AnnBriar: More Than Just The Sinkhole Course

Dave Shedloski explains that the golfer-engulfed-by-sinkhole story from last week may have been divine intervention for another reason: to tell the emotional story of AnnBriar Golf Course and the reason for its name and creation.

It's also a reminder that there is no good reason not to stay away from the Hurdzan-Fry design, which is understandably but unfairly tainted by freak incident.

 The 18-foot sinkhole eventually turned into a yawning void in the landing area of the 14th hole, a par-5 that measures up to 509 yards. It took several thousand cubic yards of rock to fill it in, and the area is roped off as ground under repair until the warm weather returns and allows for the replanting of the zoysia grass.

After seeing that Milar told a newspaper that he might have trouble returning to AnnBriar, Russ Nobbe worries that business might suffer. "Will people stay away? That's the fear we have," Russ said. "I mean, reporters are asking us if it's safe to play here."

"That would be a shame if golfers think they can't go back," Hurdzan said. "People are afraid of what they can't see, but when it comes to golf, people don't stop playing even though they could get struck by lightning, and that's a much bigger risk. There are sinkholes all over the country. But people don't stop building houses or driving down the road."