Carthage Farm Supply
www.carthagefarmsupply.com
Come Visit!
M-F 8A-6P
Sat 8A-4P
• Family owned
in Carthage, NC.
• We have all your
Farm, Livestock, Pet,
Home & Garden
needs.
• Clothing & Gifts.
947-2213
3710 US Hwy 15-501 N • Carthage
FOR THE LOVE con't from FRONT PAGE FOR THE LOVE continued FOR THE LOVE continued
FOR THE LOVE con't. next column
FOR THE LOVE con't. next column FOR THE LOVE con't. p. 8
From the first hello to the last tee, you’ll
be welcomed as family by Dale Briggs, Fred
VanSteen, and Melissa Greene who share one
ultimate goal—to grow the love of the game.
Sharing a passion to help you improve your
game, Dale, Director of Golf at Knollwood
assures, “We don’t care if you have never played
or if you’ve played on the tour. We don’t care if
you’re male or female, two years old or 92. We
have something for you golf-wise that will help
you get better and encourage your golf game.
Always inclusive to all categories of golfers, we
have something for everyone.”
Specializing in custom club fittings with the
Ping and Wilson brands, the Knollwood team
of PGA professionals also offers golf lessons,
camps, and clinics—you name it, they have
it on the game improvement scenario. Dale
explains, “We can help you own better clubs,
learn the game, and get out on the green. There’s
no charge to use either our chipping green or
putting green. If you want to come putt—then
come on! We’d love to have you.”
Family owned and operated from the very
beginning, Knollwood and Midland have
welcomed generations of golfers. Established
by Charles Pitts a gentleman and bridge builder
from Canada who once had Billy Graham as
a guest at his horse farm in Southern Pines.
Knollwood originally offered a 9-hole golf
course, par three golf course, driving range, and
apartments with a swimming pool complex. In
the mid-70s when Bob & Helen Kramer’s family
business Pinehurst Area Realty (PAR) bought
the development, they maintained all but the
par three golf course and redeveloped the land.
Knollwood Village is a active adult community
of 244 residences made up of 50 condos, 4 single
family homes and 190 townhomes.
Midland Country Club was once a 92-acre
horse farm owned by the Safford family who
spent their winters here training their horses for
sulky races back in their home state of Delaware.
In 1976, they sold the property to a golf pro
Dave Forbis who built the golf course and laid
out the remaining property for development.
The Kramer’s (PAR) who bought Midland CC
in 1980, have built a community of 99 homes,
and now nearly 40 years later, family members
Jack & Ryan Kramer and Bob & Barbara Klug still
own and operate both Knollwood & Midland
CC. Encouraging all things golf remains the
heartbeat of the PAR family who welcomes all to
the heart of town for the love of golf.
Sharing many similarities, both Knollwood
and Midland
are active adult
c o m m u n i t i e s
with a 12,000 sq.
ft. clubhouse at
Midland CC(home
of Table on the
Green), a 4,000 sq.
ft. clubhouse/pro
shop at Knollwood
and swimming
pools at both
c o m m u n i t i e s.
In sharing some
d i f f e r e n c e s ,
Knollwood offers a
driving range, but
Midland includes
a separate
restaurant. Their
golf courses
are designed
differently as well. Knollwood is a more targetoriented
course with smaller greens, not too
long. Midland offers protected greens, more
bunkers, a more challenging course for the
experienced golfer. Interestingly at one time,
they were the only local nine-hole golf courses
open to the public. Dale informs, “The game
seems to be moving in the direction of 9 holes
for many reasons. For instance, people may not
have the time, money, skill level, or desire to
play 18 holes as they have other obligations on
the weekends.”
For golfers learning the game, many feel
intimidated to even get started. Dale assures, “We
have a very open, welcoming, non-intimidating
atmosphere at both clubs. Would we love for the
tour player to come play? Sure! But one of our
goals is to help newcomers feel comfortable as
they learn the game, practice the game, and play
the game.” In order to accomplish this, three
PGA instructors are available for lessons, camps,
and clinics. A unified team working together,
Dale the Director of Golf has been an instructor
and PGA member for 25 years. A PGA member
for 20 years, Fred is a teacher and the lead club
fitter. A PGA member for 4 years, Melissa Greene
teaches golf lessons.
Dale defines the PGA label. “Professional
Golfer Association." There’s a process to
becoming a PGA member. We are not a tour
professional who plays golf for a living; rather
we are a golf professional who runs facilities,
manages tournaments, gives lessons, fits golfers
with clubs, and merchandises the equipment.”
Ironically all three (Briggs, VanSteen, and
Greene) are graduates of the Methodist
University golf management program and all
have earned the PGA title and privilege.
From the shop on Midland Road, Knollwood
offers the driving range, golf lessons, and junior
camps for locals. Dale now in his thirteenth year
at Knollwood initiated the summer junior camp
program to help 9-15 year olds catch the love
of the game. The benefits one can receive from
professional golf instruction are priceless. Dale
emphasizes, “Learning the basic fundamentals
is extremely valuable. We will get you pointed
in the right direction so you don’t become
frustrated and walk away. Golf is a difficult game,
but the rewards, the fun, the self-awareness
that one can develop is fabulous! If you are an
experienced golfer, then we can help you finetune
your game for better scores. Whether or
not the instruction becomes a major factor,
depends on the person—their ability, their
understanding, their desire, their willingness
to learn. There’s more in the hands of the player
p.6 The Pinehurst Gazette, Inc. No. 130
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