2025
Ed discovered golf at a very early age, learning the love of golf from his father and neighborhood dads. They all had a special role in encouraging him and teaching him the game of golf every chance Ed had to play. Birchwood Golf Club, outside of Rocky Mount, NC, was the course Ed grew up playing. Golf professionals Gene Briggs and Herb Owenby were the golf professional who nurtured Ed along the way. He would go to the golf course every chance he had with his dad. Going to the golf course with his dad had rules to follow. First and most important was “To be respectful” and if I hear you not being respectful you will not come back with me. That means saying “yes sir and no sir” at all times.”
After attending East Carolina University, Ed started in the golf business, as an Assistant, in his home state at Green Hill Country Club, Red Oak, NC, Carolina Country Club, Raleigh, NC and Benvenue Country Club, Rocky Mount, NC. He then moved to Virginia for the Assistant Pro job at Farmington Country Club in Charlottesville, VA. In 1976 he made the move to Smith Mountain Lake area where he has been a Head Professional there for 49 years. He served as the first Head Golf Professional at Waterfront Country Club from 1976-1997 and then The Water’s Edge Country Club from 1997 until 2025.
Ed is well respected among his peers and within the Mid-Atlantic PGA Section as well as the National Professional Golfers of America. He had a hand in, not only developing Waterfront Country Club, in the mid-70’s as its first golf professional, but also The Water’s Edge Country Club. He was integral with the acquisition of Chestnut Creek, which then became The Westlake Country Club and now known as Copper Cove Golf Club. For over two decades, Ed helped manage the Hall of Fame Tournaments with his peers in the Valley.
Over his years as a golf professional, he has mentored and taught hundreds of junior golfers and aspiring Club Professionals. None more accomplished than our 2023 Inductee, the late, Matt Chandler.
Ed has always done the job right with old school professional values of hard work, dedication, putting in the time and doing the job right. A positive club member experience has always been the goal for Ed and his staff. He was always the first to arrive at the club and the last to leave. His longevity and dedication to the game of golf are the reasons he is the 2025 Hall of Fame Inductee.
