Mike Jenkins’ Vision For Chattanooga TPC Still Thriving After 30 Years

While overseeing a junior golf tournament at The Honors Course in the late ‘80s, Mike Jenkins had an epiphany while standing in the 11^th fairway. The product of that revelation continues to flourish today as the 30^th Chattanooga Tournament Players Championship (TPC) will be staged at permanent host Council Fire Golf Club starting Thursday.

Long before the PGA Tour implemented its FedEx Cup, Jenkins had a vision for creating a tournament to assemble the best area amateur golfers in a season-ending event that would reward participation in a series of local tournaments and state events through a points system. He had seen the model succeed in junior golf in his role with the Chattanooga District Golf Association, and Jenkins was convinced it would work at the men’s level.

The challenges Jenkins faced were numerous, but securing sponsorships and locating a site were on the top of his list. So, in 1993 he approached Hunt Gilliland, the head golf professional at the newly-opened Council Fire, about hosting the event.

“Hunt liked the idea, but he said I needed to get (Council Fire general partner) Jon Kinsey on board,” Jenkins said. “When I met with Jon, he wanted to know what organization was behind this. I told him it was really only me. He asked, ‘So you’re going to go to sponsors, tell them you’re having a tournament and you expect them to give you money?’ I told him that was my vision. He said, ‘I want to do it because I want to see if you can pull that off.’”

And pull it off he did. The TPC has become synonymous with Council Fire, something that has been a source of pride for Kinsey and his membership.

“Most people don’t remember that Council Fire was actually Jack Lupton’s idea, and he and I developed it,” Kinsey said. “I talked to Jack about hosting this tournament before we committed, and he was all for it. Now 30 years later, I’m still a big supporter and I love that we continue being the host.”

Points are awarded for finishes in the Cleveland Country Club Invitational, Signal Mountain Invitational, Chattanooga Men’s Metro, Brainerd Invitational, CDGA Four-Ball Match Play, Nob North Invitational, North Georgia Invitational and the Moccasin Bend City Four-Ball along with TGA and USGA events.

Jenkins, who is currently serving a two-year term as president of the TGA, devised a scoring system that ranked local golfers to determine his invitees into the TPC. But his goal was more than simply staging another tournament.

“The end goal is to get people to participate in local tournaments and then reward the best players to compete in the TPC,” Jenkins said. “I’m a firm believer that the more we make local golf vibrant, the better it is for the sport of golf in general. It’s really just to keep people playing competitively. It’s really not about this weekend, but it’s to promote these other tournaments.”

The role he has played in creating the TPC event along with his equally-longstanding involvement within the CDGA has earned Jenkins a reputation as being the area’s ambassador to amateur golf. Coupled with his website, www.ifyoulikegolf.com, he developed in 1999 along with CDGA president Richard Keene and his promotion of amateur golf on local sports talk radio, Jenkins has a committed a lifetime advancing a game that he loves.

Pat Corey was champion in three of the first four TPC events, missing out the second year of the tournament due to a family cruise in Europe already scheduled. He also won in the senior division in 2018 since it was added a decade ago. He recognizes the impact Jenkins has made through his tireless efforts.

“As far as I’m concerned, Mike Jenkins is the backbone of local golf in Chattanooga,” Corey said. “He works his butt off to keep the enthusiasm up year after year, so I’ll support whatever he’s involved in. People need to recognize the importance of his contributions. I can’t thank him enough for what he’s done in this area.

“He’s not gotten near the credit he deserves. A lot of golfers around here have no idea how Mike’s efforts have created opportunities for them to compete in tournaments when golf was on a downward path. He single-handedly revived the sport locally.”

The level of commitment from Jenkins has been instrumental in Kinsey’s continued support of the TPC event.

“I continue to be a sponsor every year because Mike is what makes me so gung-ho about supporting it,” Kinsey said. “You can’t say enough about what Mike Jenkins has done for the golfing community here. He loves golf and is constantly trying to improve the game.”

Jenkins grew up in Bowling Green, Ky. and played golf collegiately for his hometown Western Kentucky University. He arrived in Chattanooga in 1973 after graduation to accept a job at Provident (now Unum), quickly plugging into the local golf scene with a second-place finish in the 1974 City Metro tournament.

“I was all about playing at the time, then Jim Sievers with the CDGA became my mentor from a golf administration standpoint,” Jenkins said. “When I got involved in the CDGA, it’s like it triggered a new passion for me. My golf game was sacrificed when I got involved in running tournaments. But as I’ve gotten older, I enjoy running events and giving back to the sport.”

Jenkins enjoyed his fair share of success competitively along the way, winning the Chattanooga Golf & Country Club member-guest 10 times – six while paired with his brother – along with the Senior Metro. He also finished runner-up in both the Tennessee Senior Amateur and the Tennessee Senior Four-Ball competitions.

Bruce Etter, the long-time head professional at CG&CC, has had a front-row seat to Jenkins’ influence on the local golf scene.

“Mike’s impact is immeasurable,” Etter said. “The time, effort and energy he’s invested in all the local tournaments has been like a golf professional in the amateur role. Plus, he’s kept the dynamics between the amateur and professional bodies connected. He’s the glue. Instead of having a sense of entitlement, he gives back in a special way. Every golf professional would bend over backwards for him.”

As he reflects back on his labor of love to the Chattanooga golf community, Jenkins recognizes he’s not operated alone.

“I think if Richard Keene had not gotten involved with CDGA it would have been more difficult,” Jenkins said. “We’ve had such a good working relationship and he’s so good at course set up while I handle the administrative side.”

While Jenkins still enjoys the challenges each golf season presents, he recognizes that he can’t continue forever. He’ll turn 72 next month, and understands that his competitive playing days are behind him.

“I don’t know when I’ll walk away, but I think about it a lot,” Jenkins said. “Richard and I are convinced we need to be thinking of a transition strategy. I’d like to slow down at some point, but I keep going because I love it.”

Regardless of when that day arrives, Etter knows that Jenkins will not be easily replaced.

“It’s going to be hard to fill Mike’s shoes whenever he reaches the end,” Etter said. “It’s going to take more than one person to do everything he does. He’s been a leader like no other.”

As always, Council Fire is in immaculate condition under the watchful eye of superintendent Gary Weller for this week’s TPC. With a back nine that features three par 5s and a trio of par 3s, the layout offers the potential for thrilling finishes.

The tournament has stroke-play qualifying Thursday which feeds into a match play format to crown champions on Sunday.

Eight participants earned exemptions into the Regular division 16-person match play bracket through cumulative points rankings throughout the year. Those include Cody Godfrey, Wes Farris, Brandon Cissom, Chris Wells, Andrew Weathers, Jay Potter, Spencer Honey and Evan Spence. The final eight slots will be determined via an 18-hole qualifier on Thursday among entrants Chase Deck, Rick Mays, Seth Brandon, Sam Bedwell, Hunter Vest, Bobby Raydo, Justin Jolly, Josh Ernest, Jeff Greeson, Mikey Feher, Matt Crowder, Richard Spangler, Gavin Greeson, Griffin Law and Brendon Wilson.

Round of 16 matches will be contested on Friday, quarterfinals on Saturday and semifinals and championship matches on Sunday.

In the Senior division, Joe Markham and Brent Henley are exempt into match play. Those competing to fill the final six match play berths include Tom Baird, Keene, Kip Henley, Tom Schreiner, Zeb Patten, Oscar Scruggs, Stewart Lawwill, Tim Burns, Jeff Cox, Johnny Pierce, Bret Douglas, Neil Spitalny, Alex Bivens, Wes Gilliland and Corey.

The Senior quarterfinals are slated for Friday, followed by the semifinals on Saturday and the championship match on Sunday.

Corey’s four TPC championships leads those with multiple titles won. Keene, Chris Treadway, Hunter Vest and Bryce Ledford have claimed two championships in the regular division, while Spitalny and Mitch Hufstetler have won twice in the senior division’s nine-year history.

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Paul Payne can be emailed at paulpayne6249@gmail.com

Chattanooga TPC Past Champions

Year	Champion	Senior Champion
2022	Michael Rogers	Bret Douglas
2021	Hunter Vest	Zeb Patten
2020	No Tournament	No Tournament
2019	Ben Rebne	Mitch Hufstetler
2018	Mikey Feher	Pat Corey
2017	Greg Privette	Neil Spitalny
2016	Keoni Vidrine	Scott Patton
2015	Sport Allmond	Larry McGill
2014	Lake Johnson	Mitch Hufstetler
2013	Matt Crowder	Neil Spitalny
2012	Hunter Vest
2011	Brandon Cissom
2010	Ben Rickett
2009	Sam Bedwell
2008	Tripp Harris
2007	Josh Coley
2006	Chris Schmidt
2005	Bryce Ledford
2004	Bryce Ledford
2003	Tom Schreiner
2002	Andrew Black
2001	Jimmy White
2000	Richard Keene
1999	Chris Treadway
1998	Chris Treadway
1997	Richard Keene
1996	Pat Corey
1995	Pat Corey
1994	Chuck Jabaley
1993	Pat Corey