Club converts Tara course's bentgrass greens

Savannah Lakes Village already has two distinct golf courses: There's the traditional look of Tara and the more modern design of Monticello.

Soon, the McCormick, S.C., courses will also have different strains of grass on their greens.

Savannah Lakes is in the process of converting Tara's bentgrass greens to Tift Eagle Bermuda grass. Work started May 12 and is expected to be completed July 1.

Monticello's greens are bentgrass, which is the problem. It's not a good idea to have two courses at the same club with the same grasses on their greens.

"We wanted to get two different kinds of grasses so we wouldn't have to do the same maintenance at the same time at both courses on the greens," said Savannah Lakes head pro Sam Adams.

The change to Bermuda grass isn't the only work being done at Tara. The greens are being reshaped, all the bunkers are being restored to their original form, and the 16th hole is being rebuilt.

The severe drop in elevation on the par-5 16th hole is being flattened out, Adams said.

Tara should be in top condition by Aug. 20-23, when it will play host to a professional DP Tour event.

WORM-BURNER: John Allen didn't have much height on his shot when he aced the 118-yard 14th hole at Rocky Branch Golf Club in Lincolnton, Ga., recently. Allen used a putter off the tee. If you don't believe him, ask Mike Backer, Johnny Rogers and Gene Cannon. They were his witnesses.

"He said he'd never been able to stop a ball on the green with an iron so he used a putter," said Rocky Branch head pro Al Holloway.

WITNESS ON HIGH: For a hole-in-one to be deemed official, there must be at least one witness to the shot. Traylor Johnson tried to find a way around that rule after he aced the fourth hole at The River Golf Club in a round without witnesses. When he turned in the information on his ace to the pro shop, Johnson listed "God" as his witness.

USA COACH: Former Augusta State and Florida State golf coach Ernie Lanford has been named coach for Team USA in the Toyota World Junior Cup Championship.

Lanford is the internship coordinator of the Florida State professional golf management program.

The tournament is scheduled for June 15-22 at Kashi Kojima Country Club in Mie Prefecture, Japan.

In addition to the United States, other countries represented in the tournament will be New Zealand, Canada, Spain, Mexico, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Korea, England, Chile, Columbia and Japan.

HOLES-IN-ONE

POINTE SOUTH: John Payne, No. 4, pitching wedge. Witnesses: Ronald McMillian II and Urban Alfred.

Merry Allen, No. 4, pitching wedge. Witnesses: Paul Crick, Betty Crick and Bob Thompson.

Bobby Aldred, No. 4, 8-iron. Witnesses: Huey Carithers, Bob Lawrence and Russell Farmer.

Victor Jefferson, No. 18, 3-iron. Witnesses: Lew Lewis and Gene Whaley.

MOUNT VINTAGE: Robert Ashley, No. 11, gap wedge. Witnesses: Mike Rutland, Ricky Brewer and Don Jamison.

Doug Stevens, No. 11, 7-wood. Witnesses: Barron Addis and Brent Watson.

Chip Boggs, No. 11, 7-iron. Witnesses: Chris Shealy, Darrell Shealey and Bobby Boggs.

Glen Howard, No. 15, 5-iron. Witnesses: Dick Glass and Ricky Jones.

RIVER GOLF CLUB: Hardy Padgett, No. 4, 5-iron. Witness: Pierce Marks.

Dennis Lasecki, No. 4, 9-iron. Witnesses: Ken Rouse and Harold Hinkler.

Tim Sides, No. 13, 7-iron. Witnesses: Steve Hales and Chris Booker.

CEDAR CREEK: Jack Bahen, No. 5, sand wedge. Witnesses: Mike Cornforth, Kathy Cornforth and Ron Phillips.

Harry Goldthorpe, No. 5, pitching wedge. Witnesses: Jeff Allen and Ed Cayedo.

E. Austin Fisher, No. 8, 7-wood. Witnesses: Alan Sage and Hank Zawada.

Jack Stillwaggon, No. 5, pitching wedge. Witnesses: Jerry Kothera, Kevin Albrecht and Frank Zion.

NORTH AUGUSTA CC: George Gunn, No. 6, 7-iron. Witnesses: Charlie Bell, Walt Cybert and Phinny Davie.

Tom Clark, No. 6, 4-iron. Witnesses: Joe Vignati and Bill Gough.

WOODSIDE: Dick Witter, No. 4, Cupp Course, 9-iron. Witness: Joe Lojewski.

Lynn Dyland, No. 15, Cupp Course, 4-iron. Witness: Janet Hughes.

Jeff Martin, No. 8, Jones Course, 5-iron. Witness: Scott Robbins.

AIKEN GOLF CLUB: Mickey Walker, No. 18, 5-wood. Witness: Todd Burke.

GORDON LAKES: Allen Blackstone, No. 13. Witnesses: John Tuure and Raul Membrella.

Gus Kertner, No. 6. Witnesses: Jack McManus and Hugh Myers.

Russ Maddox, No. 13. Witnesses: Jim Ogden and Bob Morris.

WEST LAKE: Jake Stone, No. 4, 5-wood. Witness: Neil Bitting.

John Harlan, No. 17, 9-wood. Witnesses: Bob France, Gene Renno, "Z" Allen.

PINE RIDGE: John Yonce, No. 7, 4-iron. Witnesses: James Murphy, Harold Troutman and Travis Yonce.

APPLEWOOD: Ralph Bowles, No. 5. Witnesses: George Christensen, Steve Glisson and Charlie Hatcher.

PATRIOTS POINT: Kathy Cornforth of Aiken, No. 7, 8-iron at the Charleston, S.C., course. Witnesses: Mike Cornforth and Henry Gillam.

ROCKY BRANCH: Richard Reynolds, No. 17, 7-iron. Witnesses: Tom Carrerus, Lou Carrerus and Herb Mustin.

GOSHEN PLANTATION: Jim Raborn, No. 7, 9-wood. Witnesses: Bob Herring and Bob Fanning.

FOREST HILLS: T.J. Stovall, age 14, No. 7, 5-iron. Witnesses: Carter Newman, Ryan Blackburn and Alexander Abate.

Reach David Westin at (706) 724-0851.