1356 Highway 29 North, Newnan
770-253-9856; www.newnancc.org
STAFF: Louis McHughes is the PGA General Manager/Head Professional; Ted Meier is the PGA Assistant Professional/Instructor
PAR/YARDAGE: Newnan CC is a par 72 with five sets of tees – Blue (6,966 yards); Black (6,582); White (6,375), Gold (6,003) and Red (5,199).
COURSE RATING/SLOPE: 73.8/135 (Blue); 72.0/132 (Black); 70.8/129 (White); 68.7/122 (Gold); 70.2/124 (Red).
ABOUT THE COURSE: Newnan CC is familiar to the state’s top senior pros and amateurs, having hosted an annual Georgia PGA Seniors’ Division tournament. This month, Newnan CC will be the site of the Yamaha Georgia Senior Open, three years after it hosted the Atlanta Open. A number of the players who contended in the Atlanta Open three years ago will be playing in Georgia Senior Open, including runner-up Sonny Skinner. The course they will tackle is a classic traditional-style layout, measuring just under 7,000 yards from the tips with a stout group of par 3s (all are in the 200-yard-and-up category) and a 600-yard-plus par 5, but only one par 4 over 410, and it’s a modest 433. The absence of length on the par 4s will give the field a chance to hit a lot of short iron approaches, with the layout favoring accuracy and precision over power. With water bordering several of the fairways and some moderately tight tree lines, fairway woods and hybrids will be popular choices from the tee. Although most of the approach shots will be relatively short, it can be a challenge to get into birdie position. Newnan’s greens are on the small side by modern standards, with a decent amount of slope and plenty of tiers and ridges that can produce some testy putts from above the hole or across the ridges. The putting surfaces were converted to Champions Bermuda several years ago, and can get very quick, with their configuration allowing for some demanding pin positions. Water is in play on a significant number of holes, particularly on the opening
nine, among them a risk/reward par-5 18th, one of the two par 5s that will be within reach in two. Both the first and 10th holes – a pair of excellent but testy short-ish par 4s — also feature greens guarded by water, with the lengthy par-3 second also having water in play, making for a potentially problematic start if you aren’t ready to go from the outset. All in all, a solid, worthy site for the tournament and one of the most enjoyable members courses in all of Atlanta.