Nationwide Tour Insider: Terps' Williams hits the links

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Photo courtesy of the University of Maryland

Gary Williams (left) with Chick Hernandez and Tiger Woods in 2009 at the AT&T National, where Williams served as co-host on Comcast Mid-Atlantic's show "Tee Time".

Gary Williams, a future hall-of-fame basketball coach, is known for his intense nature when patrolling the sidelines at the University of Maryland.

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He's intense on the golf course, too. But Williams admits that hitting the ball is actually stress relief compared to calling the shots for one of the top programs in the country.

"I'm basically somebody who plays from about April until September, but then I put the clubs away for basketball season," said Williams, who next week will host the Melwood Prince George's County Open in College Park, Md.

The Nationwide Tour has this week off, but Williams, who guided Maryland to its first national championship in 2002 and has compiled an impressive 649-366 record in 31 seasons, is looking forward to the Nationwide Tour coming to town.

"I think it's a great thing for the University of Maryland with coverage on the GOLF CHANNEL for exposure and for the charity that's involved, the Melwood Company," said Williams, who has coached at his alma mater for the last 21 seasons.

The Melwood Company helps locate jobs for people with disabilities.

Williams, who plays to a 13 handicap, loves the challenge golf presents. He used to play a lot of tennis but says his knees couldn't take it anymore so he turned to golf.

"I learned from Tom Davis (a former Iowa head coach) a lot about how to play the game and he was a great player who was a 6 handicap and he kind of got me started," Williams said. "Unfortunately my swing has a lot of slow-pitch softball in it."

Williams, who played basketball for the Terrapins in the 1960s, has participated in various pro-ams. Next week will be a little different, though, since he's the tournament host -- and it's essentially a home game.

University of Maryland

Gary Williams on the sidelines at a University of Maryland basketball game.

"It's one thing to walk into an arena and coach in front of 18,000 people but when you walk to that first tee it's a little different animal," Williams said.

Williams is serious about his love for golf. For the past two years he has been part of the Comcast SportsNet broadcast team doing a daily wrap-up show at Congressional Country Club during the A&T National.

He said that covering the PGA TOUR pros was a thrill and he is looking forward to seeing the Nationwide Tour pros up close as well.

"That was fun getting to know some of those players on the PGA TOUR," Williams said. "And on the Nationwide Tour those guys are just as good.

"It's amazing the way they can hit the ball. The players are so good out there on the Nationwide Tour and I think the true golf fans will come out and see just how good they are."

What also excites Williams is a chance to showcase the newly-renovated 7,030-yard tree-lined George Cobb-designed layout at Maryland.

"I know that Ohio State and Georgia have Nationwide Tour stops at those two schools and I would put our course right up against theirs," Williams said.

Also excited about the chance to play next week are Bobby MacWhinnie and Blaine Peffley, two former players at Maryland.

MacWhinnie is a 2005 graduate of Maryland in his rookie season on the Nationwide Tour. Peffley, who played at Maryland in 2006 and '07, was given a sponsor's exemption into the tournament.

MacWhinnie hasn't had the best of results so far, making just two cuts in 10 tournaments but he hopes being back in College Park will help.

"I'm really excited to be going back there to play and it's really a big deal for the university," MacWhinnie said.

The course has gone through changes since MacWhinnie played in college, so he doesn't know what kind of an advantage he might have. "I've struggled a bit and I'm just trying to put everything together," he said.

MacWhinnie was thrilled to hear that Williams is doing his part to promote the tournament and the University of Maryland.

"I met Coach Williams a couple of times when I was in school but I've never seen him play golf," MacWhinnie said. "But to have such a big figure at Maryland helping with this tournament is great to see."

This will be Peffley's first Nationwide Tour tournament. Since turning pro in 2007 he has played mostly on the Hooters and eGolf tours. However, he comes in on a roll finishing ninth, 12th and second in his last three mini-tour events.

"To be able to play my first Nationwide Tour event where I played collegiately is just unbelievable," he said. "I appreciate the opportunity and look forward to competing."

John Dell has covered golf for the Winston-Salem Journal in North Carolina for the last 16 years. His views do not necessarily represent the views of the PGA TOUR.