TLC for Bobby Jones Golf Course

Some of my warmest golfing memories come from playing at

Named for Atlanta golf legend Bobby Jones, the course opened in 1933 when memories of Jones' Grand Slam remained green. The layout offers some wonderful holes such as the par 3 No. 4, almost a replica of the famed No. 12 at Jones' Augusta National.

Back in my playing days, I enjoyed the quirky old course set among some of Buckhead's vintage neigbhorhoods. At the same time, I suffered golfer's purist distress while playing there. The course's ragged condition took away from the game's standards, especially the chopped up greens and fairways. Some of the crowd was that packed the course was more interested in drinking beer and driving their golf carts wildly than playing the game. And, the nutty design fed several fairways into one, making flying golf balls a constant hazard.

Now, a nonprofit group is seeking to bring a major upgrade to the old course, which has such potential. As attorney Marty Eglison told the Buckhead Council of Neigbhorhoods in a presentation last week, the Bobby Jones Golf Course and Park Conservancy seeks to create an experience memorable for fine shots and challenging holes rather than bad sand traps and bare greens. "It ought to be worthy of Bobby Jones' name," said Egilson, who represents Jones' descendants.

"This could be a spectacular thing for us and our families," Egilson told the BCN.

Roxanne Smith, president of the Peachtree Battle Alliance and a leader in the conservancy, told the BCN that surrounding neighborhoods such as hers, Collier Hills North, Collier Hills, Memorial Park, Springlake and Channing Valley support the renovation work. The conservancy, which is cooperating with the , also hopes to improve the adjacent , across Northside Drive.

Planner Bob Hughes of HGOR outlined the multisided project to the BCN. He said it could take 10 years to do all of the work. A key component will be revitalizing Peachtree Creek, which runs through the golf course, and Tanyard Creek. The impact of flooding can be significantly reduced by spreading the creeks' narrowly channeled banks and restoring a natural broader landcape, with trees.

Another key component is renovating the course's vintage clubhouse. Smith said in her presentation that the nonprofit began when concerned people realized that the clubhouse would be lost if something is not done.

Hughes cited the lovely features of the clubhouse, such as the frieze above the windows and the spectacular view of the Atlanta skyline. The nonprofit envisions the clubhouse being used for social events and public meetings.

Other aims are neighborhood connectivity, with a walking path completely around the property, adding to the current Tanyard Creek PATH trail, and improving the Memorial Park green space, including a tree audit. The entire area was the site of the Civil War Battle of Peachtree Creek in 1864.

Golf course designeer Bob Cupp, who is working pro-bono, gave a loving appraisal of the property. "The golf course has grown old," he said. "The golf course could be in a lot better condition than it is right now."

He said he didn't think many golfers would be upset with changes to the course. "If the course had grass and the holes were fun to play, they'd be happy campers," he said.

Cupp outlined two options: redesigning the course to smaller 18-hole layout, or changing it into a nine-hole operation with a driving range and practice facility. He said the Georgia Tech and Ga. State golf teams have discussed using the property for practice.

The American Golf Corp. now manages Bobby Jones, along wih Atlanta's other public courses. Eglison conceded after the presentation that American made improvements to the course when it took it over from the city a number of years ago. However, during the presentation to the BCN, he said that the group feels a nonprofit agency should be formed to run the city's courses. American Golf's contract with the city runs out in 2016, he said.

Smith said the group is seeking to raise $25,000 so it can receive a $22,000 matching grant from a foundation that wishes to remain anonymous. She said it has a $104,000 budget for a feasiblity study and a master plan.

A few years ago, a sign on Bobby Jones' first tee showed a smiling picture of  Furman Bisher, along with the message that the legendary Atlanta Journal columnist "wishes you a great round."

As the conservancy plans were outlined, I thought of that old greeting from Furman, with wishes that the course's refurbishing makes a great round more of a reality.