Hughes Threlkeld grew up at The Landings Golf & Athletic Club honing his game on the six golf courses in the community — with the Deer Creek Course ranking as his favorite track.
Now the Benedictine alum and senior standout at the University of North Georgia is set to play in a professional event for the first time on one of his home courses at the eighth annual Club Car Championship. The tournament, an event on the Korn Ferry Tour, is hosted by The Landings Golf & Athletic Club and runs Thursday-Sunday, April 3-6.
Tournament officials announced they were awarding a special exemption for Threlkeld to compete in the event in January, and he’s been anticipating the opportunity ever since.
“I’m pretty pumped about getting the chance to play,” Threlkeld said. “It seems like I’ve been waiting so long and now the week is finally here and I’m really excited.”
Threlkeld is a star player on the Nighthawk golf team that finished second in the NCAA Division II Tournament last year. The team is currently ranked third in the nation behind defending champion Colorado Christian and West Florida. He was a GCAA all-American honorable mention last year.
North Georgia finished second last week in the Tennessee River Rumble at Windriver Golf Club with Threlkeld leading the way with a seventh place finish individually, after he carded a 2-under par 70 in the final round.
Now Threlkeld is heading home to the familiar fairways of the highly-regarded Deer Creek Course.
“I love Deer Creek because it’s always in such great shape,” said Threlkeld, 21, who is set to graduate from UNG with a business degree in May. “It’s a true championship course with its length and layout and it tests every part of your game. And I like how it’s a little bit out on its own away from the homes on a lot of the holes,”
Threlkeld said his favorite hole on the course is the par-5 14th, a 525-yarder that curves to the right near the green, which suits his left to right ball flight. He said the dogleg left 14th hole, a 443-yard par 4, is a hole that challenges him, as it doesn’t fit his eye. He said he thinks his best score at Deer Creek was a 66.
“I’ve been playing pretty well and trying to enjoy my last season at North Georgia,” said Threlkeld, who said he plans to turn professional this summer. “We’re gearing up for a postseason run and want to win the championship after finishing second last year. I think I’ve improved with my short game since I’ve been in college. My chipping and wedge play inside 120 yards is a lot better. I think it’s a strength of my game now, instead of weakness like it was when I came out of high school.”
Threlkeld’s younger brother, Hamp Threlkeld, is a junior standout on a talented Benedictine golf team. Hamp will caddie for his brother in the Club Car Championship. Hamp was out on the course with their father, Paul, scouting things out, on Tuesday evening.
“We were out there checking yardages and getting some numbers,” said Hamp, who was the All-Greater Savannah Player of the Year as a freshman at BC. “We’ve played it a lot, but want to get all the details right. I play with Hughes all the time, and he gets me most of the time, but I’ll hold my own every now and then. I was thrilled when I found out Hughes was going to get to play — I knew before he did and had to keep quiet about it for like a week, and that was tough.”
Hamp Threlkeld said he knows his brother’s game almost as good as his own. He said Hughes hits a stock 7-iron about 180 yards, and he knows his strengths. He’ll be there to lend emotional support in the pressure-filled environment, while offering advice when needed.
“Hughes is a great player and knows his game so well,” said Hamp, who is receiving recruiting interest from colleges including North Georgia and Mercer University. “We’ll talk through every hole and every shot, and I’ll pick my spots here and there if I think I need to add anything.”
Club Car Championship Tournament Information
Tee times start at 9 a.m. Thursday through Sunday. For complete tournament information, visit https://www.clubcarchampionshipattlc.com/tournament-info/.
Tickets are available at https://www.clubcarchampionshipattlc.com/tickets/.
Public parking is available at the UGA Skidaway Institute of Oceanography – 10 Ocean Science Circle. Parking is $5 and is donated directly to Brightside Family & Advocacy. Complimentary shuttles run every 15 minutes and will drop spectators off at the main entrance. Shuttles run Thursday – Sunday beginning at 9 a.m. until 30 minutes following play. On Saturday, shuttles will run from 9 a.m. until 30 minutes after the conclusion of the Club Car Concert on the Range.
Dennis Knight covers sports for the Savannah Morning News. Contact him at [email protected]. Twitter: @DennisKnightSMN
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