Forest Lakes Golf Club, Public, 229-382-7626
Forest Lakes Golf Club, located at 80 Moorman Drive in Tifton, GA, is owned by the ABAC Foundation and operated by ABAC. The 9-hole course is open from 8 a.m. until sunset seven days a week. The general public can play 9 holes on weekdays for $12 and 18 holes for $18; on weekends and holidays, the cost is $14 for 9 holes and $20 for 18 holes. ABAC students (with ID), faculty, staff, administrators, and senior citizens over 60 can play 9 holes on weekdays for $10 and 18 holes for $15; on weekends and holidays, the cost is $12 for 9 holes and $17 for 18 holes. Memberships are available. The par 72 course plays 6,970 yards from the gold tees over 18 holes. Forest Lakes features Tifdwarf bermudagrass greens and Tifway fairways. The course is managed by John Layton, GCS. For more information, call Forest Lakes at (229) 382-7626.
Spring Hill Country Club, Private, 229-382-3144
Approximately 135 acres of grazing land was procured and an additional 15 acres acquired later to hold the golf course, clubhouse, parking lot and other amenities. Under the supervision and direction of Ray Jensen, the present 18-hole course was designed and built. Many other people took an active part in the planning and design of the course. In fact, the back nine is a hodge podge of ideas that came from Ray Jenson, Osie Jones, Robert Trent Jones, Willard Byrd, Arthur Davis, and George Cobb. Mr. Jensen was quoted as saying “mob rule prevailed and creative financing ideas flowed freely”. These men should be credited for their bold ideas and innovative approaches that allowed Spring Hill Country Club to come into existence and also to be historically unique. Its first uniqueness was being built as a beautiful complete 18 hole country club at such a fraction of the cost normally assigned to such a high quality facility. Elston Johnson is acknowledged for the construction and design of the clubhouse.
Spring Hill’s course was designed with narrow fairways that wind through woodland with small sand traps strategically placed to test the golfers control off the tees and through the fairways. The greens are purposefully small to require pinpoint accuracy in the approach game and their exceptional surface will challenge even the most seasoned putter. Ray Jensen was also the owner of Southern Turf Nurseries and was at the forefront of turf development, having built and seeded courses not only in the U.S. but also in Hawaii, Puerto Rico and Japan. At Spring Hill he created the first 18 hole course to be completely seeded, both fairways and greens with the best grasses available at the time. These grasses came to be known as the Dwarf mutant Tifton 419 and 328 strains.
Spring Hill Country Club was officially formed out of the old “Tifton Country Club” in 1965. The name originated from the Murrow Springs and the fact that the clubhouse was built on the highest point in Tifton. In its charter it states that it was formed to provide facilities and functions for the recreation and pleasure of the members and their guests. It also states its commitment to encouraging and promoting athletics to its members and to the high school and college teams in the area. Lastly, it declared a commitment to be a supporter of the Sheriff’s Boys Ranch and other charitable organizations.
Golf Club of South Georgia, Public, 229-386-4653