GOLF

April opens the most spectacular spring golf season on earth.

The Masters held at Augusta National Golf Club just 60 miles away helps amplify the celebration. The RBC Heritage at Harbor Town follows the Masters so no locals miss out!

Want to experience true golf fun, visit Harbor Town for a practice round or live round during the week of April 15. For tickets go to www.pgatour.com .

Wish tickets were readily available for The Masters, but they are not. You need to be invited or win in the “Masters lottery” so visit www.Masters.org for next year’s lotto information.

There is more good local golf news to announce. Jimmy Koosa, who was on the original developmental team for Timberlake Plantation, is now back leading the golf operation.

“Timberlake has been dear to my heart for many years,” he said. “I love the golf course and the community. The community is important to me and there are many extremely special people here. Folks are kind, and helpful with high moral values.”

The course has experienced several changes in ownership and management through the years, but one thing remains a constant. The golf course is the only one on Lake Murray.

“Number 18 by design is truly an amazing finishing hole and still a most anticipated, fun, challenging and exciting golf hole to play,” gleamed Koosa, who had design influence on the entire layout. “In fact, I think it’s the best finishing hole in golf.”

Koosa is a task master and hard worker, but also a visionary. ‘Koosa Golf’ is now the premier golf shop in the Midlands and growing rapidly with son, Mickey, at his side.

“Hard work is necessary but that’s a given,” he said. “Great service with a quality product is paramount to us at Koosa Golf.”

The golf shop service is almost instant at Timber-lake for the inventory is quickly installed. The next steps may take longer to integrate.

“The first thing is to get the course in the condition that meets our members expectations, and our greens are already excellent,” Koosa said. “So the tees will be our first focus, then fairways, and then the bunkers. Our sand in the bunkers is beautiful. It just has to be evenly layered and rearranged.”

Matt Barton is the new Head Professional, while Phillip Wilkie is the Greens Superintendent. “These two men and the rest of our team will strive to provide a brand new standard of service while presenting the desired product, consistently,” commented the excited 70-year-old Vietnam veteran and former professional baseball player.

In other local news, recently retired dentist Dr. Craig Dupies hit a perfect shot on the 17th hole at Mid-Carolina club with an 8-iron.

“I hit it solid but thought when it disappeared, that the ball must have rolled just behind the hole, but as I walked up, it was quite the surprise,” smiled the newly-retired Dupies.

LinRick is hosting “The Inaugural Golf Classic” on April 26. For more, go to www.richlandcountyrecreation.com or http://www.richlandcountyrecreation.com . It’s a 9 am shotgun start with an awards banquet immediately following. Call Lisa Lewis Hutcherson at 803-741-7272 (Ext. 102) for questions.