"IF YOU LIKE GOLF"
bi-weekly online golf column
by
Chris Dortch

July 5, 2005

The spirit of Donald Ross is alive at Chattanooga Golf and Country Club.

Whether the legendary golf course architect ever set foot on CGCC when it was redesigned in 1920 has been lost to history, but all that matters to Bill Bergin, charged with the task of renovating the course, is that he retains the look and feel of a Ross original. Those characteristics vanished—some thought forever—after a 1980s-era renovation that took the old course (it opened in 1896) in a completely different direction, but thanks to the efforts of Bergin and his crew, they are making a comeback.

“I think we’re inspired by Ross, influenced by Ross,” Bergin said on a recent workday at the course as tractors grading fairways and carrying sod rumbled all around him. “When you walk on this property, I want you to say, ‘Wow, that looks like it’s been here a long time.”

To restore the Ross look and feel, Bergin did his homework. He studied courses, particularly in the New England area and at Pinehurst, N.C., where Ross did some of his finest work. And he was able to look at old aerial photographs of CGCC, some dating back to the ‘40s. Those were particularly revealing. The resulting changes are too numerous to mention here, but when the course reopens to its members in November, here are some of the changes they’ll notice immediately:

• Drastically redesigned and re-grassed greens. Bergin has lessened the severity of several greens, and A1 bent grass, which makes for a denser, heartier, more consistent putting surface, will be installed.

“Before the redesign, the greens disconnected with the type of shot that was required,” Bergin said. “We’ve tried to make them more appropriate for the iron or wood you have in. A perfect example is No. 18. The putting surface had a big elephant mound in the back of the green. You could hit a beautiful long iron that was slightly left and long of the pin placement and there was no way to get a putt within 10 feet of the hole. No one could. Not Tiger or anybody. It was unfair.”

• Some of the changes Ross made to the course back in the ‘20s will be restored. In the old days, the 16^th green was elevated and basically an island surrounded by sand. “We’ve restored that,” Bergin said. “Not 100 percent, because you had to climb a ladder to get to the green. We don’t want somebody getting hurt.”

A pit in front of the 17^th green that was originally dug to facilitate moving timber to the river and had long ago been filled in will make a return, though not for its original purpose.

• Tall stands of fescue will replace mowed areas near tees and aligning certain fairways. “It’s a blend of fescues that we use,” Bergin said. “It’ll be a natural state, and for the most part, out of play.”

• Bergin’s own vision—he’s a former PGA Tour player who competed in eight major championships and also a former swing instructor—has added features to the course that even Ross didn’t envision. No. 11, which had been played as a par-3, has been lengthened, and the pond that guarded it reduced. Now it’s the ultimate risk-reward par-4. The back tees are located on the highest point on the golf course and offer views of the river, downtown Chattanooga and the rest of the course.

The adventurous better player can take a whack at the green and have a reasonable chance of driving it. But Bergin has left bail-out room on the right side of the fairway.

Bergin’s work has more than met with the approval of CGCC’s staff.

“I’m very excited,” said long-time greens superintendent Jeff Hollister. “I had high expectations. This has surpassed even my expectations.”

“It’s unbelievable what’s being done here,” said head professional Bruce Etter. “We’re taking the golf course and redefining it. We’re bringing your eye to the playing surfaces. I think our members will love it.”

*** Feedback ***
click here to give me your comments about this article,
 or suggest a subject for a future article