Greeson: Honors Course a prime venue for U.S. Junior Am

Henrik Simonsen rides a golf cart to work.

It makes sense, of course, since the head professional at The Honors Course lives behind the back tee box on No. 2 at the late Jack Lupton's shrine to amateur golf in Ooltewah.

It also makes sense that now that ride starts a little earlier than normal. It is filled with more responsibility for Simonsen and his staff and superintendent David Stone and his staff, too.

It also is filled with the excitement that accompanies a national championship.

The Honors will host the U.S. Junior Amateur in less than a month. It is the USGA event for players under 18 and will be filled with a galaxy of stars of tomorrow.

"These are the best young players in the world," Simonsen said, "and we want them to be tested."

Brother, will they ever be.

The USGA will have final say about the conditions, and we know it views birdies with the same angst with which Nick Saban looks at fumbles. Just last week the USGA turned a century-old course into an Oakmonster and dared players to go at pins.

Jay Greeson

The Honors has a much smaller history than, say, an Oakmont or some of the other venerable tracks around the country. But the Honors - the Pete Dye masterpiece nestled in the trees and surrounding a man-made lake - never will have to apologize to any course anywhere.

It assuredly will be a test, both of a player's skill and his mental toughness.

The field of 156 will be overflowing with the former. These kids hit the ball longer and straighter and purer than any generation before them. The technology is off the charts.

But the USGA and Stone have a wealth of weapons and a deep arsenal with which to protect par.

"When you sign the contract with the USGA to host one of their events, they will set up the course," Simonsen said, "but they have a lot of trust in David."

The options for the set-up will be immense. Played from the tips, the Honors could measure 7,450 yards. The strategic challenges - be they mental choices off the tee or which pins to attack and which to respect - are everywhere.

"It really has it all," Simonsen said of the grounds that routinely rank among the nation's top 20 courses. "Some holes are about the drive, some are about the second shot and there's always the greens.

"That's the beauty of this place."

That, friends, is quite plainly beauty and a beast.

Simonsen said the USGA likely will keep the yardage closer to 7,300 for the championship. He also said the speed of the greens could get to as high as 14 on the stimpmeter, a fancy golf device that measures such things. (Know this: A 14 is part Nolan Ryan fastball, part Carl Lewis in his prime. Want an example of putting on a 14? Take a golf ball, put it on your desk and try to toll it into the dish that holds your paper clips.)

And make no mistake, this event will be championship-caliber, from the players in the field to the venue to the support from those at the Honors, a place created by Lupton 33 years ago to honor the amateur player. Yes, the grounds are glorious, but that beauty is far beyond skin deep.

Simonsen said one of his favorite parts of this year's tournament is that the course is hosting First Tee representatives from across Tennessee so they can see the elite level players from around the world. Also, Honors Course member and Golf Channel analyst Charlie Rymer, who won the USGA Junior Am in 1985, will emcee the pretournament dinner and be a presence during the tournament.

Rymer will host a youth clinic at the Honors on July 16 before the tournament. That clinic is free and open to the public, but interested players need to register. Go to www.getn2golf.org for more information.

It figures to be a grand-opening tee shot of a great week of golf next month. The tournament is free and open to all spectators, who will be watching several kids who could be making millions in the sport in the coming years.

It's an event that fits this great venue and the vision Lupton had for it so many years ago.

Contact Jay Greeson at jgreeson@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6343.