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Community Sports
Changes proposed for Cup By Tom Ham | Senior Staff Writer The 15th annual championship arrives this weekend with the Wilson Cup interclub golf competition embracing a new outlook. Thursday night's tee-off rouser was hosted for the first time by The Dog House restaurant. The turnout was treated to the generous hospitality of owners Steve Raper and Billy Mitchell and heartily endorsed returning to the establishment next year. And acclaimed amateur golfer Justin Hayes was introduced as the new Wilson Cup director by his predecessor, Kent Williams. "He has a lot of passion for the game," Williams commented, "and I think you will find he has a lot of passion for this tournament." Williams, a Wilson Cup founder and director since inception, will remain in an advisory capacity for the time being. Hayes was a key performer for the 199p Willow Springs Country Club team that captured the Wilson Cup and now competes for Wilson Country Club. The 35-year-old Hayes has twice captured the Wilson County Amateur championship and, in 2007, celebrated his loftiest accomplishment -- the Men's Championship at Wilson Country Club. The new Cup director pointed out that, as a youth, he was fortunate to have access to four golf courses in the Wilson community and was positively involved in the Wilson Junior Golf Association -- in which he won numerous championships. Hayes said he agreed to become the Cup director "for the same reasons I became involved in Wilson County junior golf. Beyond being a player, I have an opportunity to have a hand in how it evolves. Golf in this county means more to me than anyone can possibly fathom." He lauded the current status of the Wilson Cup and lobbied for subtle changes. Hayes reasoned the quickest route to problems would be "to implement massive, sweeping reforms." "It behooves us to make subtle changes," he added. His Wilson Cup innovations to be proposed include: * Playing the ball or never moving it. * Expand the club rosters from seven players to eight, creating two additional matches per round. * Renaming the Wilson Cup to the Old Pros Cup in honor of Grover Bullin (Wilson Country Club) and the late Foyce Jones (Happy Valley and Willow Springs), Emmitt Matthews (Happy Valley and Willow Springs) and H.W. Weatherford (Wedgewood). * Seek corporate sponsors. Hayes noted the matter of playing the ball down "is the only rule in the USGA handbook not mentioned." He reasoned that each club adding one player would eliminate the awkward situation of informing a player he would have to "sit out" during either the morning or afternoon sessions, or both. "That would build more interest in qualifying," he contended. "(The task of informing a player that he would be sitting out) has been the worst part in assuming a leadership role in this." Hayes considers himself "old-school" and emphasized that former pros or course managers Bullin, Jones, Matthews and Weatherford impacted his life. He added: "I would like to see us reach out to corporate folks to enable us to carry our own weight. I would like for us to have a tee package (a perk for participating Cup golfers) that everybody will be envious of." Thursday's turn of events arguably triggered a resurgence of interest and excitement in the Wilson Cup. "I have seen more people practicing for it this year than I ever have," commented Tommy Davis, manager of Wedgewood Public Golf Course, the site for Saturday's semifinals. Wilson Country Club Head Professional Reid Hill reminded the turnout that the Wilson Cup has been contested the weekend following Mother's Day the past several years. He advocated keeping the event on that date and urged club pros, managers and officials to endeavor to make the weekend -- and the Wilson Cup -- a top priority. Hayes expressed an eagerness to move forward. "It's wonderful as it is," Hayes said of the Wilson Cup, "and I would love for this event to mirror golf events I've read about. I would like for it to reflect a little old-school flavor." hammer@wilsontimes.com | 265-7809
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