A Bit of New England outside of Atlanta....

[Anthony Butler]

... This past Monday, I was lucky enough to be the guest of our own Chris Cupit at his course, Rivermont Country Club, in Roswell. GA.

As some of you know he is coming towards the end of a 10 month renovation of the course. Having no knowledge of the course beforehand, I do know that he has a piece of property that is somewhat unusual in the area insofar that is quite hilly in parts of the property. In fact if you threw in a couple of rock outcroppings and some bent grass greens you'd think you were in Maine on several holes... (Sid I mention the beautiful weather last week in Atlanta? It was just like spring... in New England).

The greens are coming in quite nicely. and a stretch of warm weather should fill in the bare spots around the fringes. (Sorry I can't provide any photos, but with a 10 day old at home, it's hard to demand the digital camera for a business trip.)

Chris paired me with his asst. superintendent, a nice young man called Lucas who specializes in growing in courses after a redesign. Something he got hooked on after spending a summer working at ANGC during the interminable Fazio redesign between June and October each year.

I spent an hour with Chris after the round and found out that even though his family had some unfortunate times in Boston, he was more than happy to extend the hand of friendship to a New Englander.... (one for the golf historians to work out).

Many thanks again Chris for your hospitality and and everything else.

[Michael Christensen]

I go by there quite often...from the street, it looks like all the work is paying off........and I love the yellow wicker baskets ala Merion

[Chris Cupit]

Thanks for the nice review Anthony.  I'm glad you had a good time and I am glad Lucas could join you--you got a good tour guide in him!

Just to mention one thing, the greens are a 50/50 combo of A-1 and A-4 bent grass.  They are about 6-7 months old but we are very happy with how they have come in--there is a lot of grass on them now in preparation for our first summer.

They are a little slow now but I'd love to have some guys come this fall and enjoy the humps and bumps of the greens on Michael Riley's new course when they are really rolling.  

MR did a great job and I couldn't be happier with the job both he and Medalist Golf did--the greens are awesome and I'll try to get some pics up when things really green up.  

[Ken Fry]

Chris,

I remember in my time living in Atlanta, Rivermont was known for being quite wet and flooding often.  Were these issues part of the course renovation?

Ken

[Steve Curry]

"It was just like spring... in New England"

Anthony,

There is such a thing?

Steve BRRR

[Chris Cupit]

I think we did a great job of addressing the drainage issues.  On the greens, they were of course built correctly (something not done in the beginning) and we also installed a sub-air system in every green.  The greens, particularly being this young, drain almost "too well"!

We also added extensive drainage on many fairways--for example on hole 18 we added 3 24" drainpipes across the entire fairway (from creek to creek) at about 35 yard intervals.  What used to be the wettest fairway is now one of the driest.

We moved about 6 green complexes completely #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #11, #13 and we were able to make significant drainage improvemnets there as well.  We also added extensive drainage throughout the rest of the course.  

We re-did 90% of our cart paths and we have been able in the renovation to detour a lot of water from ever reaching the course in the first place.

Bottom line is that the course drains much, much better.  We also have instituted a very aggressive topdressing and aeration program for the fairways and approaches as well.  Too early to tell, but I think that will make a big difference as well.

If you played the old course, you have to check out the new--nothing like what it used to be.

[TEPaul]

This is interesting.

While going through Georgia last week I met Chris Cupit and I'm sorry not to have been able to see this golf course. Ultimately we talked more about the Rules of golf than about golf course architecture.

I did stop in to see two courses still in development in Georgia last week, though---Mike Young's Long Shadow outide the pretty little town of Madison and the Love Co/Paul Cowley's Rice Fields in Riceboro, Ga.

Let's just say I was very impressed by what I saw. Both golf courses look to be some really interesting strategies and architectural concepts and the architectural aesthetics of both are without question the very things that most all on this website seem to like to see and play. It's good to see architecture like those two happening, and it's good to see it in the stage of development they're in---it's an education.

My only thought on both is that the architects take care not to make them too hard from the tips. My advice was that initially they should think about printing up at least two entirely separate scorecards from two different tips on down and see what happens in play for a while. Frankly, I see that kind of simple process as an easy way of avoiding any initial criticism.   But it's important that they do two entirely separate and complete scorecards. To me this is a much more effective way of getting any golfer to pick his own poison and live with it, if you get my drift.

[Ken Fry]

Chris,

Glad to hear the drainage problems have been eliminated.  The photos on the club website of the renovations demonstrate a lot of change.  Hope to have the opportunity to revisit the course some time!

Ken

[Jim Nugent]

Chris, would a "My Home Course" profile be a possibility?

[Anthony Butler]

Chris,

Glad to hear the drainage problems have been eliminated.  The photos on the club website of the renovations demonstrate a lot of change.  Hope to have the opportunity to revisit the course some time!

Ken

Chris,

I'd bet the holes on the 'home' paddock on the other side of the road from the clubhouse would present the most persistent problems... It definitely received the most top dressing and drainage investment.

I never thought to ask what kind of grass you reseeded the greens with, although your asst. never told me to allow for the grain while putting...

[Mike_Young]

This is interesting.

While going through Georgia last week I met Chris Cupit and I'm sorry not to have been able to see this golf course. Ultimately we talked more about the Rules of golf than about golf course architecture.

I did stop in to see two courses still in development in Georgia last week, though---Mike Young's Long Shadow outide the pretty little town of Madison and the Love Co/Paul Cowley's Rice Fields in Riceboro, Ga.

Let's just say I was very impressed by what I saw. Both golf courses look to be some really interesting strategies and architectural concepts and the architectural aesthetics of both are without question the very things that most all on this website seem to like to see and play. It's good to see architecture like those two happening, and it's good to see it in the stage of development they're in---it's an education.

My only thought on both is that the architects take care not to make them too hard from the tips. My advice was that initially they should think about printing up at least two entirely separate scorecards from two different tips on down and see what happens in play for a while. Frankly, I see that kind of simple process as an easy way of avoiding any initial criticism.   But it's important that they do two entirely separate and complete scorecards. To me this is a much more effective way of getting any golfer to pick his own poison and live with it, if you get my drift.

TE,
I think you would have also liked Chris's golf course....I haven't seen it but am sure it would be good from knowing Mike R work.....
we are doing 2 scorecards for longshadow......I agree regarding the length issue......
come back I got you another case of 2 buck chuck.....

[Chris Cupit]

Chris, would a "My Home Course" profile be a possibility?

As soon as the course greens up and I can get some decent pictures, I'd love to do that.