Golf column, Tiger aces Big Canyon

Richard Dunn

If ever there was a time to be hanging around the country club with

not a lot to do, it would’ve been on Christmas Eve at Big Canyon Country

Club.

That Friday afternoon, honorary member and course-record holder Tiger

Woods provided free holiday spirits to everyone on one of the club’s

busiest days of the year.

As a tuneup for his fifth straight PGA Tour victory in the Mercedes

Championships at Kapalua this month, Woods sank a hole in one with an

eight-iron on the par-three hole No. 3 (165 yards) that was “pretty

sweet” according to Big Canyon pro shop operator James Petty.

Can you imagine the tizzy in the Big Canyon clubhouse after Woods’

shot heard round the club?

Woods, an honorary Big Canyon member since 1992, after his second U.S.

Junior Amateur championship, was playing on Christmas Eve with his

father, Earl, and Canadian Tour pro Brian Hull.

When Woods was playing for Stanford, he broke the Big Canyon course

record in the opening round of the Pac-10 Championships on April 29,

1996, with an 11-under 61. Later that day, he shot 65 in the second

round, finishing his 36-hole day with only 45 putts.

Big Canyon’s previous record holders were Danny Bibb, Alan Drobka and

Ted Norby, now a teaching pro in Carlsbad. Bibb and Drobka both shot 66

on March 6, 1988. Norby shot 66 on Sept. 9, 1987.

Add Petty: The first-year Big Canyon apprentice from Myrtle Beach,

S.C., is cutting his teeth under who he considers the best in the

business -- Bob Lovejoy.

Though it has taken Petty some getting used to, coming from the South

and landing at exclusive Big Canyon in Newport Beach, it has been a

smooth (and interesting) trail for the aspiring head golf pro.

Petty, the nephew of former NASCAR superstar Richard Petty, played

about 4 1/2 years on the mini circuits, but then after a couple of kids,

he realized a change in clubs was necessary.

“I don’t have that talent like Tiger,” said Petty, who worked at

Cherry Hills Country Club outside of Denver, where Arnold Palmer won a

U.S. Open, before arriving at Big Canyon five years ago.

Petty spent his first four years as an outside facilities supervisor,

handling bag boys and the driving range, then moved into the golf shop a

year ago. He said Lovejoy is the reason he came to Big Canyon.

Lovejoy, a member of the Southern California PGA Hall of Fame and Big

Canyon’s director of golf, has a history of sending his disciples to

rewarding head pro positions.

“That’s why I came to work here,” Petty said. “I’ve done my research,

and Mr. Lovejoy has all the experience and he can teach an individual.

He’s taught me so much. It’s unreal how much he can teach somebody. I’m

very proud to work under him, as well as (head pro) Kelly Manos.”

In addition to Manos, no fewer than four other former Lovejoy pupils

have become at least a head pro elsewhere: John Hendricks, Marbella head

pro; Ken Ferrell, Dove Canyon head pro; Bob Silver, Old Ranch head pro;

and Kim Porter, Mesa Verde general manager.

Petty realizes he’s several steps away from reaching his career goal,

but, in the meantime, he’s grown accustomed to the Big Canyon lifestyle.

“That’s exactly what my goal is in the future,” Petty said of becoming

a head pro. “But it takes baby steps if you want it done right. Some

people can plunge into it, then they get stuck at some place (they don’t

like) for a long time, even though it’s good work experience and you can

make decent money. But now I feel like a country club boy, which I don’t

fit. I’m a little too much of a redneck for a country club.”

Petty should go far with his sense of humor and ability to adjust to

his environment.

“You go through some changes (going from South Carolina to Newport

Beach), that’s for sure,” Petty said. “But, one thing I do love is my

job, and you can’t beat that if you love your job. There’s nothing else

you need, except a good family, and in that case I’ve been blessed.”

Richard Dunn’s golf column appears every Thursday.