Golf notebook: Brown Golf in expansion mode again

Brown Golf Management has expanded its portfolio again, as the Bluffton-based firm announced a partnership this week to manage Gainesville (Fla.) Country Club as its 27th course.

The private club dates back to 1922, though its current layout opened in 1963 after the club relocated from its original site near the University of Florida. Brown Golf is investing $500,000 into the club for a 25 percent ownership.

“It’s an old George Cobb course, a really terrific golf course,” Brown Golf CEO John Brown said Wednesday. “Florida has been a very good market for us.”

Gainesville CC is Brown Golf’s first addition since acquiring Dolphin Head Golf Club last September, which included ending Dolphin Head’s private status to public play four days a week. Gainesville will not follow suit, he said.

“(Dolphin Head) is unique because we did a hybrid there,” Brown said. “We think we have enough members and can attract new members to keep Gainesville a private club.”

One Lowcountry byproduct of the new acquisition could be a few more visitors, as Gainesville members venture out to play other clubs in the Brown network, which also includes local stops Pinecrest, Rose Hill, Crescent Pointe, Eagle’s Pointe and Island West. Brown Golf ranks among the nation’s 25 largest golf management firms.

“Our Southern members go north and our Northern members come south,” Brown said. “They are reciprocity opportunities that our members really take advantage of.”

MITCHUM TAKES HERITAGE CLUB PRO BERTH

Kelly Mitchum will represent the Carolinas PGA at next month’s RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing, winning a playoff with fellow Pinehurst Resort professional Matt Vick for the lone spot available Monday at Wexford Plantation.

Mitchum and Vick fired matching 2-under-par 70s in the opening round of this week’s CPGA Head Professional Championship, which served as the Heritage qualifier. Vick birdied his final hole to force the playoff, but couldn’t match Mitchum’s par on the first extra hole.

Mitchum followed up by winning the full two-day CPGA event, firing a 69 for a three-shot victory. That earned him an exemption into the Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte.

Scott Hunter, Wexford Plantation’s director of golf, finished one shot out of the Heritage playoff and also placed third overall.

LOWCOUNTRY HALL OF FAME TICKETS

Less than three weeks remain to purchase tickets for the Lowcountry Golf Hall of Fame’s second induction dinner, where Karen Ferree and Cary Corbitt will be added as the second enshrinement class.

The ceremony will take place April 2 at Hampton Hall, with eight-time PGA Tour winner Bruce Devlin as the featured speaker. Tickets are $125 per person, available via any South State Bank location in Beaufort County or by calling 843-816-0898.

Ferree’s wide-ranging portfolio includes 17 state or Carolinas amateur titles, serving as one of the first female head professionals at a major club and her long record of teaching and supporting amateur golf.

Corbitt is in his 40th year at Sea Pines Resort, rising to become director of golf at its three courses and now vice president for sports and operations.

GRIZ TAKES SCJGA PEE WEE CROWN

Hilton Head Island’s Jonathan Griz used a birdie-birdie finish to slip past Charleston’s Zach Adams and capture last weekend’s South Carolina Pee Wee Championship at Columbia Country Club.

Griz birdied his first three holes of the two-day tournament, but still found himself tied with Adams for the first-round lead as their 3-under-par 33s pulled away from the rest of the field. Adams carded a matching 33 on Sunday, but Griz’s finishing flourish gave him a 32.

Griz’s winning total of 65 was just one off the tournament record, set by Inman’s Trevor Phillips in 2010.

Hilton Head Island’s Max Green placed fourth, finishing at even-par 72.

FERREE, ALLEMANG WIN WSCGA EVENT

Ferree showed her game remains sharp by teaming with Terrie Allemang to win a Women’s South Carolina Golf Association four-ball event last week at Berkeley Hall. They combined for a gross score of 1-under-par 71.

Sun City Hilton Head’s Berenice Fedder and Donna Rosehart won the first flight with a 77, while the Sanctuary GC team of Kathleen Oelschlager and Susan Harden topped the net division with a 64.

This story was originally published March 16, 2016 at 8:10 PM with the headline "Golf notebook: Brown Golf in expansion mode again."