Golf, Laughter, and Legacy at McCallie’s Annual Duck Day Golf Tournament

When Nick Wilkinson ‘96 co-founded the McCallie Duck Day Golf Tournament with classmate Will Haisten 17 years ago, their reason for doing so had little to do with endowing scholarships or aiding fundraising.

"It was all about fellowship and fun and having a good time," he said Tuesday afternoon at Council Fire Golf Club before he and classmates Ryan Coulter, Will Haisten, and Michael Garvich headed off to start their round.

That is still true. But along the way, as the participants have grown—a whopping 184 entrants and 46 foursomes filled up this year's morning and afternoon starts—it has also raised $630,000 over those 17 years for scholarships, including an endowed scholarship for a Chattanooga area day student each year.

"And we hope to grow that in the future," said Wilkinson.

That should not be too hard with the ages of those who participate. This year's youngest player was Duke Richey '20, son of McCallie history chair Duke Richey '86. The oldest participant: Kenny Dyer '74.

Dyer said before taking the course Tuesday afternoon, "I feel like I am getting better with age—like fine wine."

Nobody has gotten better with age in golf than former English teacher and coach Ken Henry, who retired from McCallie in 2021.

"This is pretty much all I do now—golf and fish," Henry said. "I had not played golf in about 30 years when I retired. I had persimmon woods. I did not know what a hybrid was. My initial goal was to break 90 (over 18 holes). I did that the second time I played. I have got a 5-handicap now. I have a 1-handicap at Brown Acres and Brainerd, where I play a lot. Of course, I would not have that out here (Council Fire)."

Despite Henry's best efforts, his foursome finished 12th in the afternoon round, though he shot a highly respectable 13-under-par with a little help from the rest of his foursome—Joel Coffman, Jim Suddath, and Duke Richey, the teacher.

When asked at one point if the Richey in their foursome was Big Duke (the father) or Little Duke, the reply given, since Little Duke is significantly taller than his father, was, "Old Duke."

The other interesting thing about that foursome? Suddath was a lefty shooting whiz on Duke's basketball teams of the late 1970s (including the national title loss to Kentucky in 1978), while Coffman is one of the fiercest North Carolina fans on the planet.

When asked if he expected any trouble, Suddath, holder of the Caldwell Chair of Christian Ethics, looked at Coffman and said, "Oh, he will talk a lot, and I will pray for him when he is done."

When the tournament was done, Charlie Hunter's foursome of Clark Odom, Michael Schleger, and Robert Aaron was on top in the afternoon round with a stunning score of -22 (50) in the select shot format.

The key to the team's success? "Clark Odom was terrific off the tee," said Hunter.

Odom, who grew up in Tallahassee, Florida, said, "I love everything about McCallie. This is my first time, but this is a great event."

So will he be back next year?

Said a smiling Hunter, standing nearby, "He has to."

Not that Hunter's foursome was the only winner. Former McCallie golfer Gordon Hulgan '14 and his G4 Development team won the morning round with 21-under par (51). Chad Robinson won the putting contest, and Alex Burd '08 had the longest drive. McCallie parent Edward French (rising senior Fisher French) won closest to the hole on No. 12.

One notable and much-applauded change in this year's tournament was the introduction of food tents at various points on the course, providing hot dogs, hamburgers, Polish sausages, chips, potato salad, and condiments.

Of course, "Old" Duke Richey saw at least one possible improvement in these food stations for next year.

"I was a little disappointed," noted Richey, "that when we stopped for hamburgers and hot dogs, which were great, they did not have some Advil for us."

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For more photos of the 2025 Duck Day Golf Tournament, click here.