News Taffy

Jonesboro.com is the city's best online resource for all things Jonesboro. For that reason, we like to share as much information as possible about local tournaments, courses, golf-related businesses and of course, local golfers.

This week, From The Fringe visited with Mark Young, president and CEO of the Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce. Mark graciously agreed to answer our questions about this great game we love, with the understanding that readers should know he does not consider it to be his forte.

Q: Who got you interested in the game of golf?

A: One of my college roommates got me interested. I got a late start!

Q:  What was the first course you played?

A:  Fairview Fairways in Blytheville. 

Q: What is your lowest score?

A: I am not a good golfer.  My lowest score was an 83 (many years ago).

Q:  Have you ever had a hole-in-one?  If not, how close have you gotten?  

A: I have never had a hole in one but have come close enough a couple of times to make it interesting.

Q:  What is your handicap?

A: Currently, I don’t have one but it would be high. 

Q:  Is there a course you would like to play some day?  

A: I would love to play Pinehurst #2.  I played a couple of the other Pinehurst courses when I lived in North Carolina.

Q: How many rounds do you play in a year?  

A: I only played 6 or 7 times last year. 

Q: Do you play with a certain brand of clubs or do you mix and match?  

A: I play with Titleist irons. The other clubs are an assortment.

Q: What is the one club you could not do without?    

A: I could not play without my sand wedge…. Unfortunately, I get to hit it a lot.

Q:  Favorite golf memory?  

A: Attending the 1999 U.S. Open in Pinehurst. 

Q:  Has golf been an asset to you in developing business relationships?    

A: Playing  golf does allow you to get to know someone and cultivate friendships.

We'd like to thank Mark for taking the time to answer our golf-related questions. Now, somebody needs to make sure Mark gets more than six or seven rounds of golf this year! I'm hoping I can help a fellow Blytheville native out and play a few rounds with him soon.

2011 Masters Tournament

In case you didn't realize it, we are in the middle of the Master's Tournament. The leaders at the end of the first round look like this: McIlroy and Quiros were co-leaders at -7. Yang and Choi were at -5, while Kuchar and Barnes came in at -4. As always, it should be a great tournament to follow. 

Thanks for checking out this week's From the Fringe. Please remember to send any comments or suggestions to me at info@jonesboro.com. Now get out there and play some golf!