Labor Day weekend always marks the extraordinary tournament held in honor of the legendary man and coach: Neil Gutshall. Every year we write about Coach Gutshall and his demeanor and vision. This year was a little different as we celebrated Coach Gutshall’s birthday. Neil Gutshall would have been 100 years old, and his sons Tom and Bob were so immensely proud to be honoring their dad during this annual event.
Tom and Bob realize how much their dad loved golf and Holly Meadows Golf Course and how happy he would be to see the Golf Course thriving. However, we all realize that without Coach Gutshall’s initial volunteer work, Holly Meadows Golf Course may not be the excellent course it is today.
His dream was to have a top-notch golf course that the community could afford and would forever enjoy. Through his many tireless hours, Coach Gutshall helped to create Holly Meadows Golf Course as one of the most beautiful golf courses where all could play and enjoy an affordable round of golf.
Coach Gutshall loved golfing, and he wanted to create a venue where everyone would have an opportunity to gain experience and to love the game. Coach Gutshall’s name is very much respected throughout the community. His love of coaching and his love of golf draw the admiration of all. Jeff Felton of Texas, formerly from Tucker County, said, “what a nice way to honor such a humble man.” Coach Gutshall always spoke highly of his players on and off the field. Because of his demeanor, Coach Gutshall was very much respected and regarded as one of our finest coaches in Tucker County. One of his former students, Mrs. Angie Evans said, “Neil Gutshall was one of my teachers and is very much respected throughout the county.”
Mrs. Evans, her husband Jeff Evans, and two sons, Skyler and Shane Humphrey, have been hole sponsors for many years. She said, “we are glad to help honor such a nice man and to also support the Holly Meadows Golf Course.”
Other community members commented that Coach Gutshall, “was a man to be remembered, and he impacted so many people in so many ways.” One member commented that Coach Gutshall “was a man who put his ALL into coaching and instilled in his teams the BEST of what it takes to become a man but above all he was a friend and asset to this community.”
Coach Gutshall’s granddaughters, Laura and Jessica, shared their memories of their grandfather and how special this man was in their life. Community members commented that Coach Gutshall was a “dedicated man,” “such a positive influence and role model,” and finally one commented that Coach Gutshall was truly “just wonderful man.” Another golf club member commented that, “Coach Neil and Golf – A Perfect Pairing.”
Many volunteers are following in Coach Gutshall’s footsteps. Under the direction of his son, Tom Gutshall, and the Tucker County Parks and Recreation Board, Holly Meadows Golf Course continues to develop and thrive. Every year the board decides projects that enhance the golf course’s pristine condition.
Each year we have competitors that are continually amazed at how much the Holly Meadows Golf Course improves. Among this year’s 130 golfers, you repeatedly hear compliments about how beautiful the setting and surroundings are and as always, the key question is, “how do we keep the course in its present unspoiled conditions?” Our answer is always, “the volunteers make this golf course one of the best places to play golf.” Just as Coach Gutshall did, volunteers such as the late Bob Gainer take pride in making Holly Meadows Golf Course a place golfers want to return. Also, we are always grateful for Todd Bolyard. Although Todd is an employee, he takes so much pride in the golf course and its maintenance. He goes far beyond his job to make sure Holly Meadows is a golf course that many want to play.
Many golfers say that Holly Meadows course conditions are unparalleled to other courses that are much larger with a substantial budget for the personnel needed for maintenance and preservation of their courses. The competitors cannot believe that work on the course is through the work of its membership and volunteers and only one paid employee. On any given day of the week, you will find such volunteers as Bill Evick, Joe Evans, Nick Channel, Todd Bolyard, Gary Lester, and Eldon Plaugher working on a project from cutting trees, treating the greens, and filling holes in the driveways. Because of the course conditions and the actual tournament competition, we have golfers returning year after year including Gary Chenoweth from Texas to compete. We have several father and son teams that say this is one competition that they enjoy the most because they can play as a father/son team. One father and son team returning with their 11-year-old son from Ohio agree that the event is one they plan to attend each year. Many of the competitors talked about this young man as the next Ohio state golf champion. However, his father said, “We definitely are making memories, and I wouldn’t miss this opportunity to be with my son.”
Because the tournament is “flighted,” everyone competes with like abilities, creating the best competition possible. Every year, competitors are greeted with an outstanding venue along with delicious food throughout the two days of competition. Tom Gutshall, (president of the golf course committee) and Bob Gutshall, sons of Neil Gutshall both agree that their dad would be so pleased that so many golfers come to Holly Meadows Golf Course and compete in his honor. This year we also recognized and celebrated what would have been Coach Gutshall’s 100th birthday. Truly Coach Gutshall is smiling with pride as Holly Meadows Golf Course continues to thrive and grow.
This tournament had 130 golfers playing as a two-person team scramble format ranging from the incredibly young golfers to our seniors. Golfers in this year’s event experienced some of the worst weather on Saturday that forced a delay of over three hours. However, no one was discouraged and after the storm many of the players went out on the greens and helped to prepare them for play. However, on Sunday the weather could not have been more perfect for golfing.
Golfers agreed that the tournament’s organization was flawless and very enjoyable. On the first day of competition, St. George Medical Clinic provided a $50,000 prize for a hole-in-one. This community is extremely fortunate to have Paul Wamsley, CEO of St. George Medical Clinic always willing to support community events. Although, no one won the $50,000 hole-in-one, Carleigh Bolyard was able to sink a hole-in-one on number seven claiming a $1,000 gift certificate. On Sunday we were extremely happy to welcome Performance Chevrolet as a hole-in-one sponsor. Christine Darlington, owner, and Daniel Matthews, BDC Manager of Performance Chevrolet of Elkins provided a Chevy Trax as a hole-in-one prize. Holly Meadows and Tucker County Parks and Recreation deeply appreciate their support. Although no one won the car, it certainly made the tournament thrilling. While no one won the hole-in-one prizes, it goes to the integrity of the tournament that St. George Medical Clinic and Performance Chevrolet of Elkins provide such support in making this event so successful.
However, many businesses throughout Tucker and Randolph counties provided hole sponsorship and/or door prizes that always facilitate creating this wonderful and successful tournament.
In the Championship Flight, the winners were Smith/Dillinger.
Two new winners for this event. They were extremely excited!
The results were:
Championship Flight- 1st (Smith/Dillinger), 2nd (Hopwood/Shreve), 3rd (Stout/Hamrick), 4th (Sublett/Mohr)
First Flight- 1st (Bolyard/Mason), 2nd (Sims/Pingley), 3rd (Spotloe/Shaeffer), 4th (Clifton/Denison), 5th (Osborne/Osborne).
Second Flight- 1st (Kimble/Holt), 2nd (Betler/Betler), 3rd (Gorham/Gorham), 4th (Barb/Middlemas), 5th (Moore/Kisamore)
Third Flight- 1st (Elmoore/Hopwood), 2nd (Keesecker/Keesecker), 3rd (Fox/Hymes), 4th (Clark/Smith), 5th (Channel/Brown)
Fourth Flight- 1st (Jarrett/Jarrett), 2nd (Chenoweth/Louk), 3rd (Hart/Hopwood), 4th (Robey/Ours), 5th (Sperry/Sperry)
Fifth Flight- 1st (Davis/Hockman), 2nd (Higgins/Higgins), 3rd (Swecker/Prunty).
