ATLANTA, Ga. — (November 15, 2016) – The Bobby Jones Golf Course Foundation has entered into a 50-year lease with the Georgia Building Authority for the Bobby Jones Golf Course, Atlanta’s first public golf course. The course was constructed in 1932 as a tribute to Atlanta’s most famous athlete, Robert Tyre “Bobby” Jones, Jr., and in response to the overwhelming interest in the game generated by Jones’ success
The newly formed Foundation plans to invest approximately $20 million in a complete renovation of the facility. The proposed project will include a unique reversible 9-hole, championship course designed by world renowned Atlanta architect Bob Cupp; state of the art practice facilities, including a driving range and short game practice area; and a new pro shop and cart barn. The Foundation will also coordinate with the tennis community at Bitsy Grant Tennis Center to construct a new parking deck to service both golf and tennis activities. In addition, a number of the existing tennis courts that are in the flood plain will be relocated to the top of and next to the parking deck. There will also be two additional courts added to the tennis complex.
The Foundation is also partnering with the Georgia State Golf Association and the Georgia Section of the PGA of America to create the “Georgia Golf House,” a new facility that will become the center of golf in Georgia. Those organizations, as well the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame, the Atlanta Junior Golf Association, and others will call the Georgia Golf House home. The Foundation will work with these organizations to create an exceptional golf experience for all golfers, and will work with local partners to design instruction opportunities and programming for juniors in and around the community to foster interest in the game. The course renovations will also include a 9-hole “wee links” of 50-70 yards, named the “Cupp Links” in honor of Mr. Cupp, designed specifically for junior golfers ages 12 and under.
The new golf course and facilities will remain open to the public. The golf course will also become the new home of the Georgia State University (GSU) Women’s and Men’s golf teams. The Foundation will work with GSU to construct an instructional center that will be used by GSU and the public throughout the school year and by the Foundation during the summers for junior golf clinics.
The Foundation will utilize the most up to date industry standards to construct an environmentally friendly and sustainable golf course and facility. In addition, the Foundation is working in partnership with the City of Atlanta and the PATH Foundation to create trails and paths that connect to existing trail structures.
The Foundation will operate the existing course under a management agreement with Mosaic Clubs & Resorts until the course renovations begin next year.
“The Jones family and a group of private citizens who are passionate about golf and the legacy of Mr. Jones have been working for years to get this done,” says Marty Elgison, long time attorney for the Jones family and the President of the Foundation. “The support from the golf and philanthropic community for this project has been overwhelmingly positive because of the many benefits it will bring to the citizens of the City and the State and because of the special place Mr. Jones holds in golf around the world. The time is long overdue to make Bobby Jones Golf Course a superb golf experience, one that will continue for many years to be something all Atlanta residents and golfers can point to with pride.”
Chuck Palmer, a former President of the Georgia State Golf Association and the Chairman of the Foundation, says: “The game of golf owes so much to Bobby Jones. We can think of no better place to create a worthy testament than the facility bearing his name. This project will introduce innovative concepts embracing junior golf, providing a reversible routing reminiscent of St. Andrews, which was a truly special place to Mr. Jones, and growing the game that he loved so dearly.”