Paul Payne
There was no shortage of noteworthy golf stories over the course of 2024, as the year brought a national championship to our area, the unveiling of a highly-anticipated new golf course that is drawing national acclaim, and the first PGA Tour victory from one of Chattanooga’s own.
It’s impossible to chronicle all of the accomplishments and events that warranted inclusion on this list. The area has always been a hotbed of great golf courses and talented golfers. But I’m going to take a stab at highlighting the 18 stories for 2024 that stood out to me.
No. 1: The Honors Course Hosts U.S. Senior Amateur
The Honors Course added to its impressive resume in August when the 69th U.S. Senior Amateur Championship was staged at the revered layout in Ooltewah. It was the fifth USGA championship hosted by Tennessee’s top-ranked course, following the 1991 U.S. Amateur, 1994 Curtis Cup Match, 2004 U.S. Mid-Amateur, 2011 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur and the 2015 U.S. Junior Amateur.
The Honors Course has also hosted a pair of NCAA Division I Men’s Championships, three Southern Amateurs along with several men’s and women’s Tennessee Amateur championships. Future USGA events scheduled to be held at The Honors Course include the 2026 U.S. Women’s Amateur and the 2031 U.S. Amateur.
Atlanta’s Louis Brown earned the title among the 156 participants after defeating Dan Sullivan of Pasadena, Calif. in the championship match, 4 and 3. Demetrio “Hawk” Nucara, a long-time caddie at The Honors Course, battled triple-digit heat during the week while guiding Brown to the victory.
No. 2: The Keep Is Unveiled At McLemore
Ever since the whispers began a couple of years ago of another golf course coming to McLemore Resort atop Lookout Mountain, the rumors indicated this would be someplace special. With the design tandem of Bill Bergin and Rees Jones overseeing the project that would feature five cliff-edge holes overlooking McLemore Cove, anticipation of the late summer opening was only heightened by its inclusion in Links Magazine’s “11 New U.S. Course Debuts to Know for 2024”.
While the surrounding infrastructure and native areas are still a work in progress, the golf course itself exceeds the lofty expectations when it comes to sheer grandeur and masterful design. The Keep represents a rare breed of blending a links-inspired layout that is perched on top of a mountain with expansive vistas. There is no single signature hole like No. 18 at the neighboring Highlands offering. Every hole at The Keep could serve as the featured attraction at most other golf courses. Once the clubhouse, practice range and other amenities are in place and the golf course has some time to mature, The Keep will surely become a highly-sought destination for avid golfers around the globe.
No. 3: Jaeger’s First PGA Win Highlights Banner Year
Chattanooga’s Stephan Jaeger, who played locally at Baylor School and UTC before commencing his professional career, had his best season on the PGA Tour punctuated by his first Tour victory. The 35-year-old native of Germany defeated Scottie Scheffler by one shot at the Texas Children’s Houston Open in March, earning his first Masters invitation as he competed in all four majors. Jaeger had four top 10 finishes – including a runner-up at the Black Desert Championship – while earning $4.7 million during his breakout season. He also represented Germany at the Paris Olympics.
Jaeger finished 43rd in the FedEx Cup standings, and is exempt for 2025 to participate in all of the Signature Events as well as The Players Championship. Jaeger became the fourth Baylor golfer currently on the PGA Tour with victories, joining Harris English, Keith Mitchell and Luke List.
No. 4: Selection of The Elite 18
Thanks to the feedback from several thousand local golf enthusiasts, The Elite 18 allowed readers to build their favorite 18 holes from among 25 public and private golf courses in the region. The campaign stirred some lively debate as to what constituted “best” among the holes nominated, and ten different courses were represented among the top vote getters.
Winners of The Elite 18 were: Hole 1 – WindStone; Hole 2 – McLemore Highlands; Hole 3 – Bear Trace at Harrison Bay; Hole 4 – Chattanooga Golf and Country Club; Hole 5 – The Ooltewah Club; Hole 6 – Black Creek; Hole 7 – Brainerd Golf Course; Hole 8 – The Honors Course; Hole 9 – The Honors Course; Hole 10 – Cleveland Country Club; Hole 11 – Council Fire; Hole 12 – Black Creek; Hole 13 – Black Creek; Hole 14 – WindStone; Hole 15 – The Honors Course; Hole 16 – Council Fire; Hole 17 – Black Creek; Hole 18 – McLemore Highlands.
No. 5: Closure and Expansion of Sweetens Cove
After last January’s crippling ice storm wreaked havoc on a substantial amount of Sweetens Cove Golf Course’s fairways and half of the green surfaces, the club leadership closed the popular destination course for three months in late May. The shutdown allowed an opportunity to nurture the golf course and bring it back better than ever before reopening on Sept. 1.
Plans were announced in October to expand the offerings of fun and frivolity at Sweetens with the addition of a lighted par-3 course, stay and play cabins, a restaurant and distillery, a winding putting green, fishing dock and skeet shooting range.
In collaboration with Reef Capital Partners, the short course construction is scheduled to begin in 2025 with a targeted completion in 2026. The new additions will not compromise the gritty spirit of Sweetens Cove since its inception ten years ago. Instead, the offerings will only intensify what general manager and PGA professional Matt Adamski refers to as “a giant adult playground, where everyone can find something to love.”
No. 6: Locals Earn Statewide Titles
When Joe Markham Jr. won the 1984 State Insurers Junior tournament at Cleveland Country Club where his father was the long-time head professional, he never dreamed it would be another 40 years before he won his next state title. But Markham Jr. was the last man standing at the Tennessee Senior State Open at Fairfield Glade’s Stonehenge Golf Course, winning by one shot over Jeff Lyons.
Also earning his first Tennessee Golf Association state championship was Ft. Oglethorpe native and Tullahoma resident Jay Potter, a regular participant in area golf tournaments. Potter shared the Tennessee Men’s Senior Match Play title with Todd Burgan after the championship match was washed out due to torrential rains.
Baylor School product Sheldon McKnight, who plays collegiately at MTSU, claimed his second TGA title by teaming with fellow Blue Raider JJ Zimmer to win the Tennessee Four-Ball Championship hosted at Bear Trace at Harrison Bay. McKnight had previously won the 2022 Tennessee Junior Amateur Championship.
No. 7: The Farm’s Respected Pro Cheatham Retires
Over the course of his 33 years serving as the head golf professional, director of golf and general manager at the prestigious golf course built by carpet and flooring magnate Bob Shaw, Deck Cheatham announced he would be retiring from his position at The Farm outside of Dalton last spring. Cheatham played collegiately at Furman, then began his professional career at Scioto Country Club in Columbus, Ga. before eventually becoming The Farm’s third professional. He brought to the club an air of southern geniality as well as unparalleled excellence. He and his wife, Nancy, hope to build a home in the mountains near Monteagle where he will pursue his passion for writing.
No. 8: Long-time UTC Golf Coach Sanderlin Dies
When the UTC athletics made the jump to Division I in 1977, the program needed a full-time golf coach instead of the various football assistant coaches who had filled that role previously. Dr. Reed Sanderlin, an accomplished English professor who had a passion to make a difference in the lives of his student-athletes, accepted the position which he held for 28 seasons. Sanderlin ushered the program into viability, capturing the program’s first Southern Conference title in 1987 and setting the table for future national success achieved under his successor, Mark Guhne, along with current coach Blaine Woodruff. Sanderlin’s impact was far-reaching across the globe, and his life will be celebrated on Jan. 10 at a memorial service held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church at 11 a.m.
No. 9: PGA Hope Continues To Flourish
PGA HOPE, the flagship military program of the PGA of America Foundation, is using the power of golf to change and save the lives of Veterans across the country. No where has this been any more evident than the local program overseen by Lamar Mills, regional director of the Tennessee Golf Foundation. After starting with a small group of attendees to the six-week teaching and skills development workshops in the fall of 2022, the program has flourished. In 2024, 91 graduates completed the program to bring the total number of alumni to 164. This year also featured 11 playdays with over 375 rounds played by Veterans, and 92 players competed in the 2nd Annual Veterans Day tournament. This program is changing lives and giving many of those who provided the ultimate sacrifice an opportunity to find community in a special way.
No. 10: CDGA Season Featured Repeat Winners
Thanks to the selfless efforts and leadership of Mike Jenkins and Richard Keene, the Chattanooga District Golf Association had another successful season with multiple repeat winners.
Richard Brame had a sterling year with four wins in the Super Senior division, picking up hardware in the Nob North Invitational, Cleveland Country Club Invitational, Men’s Metro and Brainerd Invitational.
Andrew Weathers claimed the Chattanooga Men’s Metro title along with a playoff win over Georgia Golf Hall of Famer David Noll Jr. to earn the victory in the Nob North Invitational. Brothers Kip and Brent Henley won the senior division at both the North Georgia Four-Ball and the Moccasin Bend City Four-Ball. Jay Potter was senior winner at both the Brainerd Invitational and the Chattanooga TPC, Steve Johnson was senior champion at the Signal Mountain Invitational and the Men’s Metro, and Joe Markham Jr. bagged the senior titles at the North Georgia Invitational and partnered with Gary Davis to claim the CDGA Four-Ball Match Play.
No. 11: Etter Recognized By Tennessee PGA
Chattanooga Golf and Country Club head professional Bruce Etter has become a fixture at the iconic Riverview club over the past 27 years. His leadership has been widely known by the local golf community, and his contributions were recognized at the state level as Etter was named 2024 Golf Professional of the Year by the Tennessee PGA Section – the second time he earned this prestigious award during his tenure. Council Fire Club’s Jeremy Davis was also named Assistant Golf Professional of the Year for his efforts.
No. 12: Houk Advanced To Q-School Final Stage
When John Houk transferred from Tennessee Wesleyan as a two-time NAIA All-American to UTC for his final two seasons of collegiate golf, the Athens native could not have dreamed where that decision would lead. Houk finished as the career low-scorer with the Mocs last May, earning PING All-Region and All-Southern Conference honors both seasons at Chattanooga. Houk was uncertain about his future at the professional level initially, but now finds his path secured by virtue of his performance during the PGA Tour Q-School this fall. After progressing through three levels of qualifying to advance to Final Stage in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. earlier this month, Houk was able to gain exemption into the Latin America Swing of the PGA Tour Americas for 2025 with hopes of laying the foundation for a long, successful career in professional golf.
No. 13: Revival At Both Eagle Bluff, Valleybrook
After sitting dormant for the past five years, Eagle Bluff Golf Course has new life thanks to the purchase by a Minnesota investor with plans to restore the rolling 18-hole track in Harrison along with the clubhouse and pool.
Also, ongoing renovations at Valleybrook Golf and Country Club breathed life back into the golf course that has served as a staple of the Chattanooga golfing community for decades and served as site of a PGA Tour event from 1986-91. General Partner and co-owner Jimmy White and his team at Urban Story Ventures are in the process of redeveloping Valleybrook and its experience on and off the course.
No. 14: Law, Wick Square Off In Chattanooga TPC Final
For the first time in 31 years of the Chattanooga TPC season-ending event, not one – but two – junior golfers advanced to the championship match. Playing on their home course at Council Fire Club, East Hamilton senior teammates Tucker Wick and Griffin Law competed for the title with Wick prevailing, 5 and 3. After first meeting in kindergarten, the dynamic duo were fixtures statewide in junior golf and led the Hurricanes to four straight TSSAA state golf championship appearances. Law will continue his golf career at UTC, while Wick will compete for Lee University.
No. 15: Baylor’s Rogers Has Impressive Year
Baylor School junior Carlee Rogers capped a successful year in November by announcing her college commitment to the University of Miami. Rogers is currently ranked as the No.1 high school player in Tennessee according to the Rolex American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) Rankings. Rogers has four straight top 10 finishes in the TSSAA Division II-AA State Golf Tournament, pacing Baylor to three consecutive team runner-ups after winning the title in 2021.Earlier this fall, Rogers posted a career-best round of 65 at Bear Trace at Harrison Bay in the Chattanooga Girls Invitational. She has also won the Chattanooga City Prep girls title three straight years, and competed at iconic Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md. last summer in the 48th Girls Junior PGA Championship after capturing the Tennessee Junior PGA Championship in June. She was also chosen as a member of Team Tennessee in the new U.S. National Development Program spearheaded by the USGA which offers special instruction for elite junior golfers.
No. 16: Whitfield’s Continued Success
After a busy summer that featured multiple successes, former McCallie School product That Whitfield carried that momentum into his freshman year at Middle Tennessee State University. The Signal Mountain resident tied for 6th in his first collegiate tournament at the Bearcat Invitational in Cincinnati, then followed that with T13 and T20 finishes in his other two competitions for the Blue Raiders to finish second on the team in scoring at 71.67.
Earlier in the summer, Whitfield missed by a single stroke of making it into a playoff to advance to match play at the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship. He also won his first American Junior Golf Association tournament at Canebrake Club in Athens, Ala. by one shot, and was medalist in the first-stage U.S. Open qualifier at Knoxville’s Fox Den Country Club.
No. 17: Mocs’ Engle Has Successful Summer
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga senior Garrett Engle enjoyed success leading into his final season with the Mocs. The Harrisburg, Pa. native advanced to the Round of 16 in the U.S. Amateur held at Minnesota’s Hazeltine National Golf Club, falling 4 and 2 to eventual runner-up Noah Kent. Engle’s stellar play at the U.S. Amateur came on the heels of finishing tied for second one shot off the lead at the prestigious Porter Cup at Niagara Falls Country Club in New York.
No. 18: Second Year of “The Gibby” A Success
A co-ed high school tournament and scholarship program called “The Gibby” was established last year in recognition of local golf legend Gibby Gilbert and his contributions to the sport. Gilbert was a three-time winner on the PGA tour with 57 top 10 finishes including finishing runner-up in the 1980 Masters Tournament. He later won six times and had 50 top 10s on the Champions Tour later in his career and captured the Tennessee PGA Championship five times and was a four-time winner of the Tennessee Open.
As a tribute to Gilbert’s accomplishments and his commitment to promoting junior golf in the region, The Ooltewah Club created a scholarship fund for rising high school seniors administered through the Tennessee Golf Foundation. The trio of $5,000 scholarship winners this year were Ooltewah High School’s Delaney Ratchford, Emma Claire Smith of Cleveland High School and Alex Robinson of Walker Valley High School.
Paul Payne can be emailed at paulpayne6249@gmail.com
Louis Brown celebrates his victory at the 69th U.S. Senior Amateur last August with long-time Honors Course caddie Demetrio "Hawk" Nucara