The renovation of the Chattahoochee Golf Club in Gainesville is now in full swing following its temporary closure to the public beginning in early May.
According to Rodger Hogan, director of golf at the Chattahoochee Golf Club, the renovation is on track for a September re-opening.
“We’re probably a day or two ahead of schedule right now,” Hogan said. “We’ve been pretty fortunate with the weather.”
The 2021 renovation is not the first renovation the course has gone through. In 2006, the course underwent a renovation which involved the removal of the original signature hole 17 designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr. That renovation also altered the course’s greens, which, according to Hogan, was somewhat problematic.
In December, Hogan told AccessWDUN that the greens became way too difficult following the 2006 renovation, due to large slopes.
The 2021 renovation aims to flatten the course’s greens to make them more playable, and it will also mark the return of the original signature hole 17, which will be the new hole 8.
“I think all of the golfers are going to be really pleased,” Hogan said. “I think each hole we’re creating is going to be better than the ones that we’re taking out.”
In terms of community feedback, Hogan said people have been positive about the renovation so far.
“Kind of surprising, I have not had any negative comments whatsoever,” Hogan said. “I just think everybody’s so excited to get the golf course back to the original layout … it’s not going to be exactly original but it’s going to be pretty close.”
The current holes seven and eight are being moved about 50 yards away from East Lake Drive, which will create 13 home lots out of what was previously Chattahoochee Golf Club property. The $2.8 million renovation is being paid for with the sale of those 13 lots.
Aside from the renovation itself, Hogan says one added benefit of the course’s temporary closure relates to the fairways.
“We’ve been able to aerify the fairways two times already,” Hogan said. “The course stays so busy in the summer with tournaments, we very seldom to aerify fairways, I think we’ve done them once in four years.”
In the meantime, Hogan said those who previously golfed at the Chattahoochee Golf Club have been able to play at other nearby courses.
“The Chattahoochee Country Club negotiated a deal with Achasta … and then we worked out for our men’s association to go to Chicopee Woods on Wednesday,” Hogan said. “The ladies association … they’re trying to play someplace different just about every week.”
While the golf course is expected to remain closed until September, the driving range is still open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. On Mondays, the range closes at about 5:30 p.m., and it reopens at about 9 a.m. on Tuesday for weekly maintenance. Hogan says a staffer is typically available in the pro shop from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. selling tokens for the range.
