Atlanta Country Club in Marietta, Georgia, has completed a renovation of its golf course that was originally designed by Willard Byrd and opened in 1966.
Beau Welling and his firm undertook the multi-faceted work that included new grass, rebuilt greens, extensive bunker renovations and more as the club attempts to attract top-tier tournaments.
The club hosted the Atlanta Classic on the PGA Tour from 1967 to 1996. It also was home to the 1968 U.S. Senior Amateur, the 1971 U.S. Women’s Amateur and was the site of the first Players Championship on the PGA Tour in 1974, which was won by Jack Nicklaus.
Before the restoration, the course was ranked No. 13 in Georgia on Golfweek’s Best list of top private clubs in each state. It also tied for No. 171 among all modern courses opened since 1960 in the U.S. It had been renovated several times since it’s opening.
Welling and senior designer Scott Benson’s goal was to increase playability and foster a communal golf experience while modernizing the layout.
“Our team is very proud of the work we’ve done to reinvigorate both the golf course and the larger campus while preserving the long-standing ideals of which Atlanta Country Club is rightfully proud,” Welling said in a media release announcing completion of the project. “For many years Byrd’s design challenged the game’s greats as a prominent venue for championship golf. With this renovation, Atlanta Country Club will no doubt continue to be a true test for the elite player, but I’m even more excited about what this will do for the membership and their guests who will enjoy the elevated playability and sense of community that we hope to inspire with all of our designs.”
Of particular note, the par-3 third and par-5 11th holes were extensively redesigned. Other work included:
- All the greens were rebuilt with new 007XL Bentgrass.
- Hydronics temperature control systems were placed under each of the greens, through which water can be pumped to cool down the greens in the hot Atlanta summers.
- The fairways were switched from Bermuda grass to Zorro Zoysia, which should provide firmer playing conditions.
- Thirteen forward tees were added.
- Several fairway and greenside bunkers were adjusted to recalibrate strategy, and the traps received Bunker Solutions technology to increase drainage and improve appearance.
- All the irrigation and drainage systems were replaced.
- Several cart paths were rerouted.
- The practice area was reworked to include a range that is 40 percent larger, and a multi-green short-game area was added.
- A patio was added to the back of the clubhouse overlooking the 18th
“As a membership, we are excited that the exceptional golf and overall experience at Atlanta Country Club is getting even better,” World Golf Hall-of-Famer and three-time major champion Larry Nelson, a club member, said in the media release. “We recognized now is the right time to look toward the future and how this renovation can help us achieve our goals as a club, and we could not be happier with the work Beau and his team have done to cement our legacy as stewards of the game for generations to come.”
Check out several photos of the work below:
