Neil Gutshall was a name that was respected as a beloved coach in Tucker County. His love for children created an admiration among student athletes. Coach Gutshall worked with many students during his tenure preparing them to be fierce competitors while maintaining sportsmanship. He never spoke an unkind word or raised his voice to any child. He believed in everyone’s self-worth and because of this demeanor he was revered and valued as a coach and as a person. “Coach,” as he was later known worked tirelessly for Tucker County’s youth and for the maintenance and improvement of The Holly Meadows Golf Course; therefore, it is befitting to honor this legend with the Annual Memorial Tournament. Both his sons, Tom and Bob, feel their Dad is smiling as he watches the participants compete in such a wonderful tournament knowing that the funds are used to maintain and improve Holly Meadows Golf Course. All he ever wanted was to give the community a place where the people would be able to afford to play golf. It was apparent during his life, that Coach Gutshall loved Holly Meadows Golf Course and worked tirelessly to keep it open and at a competitive level. Coach was always ready to offer a few golf tips as well as lessons to anyone. He was a gentle giant in every respect: the man and the COACH.
The Annual Gutshall Golf Tournament is held every year on Saturday and Sunday of Labor Day Weekend. This years’ tournament began on Saturday morning shrouded in a thick fog giving way to two beautiful picturesque days of competition. Both days of competition offered hole-in-one prizes on all the Par 3’s. On Saturday, St. George Medical Clinic offered a fabulous prize of $50,000.00 on hole number 7 and on Sunday, Performance Motors of Elkins and Parsons, offered a brand new car for a hole-in-one of number 6. On both days, St. George Medical Clinic and Performance Motors offered prizes on all the other Par 3 holes. While no one won the super prizes, with overwhelming excitement, Randy Louk of Parsons watched his ball roll in for a hole-in-one on Sunday and was able to claim the prize of a new set of Golf Clubs provided by Performance Motors. In the years of this tournament, this was the first hole-in-one. It was thrilling and all the participants were envious but were extremely excited for Randy. “Way To GO, Randy!”
Everyone enjoyed two wonderful days of competition that consisted of 52 teams; 104 golfers, in a two-man scramble. Again this year, participants came from across the state, out of state, and as well as our own Holly Meadows Club members. One participants comes from Texas annually just to compete in this tournament. He said, “I wouldn’t miss it.” Another participant from Charleston said, “This is by far the BEST golf tournament I’m in each year and I’ll be here every year as long as I’m able.”
The Annual Tournament is sponsored by Holly Meadows Golf Club, under the direction of The Tucker County Parks and Recreation Board along with the support of many businesses. The event’s proceeds are solely used for the maintenance of the Golf Course. Throughout the two days of competition, many complements about the course and the food were received by the Golf Committee. Countless times it could be heard from the competitors about how such a small community and golf course could put on such a phenomenal and well run event such as this tournament.
The tournament began with a rules meeting and ended with a picnic style lunch/ or dinner. On Sunday, golfers were placed in flights according to the first days’ results. Each flight’s winners were awarded after the second day of competition. The winners of the Championship Flight were, Forsythe & Tanner; in Flight 1 the winners were, Bolyard & Mason; in Flight 2 the winners were, Carpenter & Carpenter; in Flight 3 the winners were, Spotloe & Stout; in Flight 4 the winners were, Gobel & Walker; in Flight 5 the winners were, Pennington & Evans; in Flight 6 the winners were, Kisamore & Lansberry; and in Flight 7 the winners were, Triplett & Nestor. Also, each day competitors closest to the pin received awards.
It’s been an incredible success,” said Tom Gutshall, Neil’s son. “I know my Dad would be proud and pleased with the events of this tournament.” As I say every year, “Dad loved golf and he would be so pleased that the game of golf will be sustained in our small community.” The Golf Committee and the Tucker County Park and Recreation Board concur with Tom Gutshall that this event was a huge success.
However, the Golf Committee and the Tucker County Parks and Recreation Board realize that without the support of the area businesses and its community, an event of this magnitude would never be possible. It is with great honor that we thank the following businesses for their unselfish and gracious support.
Performance Motors of Elkins and Parsons, St. George Medical Clinic, Miners & Merchant Bank, Mountaineer Contractors Inc., Bonners Body Shop, Mountain Valley Bank, NA, Hansford Insurance Agency, Inc., Robert N. Gtushall, State Farm Insurance, Personal Best Athletics, Ricottilli Lumber Co. Inc., Moore’s Farm Service & Sales, Best of Canaan, LLC, The Ice Cream Shop, East-West Printing, Inc., McClain Printing Company, Performance Auto Body, LLC, Kidwell Auto Parts, Inc., Sirianni’s Pizza Shop, Big John’s Family Fixing & Cafe Pastieceria, Mountain Top Realty & Rentals, Phillips Electronics, Little Andi’s Restaurant, Chenoweth Electric, Lohr & Barb Funeral Home, Myers Auto Repair, Appalachian Animal Hospital, Cooper & Preston Attorneys, Benbush Business Service, MUD Ceramics, Hellbenders Restaurant, TC’s Gun Shop, WV Paving, Christmas Shoppe & More, The Hair Haven, Blackwater Insurance Group, The Wellness Center, Parsons Rite Aid, Elkins Rite Aid, Parsons Shop n Save, Davis Shop n Save, Advance Auto, The Auto Zone, The Country Market (Crazy Harry’s), NAPA, B.F.Longs & Co., Citizens Bank of WV, Adkins Home Center, The Elkins Intermountain, Elks Country Club, Canaan Valley Resort, The Ski Barn, Jim’s All Star, Mastercraft Printing, Lantz Plumbing & St. Paul’s UMC, Advance Solutions, Hinchcliff Lumber Co., Parker Hall State Farm Insurance, Flying Pigs Restaurant, Mane Stream Salon, Blackwater Bikes, C.J. Pizzeria, Advance Auto, Blackwater Brewery, Elks Country Club, Stonewall Resort, Clarksburg Country Club, Jims All Star, Elkins Distributing Co. Inc., Valley Distributing, Bolyard Construction, Kidwell Auto, Judy/Mitchell, Tygart Valley Orthopedics, Randolph/Hosteller Funeral Home, Thomasyard Florist/Gifts, Riverfront Antiques, Roxanne Tuesing, Pro V Services, OTB Security, LLC, Picture This Photography, United Financial Center, Edward Jones, Brian & Tiffany Elliot, Financial Advisors, Appalachian Wood Pellets (AWP), River Crossing Antiques, 7th St. Car Wash & Dog Wash, SEARS, Elkins Builders Supply, Blackwater State Park, Community Care & Pharmacy, Tim Osbourne, Dan Judy, Bill Evick, and Snowshoe Resort.
