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Chip Gaskins

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Clifford Roberts and Peachtree
« on: October 06, 2009, 09:09:20 PM »
What was Clifford Roberts role (if any) at Peachtree.  

In several books I have read about Bobby Jones, he seemed to be very keen on establishing a club where he had more control (not from a dictator standpoint, just more contol) of the day to day activities: course set up, food, clubhouse decor, tournaments, membership rosters, etc.  

I realize Peachtree was later in Mr. Jones' life, but was this something he wanted because he wasn't totally happy with what Augusta National was becoming under Clifford Roberts or was it something he simply wanted because it was in his hometown.  Did Mr. Jones really not have that much control on what was going on at Augusta National?  Or did he really just want to do a special club in his hometown?

It sounds like a lot of the early members at Peachtree were simply the wealthy of Atlanta and not necessarily "golfers" at what was for the most part a "golf club" with little social scene or outside activities.

Also, Mr. Jones must have been very happy with what Robert Trent Jones had done with his renovations at #16 at Augusta National being he got the commission at Peachtree.

Peachtree is certainly one of the courses that ushered in the "Modern" era and it would great to learn more about its genesis/charter/goals.

« Last Edit: October 06, 2009, 09:24:05 PM by Chip Gaskins »

J_ Crisham

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Re: Clifford Roberts and Peachtree
« Reply #1 on: October 06, 2009, 09:15:59 PM »
Chip,   My hope is that Chris Cupit will chime in as he is very knowledgeable regarding the goings on in Atlanta. As an aside, he fired a hohum round there in my presence of 67 or so after a rather late night with as I recall 6 birdies on a not so easy track. Wow.  Arguably the best opening hole in golf is at Peachtree.                Jack

Bill_McBride

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Re: Clifford Roberts and Peachtree
« Reply #2 on: October 06, 2009, 09:57:33 PM »
Given Bob Jones' social prestige in Atlanta, it's easy to see why Peachtree would have attracted a number of non-golfer members.  Atlanta already had several social clubs - the Piedmont Driving Club, the Capital City Club, plus others I think - and a chance to dine in the same dining room as Mr. Jones would have attracted many prominent Atlantans.  I'm really sorry I've never had an opportunity to play there, sort of like Augusta National where I also haven't played.   ;D

Chris Cupit

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Re: Clifford Roberts and Peachtree
« Reply #3 on: October 06, 2009, 11:53:56 PM »
Here are just some thoughts:

When Bob Jones chose Augusta as the location of his course it was a huge blow to his Atlanta friends who assumed Atlanta would be the location for Jones' beloved course.  I am certain there was a lot of pressure to have an Atlanta club that could be enjoyed by his close Atlanta friends and be a source of pride for the still relatively young and up and coming city.

When Peachtree was founded in March of 1947 they had just a little over a hundred members and the present number is still under three hundred.  The list of names was largely before my time so I can't speak to their golfing abilities but I can supply some quotes from the club history published in 1978.

"...the Club was conceived with a very simple purpose in mind.  ...it's sole purpose has been a dedication to the enjoyment of the great game of golf and to friendship..."

"Peachtree was created to be a golf club and not primarily a social facility, although ample provisions were included for the sociability within its golfing environment."   

I think maybe the difficulty between Mr. Jones and Mr. Roberts is that they held very different ideas of how a club should be run.  Roberts was clearly an autocrat.  Jones notoriously hated "rules".  Again from the club history, "Peachtree is a club which has few written rules and regulations.  In fact, there may be fewer rules at Peachtree than almost any other golf club in America.  Bob Jones did not like "rules" since it was his feeling that posted rules are simply unnecessary among gentlemen and ladies."

The club history describes early members like Woodruff, Garlington and Jones' father as being avid golfers but i have no idea how good they were.  The  club does have a fairly established record of fine players from the 60's qnd 70's up through today--Jimmy Cleveland, Jimmy Gabrielson, Dan, Charles and Danny Yates, Fred Ridley, Frank Stephenson, Walter Driver, to current players like Jeff Knox, Carlton Forrester and Jack Larkin--all players with prominent state and national success.  It is a "low key" club but I have always remembered that there were a lot of good players.  The reputation of "old, rich guys only" is not really accurate.

I think Augusta credits Bob Jones with the idea for the changes to 16 in 1947 and R.T, Jones with the implementation of Jones' vision.  Clearly Jones and Jones agreed on many principles and the club history is clear that both Jones' were "on the same page" re what they envisioned as a course that had the flexibility to test better players and be playable by the other 95% as well.

The club has engaged in a massive capital program and invested a lot in the course.  Superintendent William Shirley has done a magnificent job and the zoysia tees and fairways, bermuda rough and bent greens are genuinely spectacular.  It is a special place for golf and I am sure Jones' Atlanta "fans" are proud and delighted to have it in their back yard.


Chip Gaskins

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Clifford Roberts and Peachtree
« Reply #4 on: October 07, 2009, 12:07:04 AM »
Chris-

Thanks for the info...That was helpful to understand the dynamics between the two clubs.

Chip

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