Last Hurrah? Economic woes could mean the end of the Greater Hickory Classic

Maybe it was just bad timing with the economy, but the reality is the Greater Hickory Classic at Rock Barn could end its seven-year run.

Don Beaver, the owner of the resort who has put up most of the money for the last seven years, hasn't found a title sponsor. And with Kia Motors possible ending its run as a presenting sponsor, it appears that Beaver will not be picking up the option for one more year on the Champions Tour.

It costs a little more than $4 million each year to put on the tournament. That also includes around $500,000 it pays The Golf Channel each year to be televised, a requirement by the Champions Tour.

Sources have said that each year Beaver winds up spending about $1 million dollars of his own money. The tournament is one of the most popular on tour with the players because of the hospitality, the course and the location. This year's tournament drew the best field in its short history.

The charity dollars raised have been a little more than $750,000, something Beaver and his tournament staff are proud of.

The players are aware of the possibility of this being the final tournament here. Every tour at every level of pro golf has been affected by lack of sponsorship, which will mean fewer tournaments in years to come.

Jeff Sluman, who made his Champions Tour debut here two years ago, said that the players would love to see the tournament continue.

"You never want to see any tournament go away, but the economic reality is it's a difficult environment," Sluman said. "It's just difficult out there, and it's not just sporting events. From what I understand this county has the second-highest unemployment rate in the state.

"We'd love to stay here and play here and all that but…"

According to the state's Employment Security Commission, Catawba County's 14.9 unemployment rate is one of the highest in the state.

There are a lot of factors working against tournament officials with the main factor being there aren't a lot of major companies willing to take on the title-sponsor role.

Lee Trevino had a bold idea if the tournament can land a major sponsor.

"What I would like to see the senior tour do is get a sponsor for these tournaments and let the fans in free," said Trevino, who at 70 is past his prime but was one of the major draws at this tournament. "Let them in free and let them pay for parking and food, and I think that would be the thing to do."

Trevino said that it worked in Minneapolis in mid-July and it was such a big success the tournament ran out of food to sell to fans in the first round.

"We don't get the galleries we used to get," Trevino said. "If you let people in free, then they'll buy food and beer and I think you could actually make more money that way. Why not charge a $1 more for a beer?"

Morris Hatalsky, who lives in Cashiers, spoke highly of what Beaver has done since the tournament's inception.

"My hat is off to Don Beaver and his commitment and the people around him," Hatalsky said. "They've put together a fabulous tournament."

Hatalsky said that if the tournament ends its run it would be a shame.

"No question it would be missed," Hatalsky said. "It's supported very well by the players."

The Champions Tour schedule for 2010 will likely be released within the next two months. If the tournament is saved, the new date would likely fall later in September or early October.

Sluman said that the tour belongs in smaller markets such as the Hickory area. The Champions Tour can sometimes be lost in the shuffle in the bigger cities.

"This is a wonderful market for the Champions Tour, and it's just one of those things that the economy has kind of worked against it," Sluman said. "We hope that Mr. Beaver and Kia and some of the other great sponsors can get together and keep this thing alive."

A straighter driver

It was getting so bad I had visions of Ian Baker-Finch going through my head.

My driving over the last few months was so bad I started to tee off with a 3-iron. When a friend suggested I try a new driver, it seemed like the thing to do. Better to do that than take up bowling. My 12 handicap was quickly becoming about a 20, not that there's anything wrong with that.

Plenty of research led me to the new TaylorMade R9, the one a lot of the pros use. At first it was strange having something so new in my hands (my old driver was older than my 6-year-old daughter). My first test with the new driver came at R.A.'s driving range in Pfafftown, and it went pretty well, but there's no out of bounds on the range.

The test would come in playing 18 holes, and for the most part, I drove the ball a heck of a lot better. At least I wasn't as tense walking to the tee box of a par-4 or a par-5.

In my case new equipment has helped, but for how long?

Around the green

Leonard Thompson, 62, will play in his 1,000th tournament this week at the SAS Championship in Cary. Thompson, a former Wake Forest star, made 651 starts on the PGA Tour and will make his 349th Champions Tour start on Friday. Thompson, who was born in Laurinburg, said: "I'm going to make No. 1,000 and I'm still somewhat sane." Thompson won three times on the PGA Tour and three times on the Champions Tour….

Bo Miller of Mount Airy and Kevin Atkins of Dobson teamed up to win the 47th National Lefty-Righty Championships in Lenoir earlier this month. Miller, who plays left-handed, and Atkins shot a 2 under 70 on the final day to win the 72-hole tournament. The twosome has had a good month as they also teamed up to win the Mount Airy Country Club Championship….

jdell@wsjournal.com


727-4081