Chattanooga Golf and Country Club

[RE Blanks]

Planning a trip to Chattanooga and am trying to figure out a #3.  Already playing Lookout and Black Creek.  Is CGCC worth a visit?  I hit my first golf ball on this course about 20 years ago, but I do not remember much about the course except it sits on a fantastic plot of land on the Tennessee River.  As a member of Athens CC I have no problem playing short Ross designs with tiny greens.  How close is CGCC to the original Ross design? Thanks

[Michael Wharton-Palmer]

I do not know anything about CGCC, but if you can fit The Honours course into your schedule, you need to.

[RE Blanks]

yes, the Honors is very nice.  Just wanted to mix it up a little.  I will probably eat at Krystal every night.

[CHrisB]

Chattanooga is definitely worth a look. Fun opening tee shot from the shadow of the clubhouse down to the fairway with the TN River on the right. Nice routing, good greens, a varied set of par 3's (the 9th was pretty memorable for its greensite), and a commanding view above the river. Both 9's end in par 3's and the par is 36-34--70. I doubt the routing is original--a few holes may have been altered to fit in the practice area (but maybe just the 10th).

Bobby Jones won the Southern Amateur there in 1920.

[michael j fay]

Alas, there is very little left of the original Ross design at Chattanooga.

The routing was altered to accomodate some clubhouse and pool facilities. The bunkers have been altered immensly and the greens have been "tweaked" by Gary Baird in the mid 80's.

The property is a great site. Except for the routing of the first hole and holes 8 through 18, Donald Ross has left the building.

[RE Blanks]

So I guess I better keep working on the Honors visit.  Maybe we will play at Brainerd.  

[john_stiles]

Check your messages for other ideas.......skip Brainerd unless it was a childhood sweetheart...

Maybe Council Fire (Bob Cupp.....near Hamilton Place Mall) or the Nicklaus' Bear Trace course (w/ new champions bermuda greens) at Harrison Bay.    One approach to Harrison Bay is the same I-75 exit (exit #11) as The Honors Course.....not far from downtown.

[Michael_Burrows]

The Farm Golf Club is 30 minutes down the road in Dalton, Ga. It is a Tom Fazio course and is ranked 89 among top modern course for 2003. They are having the Senior Amatuer there next year the week after the Mid Am at the Honors course. If you want a fun little 9 hole course there is The Quarry in Red Bank, TN  I think it cost $15 for 18 holes.

I agree with John skip Brained and Bear trace which best view is of a Nuclear Power Plant off the 2nd green. Brown Arces and Windstone are another two to skip as well.

[Adam_Messix]

It is my understanding that Chattanooga Golf & Country Club is currently closed or is going to close soon to undergo some kind of renovation project.  I did not hear this from a member but from someone in the know in Chattanooga.  I have not personally played there, but those people I know say the course has been changed drastically over the years.  

I echo the sentiment to avoid Brainerd.  The Farm is a really good alternative that has just undergone some renovation work in the last year.  Black Creek, Lookout Mountain, and the Honors are the three of choice in the Chattanooga area.  If you want to drive a bit, Holston Hills is only a couple of hours away and is excellent as is Cherokee.  

[Scott Wicker]

CGCC will close at the first of the year to extensively renovate/restore.  The architect is Bill Bergen.  The course had previously been renovated in 1984.  That project drastically altered the character of the course which had included many original Ross features.

My understanding is that the upcoming project will include tree removal, new tees and greens complexes, and the introduction (or possibly, recovery) of many strategic fairway bunkers.  I am not sure how close the renovation will follow the original Ross intent.  It might be worthwhile to go ahead and play there with the hopes of one day returning to see the changes.