The Bobby Jones Golf Course Foundation announced it started the renovation of the historic Bobby Jones Golf Course on Nov. 1, 2017. Built in 1932 as a tribute to Atlanta’s most famous athlete, Bobby Jones, the course closed Oct. 31 and undergo a total renovation, opening in the fall of 2018 as an entirely new golf experience and expanded facility.

The non-profit Foundation will invest approximately $23 million in the re-development of the new golf course and clubhouse facilities. The first phase of the project includes a reversible 9-hole course, championship course designed by the late world-renowned Atlanta architect Bob Cupp, state of the art driving range, indoor instruction building and short game practice area as well as a new maintenance facility. 

“This was Bob Cupp’s last project, and it will be an enduring legacy to both him and Mr. Jones, unique in design and playability. We want to thank the many donors throughout the State of Georgia and even beyond who have helped make the vision a reality, as well as those who have volunteered their time and expertise.” said Marty Elgison, President of the Foundation.

The Foundation is partnering with the Georgia State Golf Association and the Georgia Section of the PGA of America in the second phase of the project to create the “Georgia Golf House,” a new facility that will become the center of golf in Georgia. Those organizations, as well the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame, the Atlanta Junior Golf Association, and others will call the Georgia Golf House home and use it for their headquarters.  

Junior golf and growing the game will be a major focus of the new Bobby Jones Golf Course. The Foundation will work with the Georgia PGA and US Kids Golf to design instruction and programming for juniors in and around the community to foster interest in the game, and will partner with youth organizations like the YMCA to expand its reach. The Foundation is also partnering with the Shepherd Center to create a state-of-the-art program for adaptive golfers. The course renovations will include a 9-hole “wee links” of 50 to 70 yards, named the “Cupp Links” in honor Cupp, designed specifically for adaptive golf and junior golfers. 

The golf course will also become the new home of the Georgia State University women’s and men’s golf teams. The Foundation will work with GSU to construct a second instructional center and practice area that will be used by the golf teams throughout the school year, and by the Foundation during the summers for junior golf clinics and lessons.   

The most current industry standards will be employed to construct an environmentally friendly and sustainable golf course and facility. In addition, the Foundation is working in partnership with GDOT, the City of Atlanta and the PATH Foundation to create trails and paths that will circle the new facility and connect to existing trail structures.  

“The golf community from across the state has come together to make the new Bobby Jones a spectacular golf course and home of golf, one that will be open for all golfers to enjoy, and one I hope future generations will enjoy for years to come,” said Chuck Palmer, chairman of the Foundation.

The Foundation also announced it has appointed Mosaic Clubs & Resorts to serve as lead project manager of the redevelopment.Mosaic will lead a team of seasoned industry professionals including Wadsworth Golf Construction (golf course), “Bobby” Cupp (course design and master plan), SG Contracting (vertical construction) and Jim Chapman (clubhouse design).

“The new Bobby Jones Golf Course will be spectacular. It has been many years since a brand-new golf course came out of the ground in Atlanta,” Mosaic’s chairman Whitney Crouse said. “This one will not only be remarkable when it opens next year, it will be the result of the support and donations from many wonderful people and companies. It is truly a community effort to make this an enduring tribute to Mr. Jones and a golf experience everyone in Atlanta will enjoy.”

Advanced Turf Solutions has recently added four new sales representatives to its team: Jeff Kolbe and Joe Leimbach in the lawn and landscape markets in Chicago and Cincinnati, respectively, Brad Fry in the golf course market in Southwestern Michigan, and Brian Winka in the sports turf market in Missouri.

From the greater Chicago area, Kolbe is an experienced outside sales representative with 30 years in the industry. A graduate of Waubonsee Community College, Kolbe's professional background includes landscaping, customer service, sales and business development.

Leimbach joins the Advanced Turf Solutions sales team with over 15 years of experience in golf course management, product distribution and sales. Leimbach has a bachelor of science in golf course management from Morehead State University and holds a pesticide commercial applicator license for the State of Ohio. 

Fry is a former golf course superintendent with 20 years in the industry. He was previously the superintendent of Harbor Shores Golf Club. Earlier in his career, Fry was also an assistant superintendent at Broadmoor Country Club and Sagamore Golf Club, and operations manager for Olympia Fields Country Club. Fry has a bachelor of science in turfgrass management from Purdue University.

Winka brings decades of experience in turfgrass and grounds management and was previously the sports turf manager of Chesterfield Valley Sports Complex in St. Louis. Winka has a bachelor of science in agronomy from Missouri State University and became a certified field manager through the Sports Turf Managers Association in 2008. Winka is currently a chairperson for the STMA Certification Committee.

Students in Delaware Valley’s turf management program received an opportunity Oct. 26 to install a new irrigation system on the university’s putting green while interacting with industry professionals. 

Turf Equipment and Supply Co. irrigation sales manager Mike Hartley, George E. Ley Co. President George Ley III, Turf Equipment Supply and Co. irrigation regional sales manager George Skawski and HARCO Fittings’ Rick Shriver provided guidance and led learning groups as students installed pipe, wire and eight irrigation sprinklers, and dug and filled-in holes. The quartet worked with 20 students in the university’s Introduction to Turf Management and Irrigation Technology class. 

“I really like the fact that it was very hands-on and we were building an irrigation system with the help of industry professionals who provided us with the latest technology in irrigation,” junior turf management major Jarrett Kramer said. “By seeing the new methods being used, it will better prepare DelVal students. With golf courses needing irrigation upgrades, when we graduate we will be able to apply the knowledge and skills we learned in this project.”

Turf Equipment and Supply Co., Toro and HARCO Fittings donated supplies for the project.

Turfco has added a new engine to its WideSpin 1550 tow-behind used for topdrepssing golf courses and sports fields. With the Briggs & Stratton Vanguard 13-horsepower V-Twin engine, superintendents and turf managers get the reliability of a commercial-grade engine coupled with the WideSpin’s hydraulic system to get unprecedented control and consistency for a wide variety of operations. 

The updated WideSpin also offers a feature that automatically idles up when spinners are needed and idles down to reduce noise during transportation or near play on the field or course. 

“It’s a great new platform that further enhances the capability of the WideSpin 1550 to provide the consistent, precise, productive topdressing application that superintendents and turf managers desire,” Turfco executive vice president Scott Kinkead said. 

Additionally, Turfco has developed a new engine guard that will protect against debris thrown from the tires of the tow vehicle. 

Turfco developed its WideSpin spinner topdresser and makes upgrades to the machine from the input of superintendents and sports turf managers. The machine is a key component in equipment lineups around the world for its versatile, even application rates and large-capacity hopper that enable operators to topdress 18 greens in less than 90 minutes. Like all of Turfco’s golf and sports turf equipment, the WideSpin 1550 is covered by a three-year warranty.