When 35 year-old Henry County native Dave Womack won the 2006 U.S. Mid Amateur Championship in Flagstaff, buy shop Arizona, buy it set the stage for him to achieve what most golfers can only dream about……to play in the Masters. (Augusta National Golf Course invites the winner of the Mid Amateur Championship to participate in the Masters Golf Tournament.) So, in 2007 Dave headed to Augusta. “That first drive down Magnolia Lane was an awesome experience and one of my greatest memories,” he says.
Dave tells of staying at the Crow’s Nest, a place where golfing legends like Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods stayed when they were amateurs. He talks of being in great pairings during the practice rounds; of getting to play with Fred Couples, Davis Love, III and Phil Mickelson. He hit range balls next to Tiger Woods. Two prized possessions and mementos of the experience hang in his game room: a beautifully framed photo of Dave with Phil Mickelson, and his framed invitation to play the Masters.
Playing the Masters opened doors for Dave to play other tournaments of the highest caliber across the country, such as the U.S. Amateur at Pinehurst in North Carolina, the Olympic Club in San Francisco and the Crump Cup at Pine Valley in New Jersey. He even had the opportunity to play a Pro Am once with Nancy Lopez, J.T. Williams, and Dan Cathy during the Chick-Fil-A Charity Championship.
Dave’s road to the Masters began when he was only a child. He took golf lessons from Edgar Taylor at the Green Valley Golf Club in McDonough at the age of eight. His parents then joined Eagle’s Landing Country Club, where he played up until college. He attended Georgia State University majoring in Business Management. “The members of Eagle’s Landing have pretty much watched me grow up. I have had so many positive influences out there.”
It doesn’t take Dave very long to talk about his family. “I’ve been so blessed,” Dave will tell you “to have the support and encouragement of my parents, Jim and Debby Womack, when growing up…. and now to have the support of my wife, Amber.” In 2011 Dave and Amber had twins, a son, Hayden, and a daughter, Harper, which has changed his focus in life. Dave said “they were 8 weeks early and in the NICU at Piedmont Henry for 4 weeks. That really put things in perspective for me.”
His family resides in Kelleytown and he now finds himself spending more time working and being at home. Dave works at McGarity Insurance in McDonough. He still plays about once a week and has already introduced the twins to golf to determine their level of interest. “The twins are almost three and Hayden already has his own clubs,” he says proudly. “I hope they will like the sport, but it will be up to them.”
The Masters experience is one that Dave cherishes. “It’s hard to believe it was seven years ago,” he states. “I am just so glad my family and friends were able to share the experience with me.”
Competing is not a driving force (pun intended) for Dave right now, although he does still participate in competitions from time to time. Rather, he enjoys playing the game with friends at Eagle’s Landing. His advice for young, up-and-coming golfers: “Surround yourself with good people. Work hard and have fun with it. You never know what you can accomplish.”