On November second, the semi-annual Hammer Awards were held at the Cove Bar & Grille. Bill “Hammer” Hamilton was a guiding force for Bayside and the Carl M. Freeman Companies from 1999 to his death in late 2012. As the Director of Golf Operations, he worked with Jack Nicklaus and his team of architects to make the most of Bayside’s unique setting.
Hammer (left) with Bob Crowther (right).
Hammer took great pride in Bayside and strove to deliver the best possible experience for both members and visitors, stating: “The first thing we hope each player asks when finishing the round is, ‘What time can we play again tomorrow?’ … hopefully our visitors will be impressed by the challenge and variety of options, as well as the natural surroundings throughout the course.”
The Carl M. Freeman Companies instituted the “red jacket” as a tribute to Hammer’s love of the Masters and his beloved NC State, where he was a four-year letterman in golf and a lifelong Wolfpack fan.
Previous winners of the red jacket include:
Chris Veirs, Carl M. Freeman Companies, April 2013
Valle Bonhag, Carl M. Freeman Companies, October 2013
Rich Rishel, Carl M. Freeman Companies, April 2014
Rachel Allen, Troon Golf and Carl M. Freeman Companies, October 2014
Charles Tull, NV Homes, April 2015
Matt Snyder, Sposato Landscaping, October 2015
Gene Erway, Troon Golf April 2016
Bob Crowther, Troon Golf, October 2016
Jen Sliwa, Troon Golf, April 2017
We are thrilled to announce that the next recipient of the Hammer Award is Doug Phillips of the Joshua M. Freeman Foundation. Pictured below is previous recipient Jennifer Sliwa with current recipient Doug Phillips.
Congratulations to all of our award winners for embodying the Hammer spirit and making Bayside a special place for all.
