The most debated news in the Triad has been the idea of building a golf course on the Guilford County Prison Farm near Gibsonville. The term "getting out of jail" on the golf course will take new meaning if the dream becomes reality. It will be interesting to see what the feasibility survey comes back with but it would be hard to imagine at this time there would be a need for another golf course in the Triad market.

In addition, reports from several groups looking to buy courses stated banks are not willing to loan as much money as they have in the past. The Greensboro MSA, known to us as the Triad, was recently named one the most overbuilt areas for golf. Another issue to be raised or defended would be the use of prisoners to work on the course. While it would be low-cost manpower and beneficial to prisoners, the issue of using prison labor in a venture competing against private industry in an already saturated golf market would be questionable.

However a golf course built on a prison farm is not a new idea, North Carolina writer, William Hallberg penned his first novel The Rub of the Green in the 1980s based on a similar story line.

The Golfer's Developmental Golf Tour will face its second name change within a year. The group chose the Carolina Developmental Golf Tour earlier this year when it decided to become a statewide tour. Although the name accurately defines the tour, "developmental" doesn't have a ring to it when adding in a title sponsor's name. The tour will be called the Carolina Golf Tour until a title sponsor is landed.

Looking to complete your round in four and one half-hours? You may want to try Mill Creek. Director of golf Dan Swiniarski recently added the personal ranger to each group's cart. The device keeps up with the amount of time you spend and recommends when it is time to move on. Swiniarski raves about the results of the device and the response from golfers.

Long Creek Golf Club located in Bethania, outside of Winston-Salem, will reopen three remodeled holes the first week in April. The new owners have rebuilt green complexes on holes three, five and six. The sixth hole has a new and greatly improved fairway. The new owners will have a Grand Reopening Celebration April 21 and 22 to thank everyone for their support as the course has been undergoing improvements.

Winston Lake in Winston-Salem hopes to have the new irrigation system in place by the end of April. Due to construction delays the new clubhouse will not be ready for occupancy for several more months.

Tot Hill Farm in Asheboro has hired Eddie Cox as head golf professional. Cox was the long time pro at The Pit in Pinehurst and recently worked at Whispering Woods during the recent ownership transition.

Meadowlands Golf Course south of Winston-Salem has hired Tim Eller as head golf professional. Eller previously worked at Oak Hollow, Meadowlands and Buffalo Shoals. Currently he coaches the high school golf team at Wesleyan.

Pinehurst Resort expects to start receiving shipments of its 2005 U.S. Open merchandise on April 1.

Elbert Thorpe Jr. died Jan. 4 at Duke Medical Center following an extended illness. Mr. Thorpe, 66, was a member and trustee of Cedar Grove Baptist Church. His wife, two daughters, six sisters, three brothers and three grandchildren, in addition to brother and Senior Tour golfer Jim Thorpe survived him. Elbert Thorpe Jr. grew up in Roxboro and played in area amateur golf tournaments.

Greensboro native Don Smith has retired after 20 years as the head golf professional at Pine Lake Country Club in Mint Hill outside of Charlotte. Smith grew up playing golf at Gillespie Park and Starmount Forest Country Club in Greensboro. He played on the golf team at Elon College. After joining the PGA he held professional jobs at Carlson Farm Golf Course and Charlotte Country Club.

In February, 1999 Greater Greensboro Chrysler Classic winner Jesper Parknevik named his new baby boy Phoenix after his first victory in the United States at the 1998 Phoenix Open. Should he have another son do you think he will name it "Greensboro" after his second victory?

With the recent opening of the third nine holes at Thistle Golf Club, developers are now set to launch the third phase of the project with the development of an upscale residential community called Thistle Downs. The development is located at Sunset Beach, N.C.

Frisby Technologies Inc. of Winston-Salem (NASDAQ: FRIZ), the developer of the world’s leading brand of dynamic climate control materials, announced it has completed development of new COMFORTEMP® rubber materials that are now ready for commercial production and sales. The material was developed to bring the unique cooling properties of COMFORTEMP materials to the global sporting goods marketplace, as well as to other markets of strategic importance to the company.