Golf: Home sweet home for Hemphill, Reehl

Richard Dunn

SANTA ANA HEIGHTS - No matter how frustrating it can get on the

golf course, Gregg Hemphill of Santa Ana Country Club looks at life a

little differently these days as a new father.

“It’s the best,” Hemphill said of his baby boy, Jack, born Nov. 18.

“It takes the sting out of taking bad shots. He doesn’t care.”

While Hemphill might still endure some sleepless nights with his new

pride and joy, he has come across some other firsts, such as winning the

2001 Santa Ana men’s club championship, giving Hemphill the ticket into

Jones Cup II on his home course Tuesday (1 p.m.).

“The best part is that I get to play my home course,” Hemphill said.

“I think it’s an advantage, but I don’t think there’s more pressure

because it’s your home course. We should have more people pulling for us

than the other teams, especially with Mike (Reehl). If he can’t draw a

crowd, we’ll never get one.”

Reehl, the Director of Golf at Santa Ana Country Club, started at the

club as a 16-year-old bag boy in October 1968, the same year Hemphill was

born.

“I’m excited about playing (in Jones Cup II),” said Hemphill, crowned

Santa Ana club champion for the first time in May. “When I won I thought,

‘Great, I get to play in the Jones Cup this year.’ I think it’s great to

get together with the other clubs and the other champions.”

Hemphill, who lives on Balboa Peninsula and joined Santa Ana CC six

years ago, added his name to the long and distinguished list of men’s

club champions at the oldest golf club in Orange County, when he defeated

five-time winner Boyd Martin in a 36-hole match-play final, 1 up.

Hemphill led the entire way, but Martin pulled to within one shot

several times, including with two holes left.

Three-time defending club champion Chris Veitch, who played with Reehl

last year in the inaugural Jones Cup at Newport Beach Country Club, did

not play in this year’s club championship.

Hemphill, whose grandfather, Ed, turned 100 years old earlier this

year and was featured in the Daily Pilot, learned to play golf early in

life. His father, Bryan, and grandfather taught him.

A 1986 Corona del Mar High graduate, Hemphill played college golf for

four years at William & Mary in Virginia, where he served as captain his

senior year.

During those years, Hemphill played mostly at Kings Mill Golf Course,

where he was a member and club champion in 1991, before quitting golf for

five years.

Once a child graduates from college, most private country clubs no

longer allow them to play golf on the family membership, and Hemphill

wasn’t interested in six-hour weekend rounds on municipal courses after

playing so many years of competitive golf.

“I just kind of needed a break,” Hemphill said. “But, of course,

that’s not hard when you don’t have a place to play.”

Hemphill, who works in sales for an up-and-coming golf apparel

company, was a 4-handicap golfer when he joined Santa Ana in 1996, but is

now a plus-1.

“I like to practice, it’s fun,” Hemphill said. “I’m not one of those

guys who hits a zillion balls. I prefer chipping and putting. I’m not

real technical and I haven’t taken many lessons, maybe a dozen in my

whole life. I play by feel. I hit pretty solid ... I think the short

game’s much more creative and a lot more fun to practice.”

For Reehl, who shot even-par 71 in last year’s Jones Cup with Veitch,

his climb to the top at Santa Ana included first working his way into the

Santa Ana pro shop in 1977 and becoming legendary former SACC head pro

Gerald Hall’s key man. In 1979, Reehl earned his PGA membership card and

was on his way to a successful career as a club pro.

Reehl replaced his mentor, the late Hall, as head pro in 1985, and has

been a favorite among members for years.

As a player, Reehl once held the Santa Ana course record of 64, until

Fred Couples shot 63 after making eagle on No. 18, while playing as a

guest of a member during a private round in 1992.

Jones Cup II, organized by Fletcher Jones Motorcars/Daily Pilot Club

Championship Series officials, features two foursomes teeing off

back-to-back with galleries in tow. A pre-event drawing is held to decide

which two clubs play in a group.

Mesa Verde Country Club is the defending champion with head pro Tom

Sargent and Pete Daley, while Big Canyon Country Club will bring Director

of Golf Bob Lovejoy and Ron Maggard, and Newport Beach with head pro Paul

Hahn and Vinnie Brascia.

All four amateurs are reigning men’s club champions at their

respective clubs.