Salvation Comes to Nashvegas

[Mike Hendren]

I suspect Nashville has less classical golf course architecture than any city in the country.  Ross' Richland CC where Amy Alcott won the U.S. Open is now a subdivision and the only remnant of his Belle Meade is the routing, which is presently being altered by R. Jones.  Fazio's Golf Club of TN, Nicklaus' Richland CC and Cupp's Legends Club are 5's, plus or minus.  

Lo and behold, however, it has been announced that Gil Hanse will design a new course south of Nashville in Franklin as part of a 2,000 new urbanistic development called Westhaven.  It is my understanding that the course will be set apart from the housing.  

Please post if you have additional details.  

Regards,

Mike

[DTaylor18]

Wow Mike, I hope you're right.  I spent two years in Nashville while in Business School and was surprised at the lack of golf in the area.  Legend's was probably the favorite by most, with some liking The Hermitage.  Belle Meade was very nice too, but slightly disappointing.  Sounds like this would be a huge addition to the area.  Let's hope the houses are set far away.

[Joel_Stewart]

I'm not sure I understand what happened to Richland CC.  After the US Open, was the course sold and then Nicklaus built another course?

[Mike Hendren]

I'm not sure I understand what happened to Richland CC.  After the US Open, was the course sold and then Nicklaus built another course?

Correct, Joel.    The NLE Richland was in an incredibly central location ( 5 minutes from Vandy down West End Avenue) with the highest and best use being high end residential development.  Clubhouse and amenities might have been outdated - attended a wedding reception there (Chevy 6 was the band for all you Southern frat boys) in the early 80's but don't recall much.  Developers acquired a very hilly site on Granny White Pike to the south and worked a land swap.  The subdivision was slow to sell out and I believe the developers bellied up during the real estate recession circa 1990.   Nicklaus designed and built the new course which had initial problems with land slides.  I seem to recall a lawsuit.  Somewhere I have a photograph from the front page of the sports section depicting me retrieving my ball from a creek during the Met Open 20 years ago.  The older members weren't happy with the deal, trading an intimate, walkable Ross routing for a steep cart-ball track.  

Nice course, but could be featured on MTV's "I love the 80's" series.  

As for Westhaven, the job ultimately went to Art Hills.

Bogey

[Dale_McCallon]

So how is Westhaven?  There website is pretty limited on photos.

Isn't one of the holes designed by someone who won a contest thru Golf Digest..maybe even one of the clubhouse???