying a heavy golf bag. “Usually, a round of golf is about five or six miles. On top of that, there’s usually a warm-up session before your competitive round and a practice session afterward.” When on Tour, there’s always something that needs attention. “When I am not busy, I go out and walk the course so I can get a feel for the course and its vibe.” According to Miller, caddies are expected to have done their ‘homework’ before arriving at a golf course. “Learn to do the basics well and efficiently. You need to be able to manage the player, their equipment, and your playing group. There are a handful of cues that caddies have to pay attention to and keep up with that the players expect you to understand.” Miller says caddies must have situational awareness. “Caddies have to be aware of the group situation, as well as their player situation. If someone hits out of a bunker and is next to putt, a different caddie may step in and rake the bunker so that player’s caddie is able to clean the ball and help read the putt.” Miller is committed to working the EPSON Tour, but her next goal is to caddie on the LPGA Tour. Miller says the life of a caddie entails more than spending time at golf courses. “You will travel a lot. Get set up with airline and hotel loyalty programs so booking is easier and you can accumulate perks.” It’s the caddie’s job to get from tournament to tournament. “I have traveled alone this season. Since I am from the Dayton, Ohio area, driving to tournaments has been fairly straight forward.” Miller is doing a job that she never imagined doing, but she enjoys learning the profession. “I had never thought about being a professional caddie until the past year or so. I had always wanted to play professionally post college, but this past year I really found a passion for being a caddie. It has been a great decision for me and I have loved getting to know everyone better this season!” Indiana Golf Journal
Bert Pedigo: Mr. Sports In Southwest Indiana By Mike May
In southwest Indiana, Bert Pedigo fills a unique niche in golf and in high school sports. He is a longtime resident of Orange County, a golf starter by day and high school sports radio commentator by night. Since 2018, Pedigo has been a starter on the The Pete Dye Course at the French Lick Resort. In addition to getting paid for this part-time role, he is allowed to play free golf at the three French Lick courses, as well as Sultan’s Run Golf The Pete Dye Course, and sharing the occasional joke. “It’s all a part of my Hoosier hospitality,” noted Pedigo, who grew up in nearby Louisville, Kentucky. On a serious note, Pedigo wants every golfer to simply enjoy the round of golf. “My biggest message to every player is to stay hydrated. We put bottles of water on every cart and there are bottles of Club. He enjoys the perks of working at the Dye Course, plus it has been eye-opening to realize how far people travel to visit French Lick. “I have met people from all 48 contiguous states and 26 countries,” said Pedigo, plus the golf course architect Pete Dye on two occasions.” In his role as the official starter, Pedigo is responsible for greeting every golfer with a smile, telling a short story about Indiana Golf Journal
water on the golf course in coolers. It gets hot out there on many days in the summer.” During the school year, Pedigo works every Friday night in the fall as a broadcaster providing color commentary for the Paoli Rams High School football team. Throughout the winter, he also provides commentary for the Rams’ boys and girls basketball teams, broadcast on WUME-FM (95.3). The fall of 2026 will be Pedigo’s 43rd year behind the microphone for Rams games and he has no plans to call it quits, unless his voice gives out. His broadcast partner, Dave Dedrick, grew up in French Lick and attended high school with NBA legend Larry Bird. Pedigo and Dedrick are committed to covering every Paoli football and boy’s and girl’s basketball games, but when there is an open date during the season, they also cover other area high schools such as, Springs Valley, or Orleans High School. His starter duties provide free golf, plus as a broadcaster, he gets into high school games for free. He also joked, “Since I’m a bourbon drinker from Louisville, Kentucky, I think I need to get a part-time job at a liquor store.” Over the years, Pedigo has seen some amazing games and many brilliant performances by topcaliber athletes. “Two of the finest athletes I have covered are Scott Rolen, who played for Jasper High School, and Evan Seacat from Paoli High School. Rolen, of course, had a long Major League Baseball career with the Cardinals, Phillies, Blue Jays, and Reds. Seacat is Paoli’s all-time leading scorer in basketball and played for Northwestern in the Big Ten Conference. In golf, England’s Laura Davies is probably the most famous golfer I have met. I have also met several entertainers, who perform concerts at the French Lick Resort.” Since Pedigo earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Louisville in broadcasting and public relations, he was trained to pursue a career in TV news, but decided to stay in sports radio. “I have a face for radio,” said Pedigo. More importantly, he has a passion for golf, high school sports, and the athletes who play them.
Mizuno Introduces New Pro S-4 Irons By Ed Travis Forged from mild carbon steel with a copper underlay and their well-known Triple-Cut Sole, Mizuno’s new S-4 series irons cavity back design offers added forgiveness. The previous Mizuno Pro S-series irons, S-1 blade and S-3 players cavity back, now have a companion in the S-4. The finish, head profile and lofts are consistent throughout the three models, mixing and matching sets is easy. Chris Voshallm Mizuno Director of Golf said of the new model, “The S-4 has been developed for players who appreciate the feel of a traditional forged iron but want greater confidence through increased forgiveness. By repositioning mass lower in the head and refining the head geometry, we’ve created Fast Facts Mizuno Pro S-4 Irons • Better player category • Cavity back design • One-piece forged carbon steel • Copper underlay • CNC milled • Triple-Cut Sole • Progressive offset & topline thickness • Satin brush finish • Stock lofts” 5-iron 27°, pitching wedge 46° • Stock shaft: Dynamic Gold Mid 115 • Stock grip: Golf Pride Z-Cord • MRSP: $215 per club an iron that launches higher, offers more stability and inspires confidence without sacrificing the precision expected from Mizuno Pro.” Indiana Golf Journal
By Fred Altvater Treetops Announces $30 Million Investment Treetops Resort announced late last month that they are partnering with Redstone Homes Real Estate Group to build 17 new homes that will feature fractional ownership. Barry Owens, General Manager of Treetops Resort told us, “This groundbreaking marks an exciting new chapter for Treetops and our first major residential development in nearly 30 years. We are especially excited to bring The Irons at Tradition and The Cottages at Fazio to life, in partnership with Redstone Homes. Together we are creating a distinctive Treetops Resort is well known around the country for its four championship courses. The Masterpiece by Robert Trent Jones was his final design and one of his crowning achievements. It brought big time golf to northern Michigan and opened the door for the millions of golfers that visit the Gaylord Golf Mecca and Treetops every summer. The Tom Fazio-designed Premier course is the only Fazio design in Michigan. Rick Smith designed the Smith Course, as well as, the Tradition. In addition to these challenging championship courses, the par3 Threetops is one of North America’s best short courses. This new investment in additional lodging at Treetops demonstrates their commitment to providing the best for their guests. opportunity for golf-side living, with fractional ownership, a lifetime Treetops membership, plus year round access to golf, skiing, dining and resort amenities. These homes will allow owners to become part of the Treetops community and enjoy everything that makes this destination so special.” Ten cottages are being built along the par-5 12th hole of the Fazio Premier Course and seven homes will be built on the 2nd, 3rd, 6th and 7th holes of the popular Tradition Course. Click HERE to view an interview with Gaylord Golf Mecca Executive Director, Paul Beachnau about the importance of Treetops Resort and their newly planned expansion.
Florida State & Georgia Tech Grab Titles At Folds Of Honor Collegiate Hammond’s tie for first and her teammate, Katie Li’s T-3, helped the Duke Blue Devils to capture third place. Ohio State’s Sophie Eppelstun also finished tied for third and OSU was sixth in the team competition behind fourth-place University of Arizona and Kansas University who finished in fifth place. Teams from Michigan State, Kentucky, Oklahoma State, Findlay, Navy and North Carolina A&T also competed in the event. Women Florida State came from seven shots back on the final day to win the women’s team title, while Haruhi Nakatani and Mia Hammond shared the medalist honors. Nakatani, from Florida State, led the Seminoles to overcome the deficit for the team victory. Three of Texas A&M’s women placed inside the Top 12 to finish runner-up. Fifteen men’s collegiate golf teams and 12 women’s teams competed in the fifth annual Folds Of Honor Collegiate held at American Dunes Golf Club last month. The Folds of Honor Collegiate features some of the best collegiate golfers in the country, in a team and individual format. By Fred Altvater Indiana Golf Journal
Men Georgia Tech’s Max Emberson finished the 54 holes at 11 underpar to win the Men’s Division of the Folds of Honor Collegiate last month. Daniel Bennett, University of Texas, was runnerup, Kansas’ William Baker was third, Ohio State’s Vaugn Harber was fourth and Jacob Modleski from Notre Dame was fifth. Emberson led Georgia Tech to the team title. His teammates, Albert Hansson was T-6, Carson Baez finished T-25, while Andrew Ferworn and Kale Fontenot both tied at T-31 to grab the team title. Notre Dame finished second in the team standings followed by Texas, Cincinnati, Alabama, Ohio State and Michigan State, who both tied for sixth. Kansas, Northwestern, Grand Valley State, Florida A&M, Army, Air Force and Navy rounded out the field. About American Dunes Golf Club American Dunes Golf Club was designed by Jack Nicklaus and annually donates over $1 million to the Folds of Honor providing scholarships to families of fallen or disabled military personnel.
Pete Dye Created A Lasting Masterpiece At Harbour Town Golf Links By Brian Sommer The Harbour Town property at The Sea Pines Resort on Hilton Head, South Carolina, did not offer the obvious ingredients of greatness. It was low, wet, heavily wooded, and almost completely flat. technical intervention was necessary. Yet, Dye wanted the finished course to remain lowprofile and connected to the land which ran contrary to the dominant fashion in American championship golf. Accounts of its construction suggest that the site contained only about four feet of natural elevation change. Drainage canals had to be cut and water had to be consolidated into lagoons. Considerable Indiana Golf Journal
Robert Trent Jones Sr., the period’s most powerful architectural figure, was known for long courses, elevated tees and greens, expansive bunkering, and visible hazards. His courses projected importance through scale. Dye moved in the opposite direction at Harbour Town. Tees were small, greens were tiny, the fairways curved rather than turning through crude doglegs. Instead of elevating the golfer above the problem and displaying the whole thing in advance, Dye kept the player close to the ground. He demanded interpretation of partial views, narrow windows, overhanging branches, and uncertain angles. This is one reason my admiration for Dye fits so naturally beside my admiration for Donald Ross. I have played Ross courses at Pinehurst No. 2, Seminole, the Country Club of Asheville, and Grove Park Inn. Ross often asks the same essential questions in a quieter vocabulary. His contours, slopes, green complexes, and approach angles make position meaningful without always announcing the demand. Dye is more provocative. Ross is more understated. But both respect the intelligence of the golfer. Neither man’s best work can be reduced to a formula. Neither provides one answer that remains correct in every condition. Wind, firmness, flag position, ability, intention, and execution continually revise the problem. Mastery is not seeing less because one has seen the hole before. Mastery is seeing more because one has learned that reality does not repeat itself. Only our descriptions do. Harbour Town was masterfully renovated in 2025 by Davis Love III. The mature live oaks and pines were retained not merely as scenery, but as strategic actors. A golfer could find the fairway and still be blocked from the direct route to the flag. Position within the short grass could matter as much as whether the short grass was found at all. Dye also used contrasting turf, sand, lagoons, timber edges, waste areas, and crushed shells to define the nearly level land. His most dramatic decision came near the finish. Earlier routing concepts had kept the closing holes inland. Dye turned the course toward Calibogue Sound with material dredged from the harbor used to form the 18th fairway. The decision created one of golf’s most famous finishes. It also demonstrated one of Dye’s defining gifts. At later courses, he would manufacture enormous landscapes. At Harbour Town, he manufactured complexity without making the landscape appear manufactured.
Sky Valley, Georgia: A Gem in the Hills of North Georgia For many people living in the southeastern United States, popular vacation destinations include, lakes, mountain streams, waterfalls, natural springs, the Gulf of Mexico, or the Atlantic Ocean. Throughout Georgia, many people simply quite pleasant in the summer and throughout the year, for that matter. Sky Valley is perched in the mountains of northeast Georgia and it’s surrounded by the Nantahala National Forest. pack their bags, along with their golf clubs, pickleball racquets, plus croquet mallets, and head to Sky Valley, in the extreme northeastern section of the Peach State. With an elevation of 3,500 feet above sea level, Sky Valley is actually By Mike May Indiana Golf Journal
Peaceful and tranquil are commonly used adjectives to describe what it’s like to be in this little piece of paradise. Daily activities in Sky Valley area include, hiking along waterfall influenced trails, backpacking through the surrounding hills, fishing, boating, camping, whitewater rafting, mountain climbing, bird watching, and zip lining. For those who prefer urban-like activities, there is also golf, pickleball, and croquet. For croquet, don’t forget to pack your favorite all-white outfit. For overnight stays in Sky Valley, timeshares abound here, including mountain chalets, glorious villas, spacious condos, as well as welldecorated homes – all of which overlook the rolling hills in northeast Georgia. Located in Rabun County, Sky Valley also has a well-deserved reputation of producing locally grown food which is why this area is called the Farm-to-Table Capital of Georgia. Many wineries and vineyards litter the countryside, as well. When you visit Sky Valley, come with an appetite, a taste for a fine glass of wine and a spirit of adventure. Sky Valley Country Club is surrounded by majestic mountains. If you didn’t know otherwise, you might think that you are in the mountains of Austria or Switzerland. Simply put, you’ll quickly discover that it’s easy making plans to visit Sky Valley and that it’s even easier making plans for a return trip to Sky Valley, especially if you own a home. Sky Valley, Georgia awaits your arrival. “Sky Valley is like heaven on earth and we in Georgia are lucky to have such an outstanding destination for vacationers in our state and for those visiting from the nearby surrounding states,” said Doug Hollandsworth, founder, The Georgia Golf Trail, of which the Sky Valley Country Club is a member. “If you’re looking for a great second home or ready to retire, Sky Valley is the best place to do this, not only because of the multitude of things to do in that area, but also because the greater Sky Valley region has everything you need close by.” The Sky Valley lifestyle is so attractive that many people actually buy a home in Sky Valley so return trips can be made more frequently.
Royal North Devon Is An English Original Often referred to as Westward Ho!, the Royal North Devon Golf Club is England’s oldest links golf course. It’s located in Bideford, just under a four-hour drive west of London’s Heathrow Airport. Quite simply, a series of sand dunes is all that separates the Royal North Devon Golf Club from the nearby Atlantic Ocean. The wind is ever-present and the course is truly everything as advertised. This past May, I visited England and playing golf at Royal Devon was like walking through the pages of golf history. The Royal North Devon Golf Club, designed by the legendary By Mike May England and the course remains high on all opinion polls to this day. Royal North Devon’s pedigree and reputation are the main reasons why this course has hosted the (Men’s) British Amateur Championship on two occasions. Royal North Devon has been described as a wild and natural course where golfing traditions are on constant display. The par-72 layout, as the club’s website correctly states, is “pure, raw exhilaration.” Like many famous British golf courses, each of the holes at Royal North Devon has a name – starting with Burn (#1) and Old Tom Morris, opened for play in1864. Some historians refer to Royal North Devon as the cradle of English golf. Not surprisingly, Golf World has listed Royal North Devon on its list of 100 Golf Courses in the World that a golfer ‘must play.’ Royal North Devon dates back to Victorian England and there is a monument on the course that honors the role that fivetime Open champion J.H. Taylor played in the growth of the club in the late 1800s and early 1900s. More than 100 years ago, golfing great Harold Hilton stated that Royal North Devon was the best competition golf course in Indiana Golf Journal
finishing with Home (#18). Other interesting hole names include Baggy (#2), Lifeboat (#7), and Iron Hut (#14). Wild sheep and horses live on the Royal Devon golf course and roam freely, but they tend to gather in the rough, only eating the longer strands of grass. The animals are a curious and attractive aspect of the Royal North Devon experience. Royal North Devon’s clubhouse is yet another great reason to visit this golf course. The only place in Great Britain with more historic golf memorabilia on-site is at St. Andrews in Scotland. The clubhouse at Royal North Devon resembles a museum, filled with a number of old golf clubs, artifacts, trophies, and memorabilia, such as many of the golf clubs which J.H. Taylor used to win his five Open Championships. After you walk 18 holes at the Royal North Devon GC, you’ll agree that this golf course is everything as advertised….and then some.
Wine Juveniles By Kurt Wieneke When it comes to drinking certain red wines, especially age worthy Bordeaux, Rhone, and Italian wines, you might run across an angry teen once in a while. There is a phenomenon with red wines where they can be very “open” in their youth, but then enter a “shutdown” phase after four or five years in bottle, eventually emerging from their shell after several years of hibernation to reveal approachable, integrated, and generous flavors once again. Yet, one of the mysteries of wine is that not all vintages or wines go through this phase. Drinking a horribly shutdown wine is akin to seeing Bigfoot -- even though you’ve read about this juvenile phase in wines, you will know it when you see it! I once saw Bigfoot myself and unfortunately, it was on Thanksgiving. I had bought a 1995 Les Hauts de Pontet Bordeaux on a business trip and a year later, I decided to open it for our holiday meal. Upon opening, it had no smell. Upon pouring, it had muted, disjointed flavors that tasted like the worst herbal tea you’ve ever drank combined with some bitter charred wood. It was literally undrinkable, and what I would term an “angry wine.” It was never my intention to do experiments with bad wine. But, on that trip to New Jersey, I had purchased two bottles of the Les Hauts de Pontet -- one to drink and one to cellar. I had held onto the other bottle for at least another five years, hoping it would not be the same. Lo and behold, when I finally did open it, the metamorphosis had occurred. The 1995 Les Hauts de Pontet was now drinking admirably, with wonderful red and black currant notes accentuated with classic cedar and tobacco notes. So, my general rule-of-thumb is to hesitate before opening a fine Bordeaux, Rhone, or Italian wine between four to six years from vintage. It may not be in its happy place! Indiana Golf Journal
Plan Daily Walks: For The Health Of It By Franciscan Health A consistent walking habit, which should be second-nature to avid golfers, offers tremendous benefits for your body and mind. When you walk, your brain releases endorphins, the chemicals responsible for the mood lift many people associate with more intense exercise. Research consistently shows that regular moderate physical activity reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression. In some studies, it performs as well as medication for mild to moderate cases. Even a single 10-minute walk can reduce anxiety and improve mood. For people with chronic stress, a daily walk helps lower cortisol levels, the primary stress hormone. A walk outdoors also increases these benefits. Studies on outdoor exercise show greater reductions in anxiety, anger and fatigue compared to indoor activity. Even a brief walk in a park, along a tree-lined street, or for nine holes of golf produces changes in stress response. Walking And Cognitive Health There is a connection between regular walking and brain health, too. The number of steps you take each day can help reduce your risk of dementia. That’s because aerobic exercise increases blood flow to the brain and stimulates the growth of new blood vessels and neurons in the region of the brain responsible for memory and learning. Studies show people who walk regularly may maintain larger areas of the brain involved in memory and learning as they age. And the earlier you build the walking habit, the more protective the effect is. What If Walking Feels Difficult? Walking does not have to look the same for everyone. If chronic pain, fatigue, a busy schedule Indiana Golf Journal
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