Chip Sullivan is going back to where it all began -- at least to where the Roanoke stage of his professional career got started.

Sullivan, 44, said he has accepted a position as director of golf at Hanging Rock Golf Club in Salem.

Sullivan will succeed Billy McBride, who died March 23. It was McBride who hired Sullivan as a teaching pro at Hanging Rock in 1993.

Sullivan gave lessons at Hanging Rock for four years, "then I did something stupid and got my tour card," he said jokingly.

He subsequently took a position as the first director of golf at Ashley Plantation but continued to play in some national events and had the best finish by a club professional at the 2004 PGA Championship.

He was named to the Roanoke Valley Golf Hall of Fame in 2005 and won the National Club Pro Championship in 2007.

In January, Sullivan revealed that he had been dropped by Ashley Plantation as the result of budget cuts. He subsequently forged a relationship with Roanoke Country Club, where he practiced and gave lessons when he wasn't playing on the Nationwide Tour.

"I never wanted to play full time on the Nationwide Tour," Sullivan said. "It was just the only job I had at the time. This [Hanging Rock job] wasn't even on the radar screen, believe it or not. I didn't even know they were looking."

Joe Thomas was one of the Hanging Rock owners when Sullivan first came to Roanoke and remains in a position of authority.

Sullivan plans to keep at least a regional playing schedule.

"As they stated, they would like to see me put them on the national map [by] playing," Sullivan said.

"I'm not going to chase any of the big tours around. That's for sure. But I'll represent Hanging Rock in all sectional events and in the national championship and try to win that again.

"I'm thrilled. There's no way that myself or any of us can fill Billy's shoes. He was the best at what he did. But there's a great staff in place here that was very loyal to Billy."

Robbie Craft will remain on staff as a teaching pro.

Sullivan said the toughest thing about his move was leaving Roanoke Country Club.

"Roanoke Country Club was extremely welcoming, but it was a financial move as well as a career move," Sullivan said. "This is what I do best.

"You play full time on the Nationwide Tour and it's all about you, the golfer. I'm looking at getting reconnected to the Roanoke Valley."