The smell of freshly cut grass, the sounds of rain droplets hitting bags of clubs, and the anticipation of seeing who will be crowned the Cumberland County Golf Championship winner. These three things marked the culmination of the 55th Annual CCGC event.

“It’s not all about winning the prize. It’s about companionship and friendship,” said 2023 CCGC Women’s Division Champion DeeDee Jarman. “Ever since I played against Lisa Harvey at the event 5 or 6 years ago, we’ve played together on a regular basis. Now, our friendship has grown. That’s why I play. It’s about two days [spent] with people who play golf and friendship. They can be lasting friendships.”

For many, golf is viewed as a dull and mundane pseudo-sport that lends itself to the older generation and those who can afford it. However, after a brief look into the golfing scene and talking to local Champions Billy West and Dee Dee Jarman, I can assure you that it is anything but.

Since 1968, the Cumberland County Golf Championship has stood as the high-water mark for golfers at every level. For those who participate, it is an anticipated gathering of friends, golfing rivals, business and community partners, and the rising stars of the local youth golfing community. It is a weekend of fellowship, fun, and friendly but intense competition.

Cumberland County District Attorney Billy West is the 2023 Cumberland County Golf Champion. This marks his tenth CCGC title in his three-decades-long golfing career. West’s first CCGC victory was in 1994, and his first at Gates Four Country Club was in 1997. Validated by his return to the podium a second time, West would continue to seek improvement as he pursued local golfing legend Gary Robinson.

It was in 2017 that West would tie Robinson for the most CCGC titles at eight. Five years later, in 2022, West would go on to break their tie in 2022 with back-to-back victories and set a CCGC record that will stand for a very long time.

“Golf is an excellent life skill, regardless of whether you play competitively,” remarked West. “You’re getting to spend four hours with someone, and a lot of times, whether it is the business world, the civic world, or whatever the case may be, golf is a part of that. To know how to play, and also being able to play well, I think is a good life skill to have.”

Concerning his role in uplifting the next generation of golfers’ Billy West had this to say: “I have to give the credit to my father for taking me out of the course when I was a kid. My father is 76, and he still plays, and my son is 14, and he’s taken up the game more recently and plays on his school’s team. Most of the time, when I do get the chance to go out and play, that’s my group.”

“The other thing I tried to talk with them [young golfers] about is how special the County Championship was to me. I’ve been playing since I was 16. Back then, they didn’t have a Youth Division. I remember counting the years until I could play in the county championship, and I’ve been playing in it since 1990. To be able to compete, and for them to realize they can compete locally and to be able to, at least for that weekend, be the best golfer in their division locally is such an honor and something I hope they’ll take throughout their lives. We want to pass that on to the next generation. I think the Youth Division is a good way to do that.”

CCGC Tournament Director and Up & Coming Weekly Publisher Bill Bowman has been working with the local golfing community to develop more opportunities to get people of all skill levels involved with the CCGC. During the past several years, the CCGC has added a Women’s & Youth Division, and starting with the 56th Annual CCGC in 2024, there will be a Handicap Division where local golfers with established GHIN handicaps can compete for Net Score titles in all adult divisions.

With Billy West’s tenth victory, this year’s CCGC has ended. With it, the conversation has shifted from one man’s triumph to how the next generation will fill the golf shoes of their predecessors’ and keep this fifty-five-year-old golfing tradition alive in Fayetteville and Cumberland County for future generations. The CCGC is notably the longest continuous golf tournament in North Carolina.

“Congratulations to Billy West on the tenth Cumberland County Golf Championship victory, as well as to all the CCGC Division winners. We hope to see everyone back for the 56th Annual Cumberland County Golf Championship,” said Bowman.

The 2024 event is scheduled for Oct. 11-13 at the Gates Four Country Club. For information, contact Bill Bowman at bill@upandcomingweekly.com or 910-391-3859.