Editorial: Jones Creek golf course will never return
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Never say never, if an Invester came in and told the homeowners he would redo the course and start it back up, if they joined membership at some reasonable amount, like 100 members at $10,000 a year, or 200 members at $5,000 a year, 400 members at 2,500 a year, with a 10-year minimum sign up for the address not just the member. That may be enough to change the high cost into a possibility of an investor. These number are just off the top of my head estimate, and it may take twice that, because they have to be assured, they could make a profit. Herbert will get his $500,000 to $750,00 too, I guess.
Turn the golf course into a disc golf course. Disc golf is one of the fastest growing sports in the world, perhaps second fastest right behind pickle ball. The CSRA, sometimes called the Mecca of disc golf, is home to several world championship level courses and continues to host professional level tournaments each year. Jones Creek could easily hold two to three Championship level disc golf courses that many would pay to play. This doesn’t solve the club house issue, although a portion could be carved out for a high level pro shop. To get an idea of what Jones Creek could be, drive out to Appling and check our the International Disc Golf Center (IDGC) located in Wildwood park. The IDGC has three championship level courses, the Disc Golf museum, and a great pro shop. Link to IDGC: https://www.pdga.com/IDGC
was this article written by Mark Herbert (guy who bought the clubhouse)? article mentions 3 other courses in town that negate the need for jones creek. article doesn’t mention that 2 out of the 3 they mention are super private that no one except members can play.
I do not think so. My response to a previous article, while not as deeply researched as this one, was in complete sync with this article. I am not Mark Herbert either. One of those courses you mention, benefitted from the stormwater fee monies, that Jones Creek should’ve rightfully enjoyed as well. Once the lawsuit failed, it was done. I like the Disc Golf idea, but I wonder if a Developer can be found, and if Jones Creek would entertain that idea.
It’s all about the feasibility and demand. Golfers in Col County have plenty of options public or private. Would another course pull enough people from those other 3 to be sustainable. The answer is no.
WONDER WHY OWNS THE LAND THAT IS THE ACTUAL GOLF COURSE ? MAYBE BUILD SOME NICE TOWN HOMES WOULD BE BETTER THAT THE ALTERNATIVE….ACTUALLY WHAT ARE THE ALTERNATIVES? DISC GOLF? RABBIT HUNTING GROUNDS? GREENE SPACE MAY BE BEST ALTERNATIVE….PLANT TREES-HIRE GROUNDS KEEPER
Pickle Ball?
BEST SOLUTION FOR CLUBHOUSE? to me a Jones Creek resident gathering place….must have restaurant in that CC does not permit watering holes that have primary revenue resource of alcohol.
I disagree with the premise of the editorial and believe it is fundamentally flawed in that it disregards the topography of the course and advocates that our area needs another standard 18-hole track be it private or public. I believe a redesigned Jones Creek modeled after the No. 2 Course at Madinah Country Club would be popular with high handicappers, seniors, ladies, and juniors. The crux of the proposal would be that the course would be fun to play for golfers of all abilities and centered around the “Golf for Life” program.
Good point. I played Jones Creek two times and did not enjoy either round, mainly due to the layout and topography. The golf cart could barely climb some of the hills. It was never anyone’s top five choices of which course to play.
I researched the number of people playing golf. About 30 million people in the US over 6 years old were playing in 2006 and only 25 million in 2021. Currently that number has returned to about 29 million. COVID probably was partly responsible for that decrease and the soaring demand for tee times and golf equipment is mostly recovery and not growth. Golf participation is growing mostly in Asia and the UK. Restoring and reopening another golf course in Augusta requires a forward-looking assessment of the future golf course customer base and existing competing courses. Some new courses just opened in Aiken County and it doesn’t seem that hard to get tee times during Masters week anymore. Unlike ARC’s officials, private investors don’t believe that if you build it, they will come.