WEST POINT — It’s an exciting time for George Bryan.
Immersed in the build-up to the LPGA Legends Tour’s ISPS Handa Cup this weekend at Old Waverly Golf Club, Bryan has a chance to squirrel away in his shed next to the club’s pro shop while golf carts dart in and out and players shuffle around the greens. Earlier this year, Bryan, the founder of Old Waverly played a key role in helping the Mississippi State men’s and women’s golf teams find a new home at Old Waverly.
This week, he has been involved in the final touches for professional women’s golf’s return to West Point. In 1999, the LPGA Tour staged the U.S. Women’s Open at Old Waverly in front of record crowds. Bryan hopes today’s pro-am and the competition in the Handa Cup on Saturday and Sunday attracts crowds of similar sizes to see the Legends Tour players, who have reached their 45th birthday.
“We agreed late last year to do (the Handa Cup) and knew it would take us about eight or 10 months to get ready for it,” Bryan said. “We have had experience with the U.S. Women’s Open and the U.S. Mid Am. We also have had experience with a lot of collegiate events here. The members here and the homeowners at Old Waverly know what to do and how to come together to put on an event.
“The hospitality in our state is what we are known for, and that is why they come back to Mississippi. They can’t match that anywhere else.”
The Handa Cup will feature an international team of 12 players against a team of 12 USA-born LPGA Legends in 36 holes of team and singles matches. Players will compete in stroke play in each match, and team points will be awarded for wins and ties. Last year in Nashville, Tennessee, the International team beat the U.S. team 27-21. This year, the U.S. team led by captain Nancy Lopez hopes to win the Handa Cup back. Her team will include Juli Inkster, who won the U.S. Women’s Open in 1999 at Old Waverly, Pat Bradley, Beth Daniel, Christa Johnson, Rosie Jones, Meg Mallon, Barb Mucha, Laurie Rinker, Nancy Scranton, Val Skinner, Sherri Steinhauer, and Sherri Turner. Elaine Crosby is Lopez’ co-captain.
Sally Little will captain the International team. Her roster features roster Helen Alfredsson, Jane Crafter, Laura Davies, Alicia Dibos, Wendy Doolan, Trish Johnson, Lorie Kane, Jenny Lidback, Liselotte Neumann, Allison Nicholas, Mieko Nomura, and Jan Stephenson. Little’s co-captain is Dawn Coe-Jones.
Bryan said scheduling pushed Old Waverly out of chances to play host to big-time events. He said Old Waverly will begin to pursue other events in an attempt to play host to major events every three to five years.
“It is difficult to do something here every year because of the location and the sponsors and that sort of thing,” Bryan said. “We are a private club, but we want to promote the club and create an excitement within the club and the membership. For what we do, we do it for the support of our membership. The membership enjoys doing this. They don’t want to do it every year because it is hard on them. But every five years it helps keep your name out there and your club out there.”
Bryan, a graduate of MSU, said MSU teams have played at Old Waverly throughout the years, but he said MSU Director of Athletics Scott Stricklin reached out to Old Waverly Golf Club and asked if the school could move its teams to West Point. Bryan said the club didn’t have the space or the facility to do it but that the club was working to acquire land across the street. He said the club purchased 30 acres that will be the site for a $2.2 million project that will include a driving range, short-game area, putting green, plus a team clubhouse and indoor hitting bays. The Bulldog Cub, the private fundraising arm of MSU Athletics, has played a key role in helping to raise $1.3 million for the project.
Bryan said MSU will be in charge of construction and that Old Waverly will manage the facility. The first phase, which features the team practice areas (driving range, a short-game area, and a 16,000-foot putting green shaped as the state of Mississippi), is under construction. Bryan said construction on the buildings is projected to be completed in March or April 2015.
“It is going to be a world-class golf facility,” said Bryan, whose father, John H. Bryan Sr., had MSU’s Athletic Administration building, the Bryan Building, named after him. “We hope it really helps Mississippi State to build their golf programs.”
Old Waverly, which was co-designed by Jerry Pate and Bob Cupp, opened in 1988. It also played host to the 2006 U.S. Mid Amateur. A second course has been designed by Gil Hanse, who was elected “Architect of the Year” by Golf Magazine in 2009. Hanse Golf Course Design was selected by the Rio de Janeiro Olympic committee to design the host course for the 2016 Olympic Games.
Bryan has enjoyed watching everything come together at Old Waverly. He hasn’t reflected on the progress the golf club has made in the past 30 years, but he is eager to see good weather this weekend to ensure the Handa Cup has an opportunity to shine in a beautiful setting.
“If the people here didn’t embrace what we were trying to do, it would be difficult, but they enjoy doing it and are a big part of doing it,” Bryan said. “We can’t do it by ourselves. We have to have sponsors, and we have had some great sponsors. They have seen it as a way to hep economic development in the area and helping to grow the area. That is what it is all about, how do we grow this Golden Triangle area and make life better for everybody.
“I think they will see some good golf this weekend. These women are not through playing golf. Some of them are in the prime of their golf careers at their ages.”
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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