Major Renovations: Some of the most iconic courses in Georgia, from the Northwest corner to the Atlantic Ocean, had major projects completed in 2023.
Featured in Golf Georgia Magazine: January/February 2024 Edition
Written by Stan Awtrey
No golf course can avoid change. Whether it's an engaging infrastructure system, the desire to rebuild aging green complexes or add much needed practice facilities, the updates are inevitable - even for some of Georgia's great courses.
Many of the state's iconic layouts have gone under the knife in the last 18 months and are eager to show off their updates. Here are reports on some of Georgia's best courses and what they've done to ensure they remain on the top of the list.
Idle Hour Country Club, Macon
When it was time for Idle Hour, an original member club of the Georgia State Golf Association, to begin its renovations, it turned to Georgia architect Mike Riley, whose idea was to lean on the club's historical roots.
Riley's goal was to make the green complexes and bunkers fit more with the heritage of the course, which opened in 1912. So, when Riley talked to the construction crew, he told them to make the shaping look like they were using a horse and plow, not the sophisticated equipment that is available today.
"It's a great piece of property, the contours of the fairways," Riley said. "Trying to emulate that is the hard part because with modern equipment you can make everything look so smooth and perfect."
Click to continue reading...
