From the Desk of Chris Sykes

We want to thank the Golf Department staff and our entire golf community for all your efforts in keeping golf a safe haven during these challenging times. Golf is a game of social distancing, played in the great outdoors where you never have to touch anything but your own equipment. Combined with some great weather, this has led to unprecedented success in Tellico Village Golf.

June 2020 proved to be an incredible month with record rounds of golf and retail sales. In June, we totaled over 13,000 rounds, which was 3,655 rounds over budget. Standing at halfway through the year, we are at 43,384 rounds, which is 7,157 over budget. We also saw record retail sales in June, with over $51,000 in merchandise sales. Golf has been very busy indeed.

The team continues to demonstrate a willingness to do whatever it takes, so please go out of your way to say thank you. We remain short staffed due to the pandemic and everything is a little more complicated these days. Stress levels are a little higher than normal and we are working to manage burnout that increases more quickly by having to do more than is typically necessary.

We have felt incredible support from our golfing community but due to the current climate, everyone is a little more on edge than normal. The overwhelming majority has been very accepting of the new normal in which we are living and the adjustments that have been necessary to our operations. The coronavirus pandemic likely won’t be going away anytime soon, so we will continue to do our best on a daily basis to keep golf as an escape from the crazy world around us.

How can you help? Again, please go out of your way to thank the staff for their efforts and if you have any issues whatsoever, please see a manager and do not take out frustrations on our overworked front-line staff. The Golf Management Team works very closely together on behalf of the Golf community and can be reached as follows:

Christopher C. Sykes – Director of Golf

(865) 310-9621

Adam Jacob – Head Golf Professional Toqua Golf Club

(865) 804-8155

Charles Roffers – Assistant Golf Professional Toqua Golf Club

(865) ext. 4609

Jon North – Assistant Golf Course Superintendent Toqua Golf Club

(865) 317-2043

Tyler Thies – Assistant Golf Course Superintendent Toqua Golf Club

(865) 399-1456

Casey Flenniken – Head Golf Professional Tanasi Golf Club

(865) 804-7686

Michael Ledbetter – Assistant Golf Professional Tanasi Golf Club

(865) 804-7682

Wells McClure – Golf Course Superintendent Tanasi Golf Club

(865) 804-7598

Jeff Harrington – Head Golf Professional at The Links at Kahite

423-884-6108

Jordan Clark – Golf Course Superintendent at The Links at Kahite

(865)617-0085

We are all in this together and we look forward to celebrating many future successes.

Sincerely,

Your Golf Management Team F