Source: Chattanooga Times Free Press (Tennessee)
Chattanooga's oldest and most historic golf course is getting a major face lift.
"We're going under the knife," said Chattanooga Golf and Country Club head professional Bruce Etter. "We're going to renovate our golf course, adding 250 yards and trying to restore it back to the original characteristics of the classic design."
In a recent vote, 78 percent of the club's members favored the renovation. Etter said "most likely" the construction will begin from mid-January to the first week of February, and the Riverview course will be closed until next November.
"We're redoing tees, greens, fairways, bunkers, everything," Etter said.
Course architect Bill Bergin, who came highly recommended from the United States Golf Association, will oversee the operation. He recently finished the Auburn University Club that is one of the highest-rated new courses in the Southeast.
Defining qualities of the renovation will include taking slopes out of the bunkers to reduce the wash and trying to help the course regain some of its old character after it lost 170 trees in storms the past few years.
Since the club was built long before the new age of golf technology, the current distance of 6,392 yards is not imposing. According to Etter, the changes will bring out the teeth of the old course again without infringing on its historic qualities.
"The biggest feature of the design is we're adding more risk/reward to the golf course with strategically placed bunkers," Etter said. "Our members are very excited about it."
Expansion complete
The new Champions Club at Hampton Creek in Ooltewah recently opened its 7,184-yard, 18-hole layout after expanding from nine holes.
The course expansion was done by Jay Morrish and Associates of Dallas. Initially offering some public tee times, the course soon will become strictly private.
"We do allow some unaccompanied times right now on mornings and weekdays," Rich Balthrop said. "We want people to see the course. The response has been overwhelmingly positive so far."
Carpet Capital coming
After being postponed in the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan last month, the Carpet Capital Collegiate Classic has been rescheduled for Nov. 5-7.
The prestigious college tournament is hosted by Georgia Tech and played at The Farm Golf Club in Rocky Face. The top three teams in the nation at the beginning of the year will take part: Tech, Georgia and defending champion Florida.
Ringgold resident Luke List and his Vanderbilt team will be in the field, along with the Tennessee team.