During this very trying time, it was doubtful that Tucker County Parks and Recreation Board along with Holly Meadows Golf Course Committee was going to be able to host the annual Labor Day Weekend Neil Gutshall Memorial Golf Tournament. The committee had to look at conducting this event in so many ways to make sure social distancing was possible. After much consideration and preparedness, it was deemed that the tournament committee could be relatively sure of everyone’s safety. It was only then that the committee reached out to the community for support. With the COVID 19 predictions we were not sure if businesses would be able to donate and support this event as in the past years. Because of that realization, the committee decided to host the event number one because of its already established notoriety, number two because we felt the participants needed such an event and number three the funds raised are used to support so much work at Holly Meadows Golf Course. The 110 participants were willing to adhere to all the precautions set forth and a wonderful and beautiful day of competition was provided for by all. Upon reaching out to the community it was realized how truly fortunate Tucker County residents are. It was discovered that most of the community businesses were graciously providing the support to host this event. As authoring this article, I believe that the name of Coach Neil Gutshall had much to do with this support. Coach Gutshall’s name is very much respected throughout the community and his love of coaching and his love of golf draws the admiration of this community and beyond. One sponsor from California again sent in his sponsorship and said he loved honoring such a humble man. Because of Coach Gutshall and his tireless efforts to support athletics in Tucker County, businesses were willing to provide as much support as possible. “Coach,” as he was lovingly called, volunteered many hours in the effort to make golfing a sport that would be enjoyed by all residents of Tucker County. Coach Gutshall never spoke an unkind word about any student athlete and because of his demeanor he was very much appreciated and valued as one of our greatest coaches in Tucker County. Holly Meadows Golf Course exists in its present condition because of the foundation that was provided by Coach Gutshall and its founding members. Many volunteers have followed in his footsteps to keep the Golf Course in its pristine condition. Just in this past year, volunteers have remodeled the entire club house and the volunteers continued working this spring replacing the water lines that were in complete shambles. It is utterly amazing how many volunteers come together and do whatever is needed to keep this beautiful golf course in its pristine condition. The competitors continue to compliment everyone and always ask, “how do you keep this golf course in beautiful conditions?” It is with certainty because of the volunteers and community support. Without Coach Neil Gutshall’s former work and the continued work of our volunteers, Holly Meadows Golf Course continues to be reared as, “a diamond of a golf course.” Even one of our Tucker County Commissioner’s, Mr. Fred Davis, one day visited the course and was extremely delighted about its condition and asked that the volunteers attend one of the commissione meetings and be recognized for their work. Commissioner Davis was very complimentary of all the work that has been completed and how beautiful Holly Meadows Golf Course is. He invited anyone to come and see the beauty and the pristine condition of the course. I am sure Coach Neil Gutshall continues to smile at the efforts made to keep this course and its beautiful surroundings intact. Tom Gutshall, president of Golf Course Committee and Bob Gutshall sons of “Coach” said, “ we know that Dad would be very pleased that the tournament was able to continue in order to keep the preservation of Holly Meadows Golf Course.” Both Tom and Bob continue their Dad’s dream and work tirelessly to sustain this tournament and the Golf Course described as, “a diamond.” Both agree that the tournament not only honors their Dad but continues to help sustain this beautiful Golf Course. However, Tucker County Parks and Recreation, the Golf Course Committee, and the volunteers all agree without the community support it would be extremely difficult to keep Holly Meadows Golf Course in its well-preserved condition.
Because this event was very much in jeopardy of not happening, the participants were extremely appreciative of the tournament and the competitive atmosphere. This was the first year that the capacity of one hundred and ten participants was filled in a matter of two weeks when the decision was made ost the tournament. Everyone agrees that the tournament is one that continues to draw many competitors; however, this year most of the competitors were from the state due to the COVID 19 restrictions. Holly Meadows Golf Course is under the direction of Tucker County Parks and Recreation Board and could not be more pleased with this tournament’s success. This year’s competitors were given two gorgeous days in which they were able to compete. The tournament consists of a two-person scramble ranging from the young to our seniors. On the first day, all competitors meet for information of the general and specific rules for this tournament and after the first day of competition, participants are placed in flights according to Round I results. All the flights are always extremely competitive and exciting. Each day a luncheon is provided for the competitors and ends with an award’s program. However, as stated before such a tournament of this magnitude, could not be realized without community supporters. The donations solely are used for the maintenance of the Golf Course. On Saturday, St. George Medical Clinic provided a $50.000.00-dollar prize for a hole-in-one on the #6 par 3 and on Sunday and the same hole, Performance Chevrolet of Elkins provided a new car for a hole-in-one. While no one won these prizes either day, it goes to the integrity of the tournament that such support is provided by two wonderful businesses.
Results of the tournament were:
Championship Flight were: First Place-T. Bolyard/J. Mason, Second Place-Shreeve/Shreeve, Third Place-Morhe/Morhe;
First Flight were: First Place-T. Hamrick/J. Stout, Second Place-Sublett/Roberts, Third Place-Haddox/Haddox, Fourth Place-T. Gutshall/C. Bolyard, Fifth Place-Slaughbaugh/Ours, Sixth Place-Bowers/Bowers.
Second Flight were: First Place-Swecker/Reckart, Second Place-Clifton/Dearborn, Third Place-Michael/Judy, Fourth Place-Dearborn/Butler, Fifth Place-Osborne/Osborne. Third Flight were: First Place-Spotloe/Brown, Second Place-Channel/Lucas, Third Place-Nichols/Buckley, Fourth Place-White/Wayne.
Fourth Flight were: First Place-Ritter/Thorne, Second Place-Ruckle/Hymes, Third Place-Carpenter/Smallwood, Fourth Place-Kesecker/Kesecker.
Fifth Flight were: First Place-Davis/Hockman, Second Place-Davis/Davis, Third Place-DiBacco/Hebb.
Sixth Flight: First Place-Spotloe/Spotloe.
