Golf writers from Alabama and New Mexico play HSV tracks
Hot Springs Village resident Chuck Miller, also known as “The Traveling Guy” and author of Golfing The U.S., extended fellow writers invitations to join him for 5 days of golf and sharing the beauty of HSV.
Joining Chuck were Gregg Dewalt, editor of Alabama Golf News and Dan Vukelich with New Mexico Golf News. They were joined by PGA Golf Professional, Joel Gafford, general manager and golf pro at Blackberry Trail Golf Course, Florence, Alabama.
Arranging golf tee times, Matt Lewarn, scheduled the foursome for HSV courses, Isabella, DeSoto, Granada, Cortez and the Diamante course was offered, courtesy of John Richeson. They also were guided through the remaining HSV golf amenities.
Not only did the visiting writers and golf professional enjoy HSV tracks, but were also guests on guided tours of Lake Balboa, Woodlands Auditorium, Visitors Center, Coronado Fitness Center and drive-bys of pool, tennis and pickleball courts.
Local restaurants offered dining experiences including Xplore Lakeside, Artfully Baked and Brewed, Beehive, Home Plate Café and DeSoto Club.
“I’d never heard about this place,” said Dewalt “until I visited my close friend Charlie here in 2017. He drove me around 5 of the courses. That’s all I knew of this place and then Chuck offered an invitation to golf writers to come see Hot Springs Village and make it happen. I used to cover basketball in the area and went to Hot Springs and like many others, I thought this place was the same as Hot Springs. I wrote for Tee Times in Nashville and when I retired from it, I got with Dan Vukelich, and we formed digital golf news sources.”
Dewalt said HSV is a natural destination for residents of north Alabama, an easy and scenic drive. He added he didn’t think many residents in Alabama know about this 9-course destination. “I think our readership will be interested in your play packages. I’m very impressed with everything you offer here. It’s very unique and I can’t think of any place in Alabama like it.”
Dewalt is not only the editor of Alabama Golf News but a member of the Golf Writers Association of America and Alabama Sports Writers Association.
“I also had never heard of this place until Gregg and Dan mentioned we should go,” said Joel Gafford, PGA manager and golf professional at Blackberry Trail in Florence, Alabama.
“A good friend heard I was going to HSV and he told me to be sure to play as many of the courses as possible and if I got permission, to play the private Diamante course. This place is an unbelievable location for people to play golf.”
He said what was amazing was driving around HSV and suddenly you come upon a golf course inside the forest. “You think you’re stuck out in the woods somewhere and you turn a corner and it’s another golf course.”
“This is such an interesting place and it is eye opening; more people should know about it,” said Dan Vukelich, editor of New Mexico Golf News.
“We’ve certainly admired all the houses on the golf courses and their beautiful backyards. It’s a very welcoming atmosphere.” Vukelich does freelance writing for Golf Chicago, Golf Oklahoma, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, The Met Golfer, AZGolf Insider, Southern New England Golfer, Golf Minnesota and Prime Time. He’s also a member of the golf Writers Association of America.
