"IF YOU LIKE GOLF"
weekly online golf column
by
Chris Dortch
October 26, 2004
When golf course architect Bill Bergin was awarded the contract
to redesign Chattanooga Golf and Country Club, he was excited, but
also concerned.
Bergin’s excitement came from the fact that the 108-year-old
course was originally designed by Donald Ross, who is to course
design what Rembrandt was to art. Bergin’s concern? Imagine if
someone had bought an original Rembrandt and decided to add a
splash or two of color, then suddenly realized it was better the
way it was and called on a restorer of classic art to return it to
its original state.
Bergin’s job will be no less exacting. Through the years, much
of Ross’ design at the country club had been lost. Weather and the
passage of time had something to do with that, but a series of
renovations combined to rob the course of its Ross characteristics
and flavor.
"There’s not much Donald Ross left," Bergin said. "Almost none.
Therefore, this job is very exciting from the standpoint of trying
to restore Ross’ vision. But it’s also challenging, because we
don’t have it there to look at."
Bergin’s challenge will be different than the one Brian Silva
took on at Lookout Mountain a few years back. Whereas Silva had
designer Seth Raynor’s original plans to guide him, Bergin isn’t
so fortunate. Ross’ original design sketches have been lost. A
research trip to the Donald Ross Museum in Pinehurst, N.C.
uncovered the plans for Brainerd Golf Course, another Chattanooga
Ross design, but nothing on the country club.
Without the original plans, Bergin has had to get creative.
"We have aerial photos from the 1940s, which helps with bunker
placement, tee placement, and things like that," Bergin said.
"Then I’ve studied other Ross courses and gotten familiar with
other features that are suitable with this golf course. But all
courses are different."
Bergin will begin work in January 2005, and the course will
close until November. Several area golf courses have offered to
accommodate country club members during that time.
Bergin, who has built or renovated 25 courses since starting
Bergin Golf Designs, is uniquely qualified for golf course design.
A former PGA Tour player, he knows how good players think and what
challenges them. Bergin was also a teaching professional for
several years, a job that helped him identify with the average
player. Bergin learned the design business while working with Bob
Cupp—the designer of several respected courses, including Council
Fire.
Bergin’s redesign at Fox Den Country Club in Knoxville was well
received, and his Fairvue Plantations in Gallatin, Tenn., opened
just this summer, has already attracted 600 members.
Bergin’s goal for the country club, besides returning it to a
course that Ross might have recognized, is to make it playable for
golfers of all skill levels.
"The goal is more challenging course ratings, but more moderate
slope ratings," Bergin said. "Course ratings are based on the
scratch player. The slope is based on the average player. We want
this golf course to be challenging to the scratch player and
accommodating to the average player."
How will Bergin achieve that goal?
"Bunker placement is the key," Bergin said, "by always having
ground access into the greens. The higher the handicap you have
the more important the ground game The lower the handicap, the
more you play the game in the air. Frontal hazards have no affect
on good players unless they’re hitting a long iron. Frontal
hazards affect average players even if they’re hitting a pitching
wedge because of the psychological effect.
"We typically will do a challenging side of green and a more
bail-out approach. The higher handicapper can try to make bogeys
and stay away from trouble. The better player can challenge the
difficulty of the hole by firing at the flag."
Bergin plans to work on several of the country club’s more
undulating greens, including No. 2 and No. 3, having deemed them
too severe. He favors gradual contours over slopes.
"Four or five greens are so severe that they are just no fun,"
Bergin said. "Three are on the first four holes. That can get you
off to a very difficult start with the putter and can shake your
confidence."
At 6,392 yards from the back tees, the course is short by
today’s standards. Bergin will add length wherever possible.
"I’d like for golfers who play this course to have to utilize
all 14 clubs in the bag," Bergin said. "You don’t do that by
lengthening short holes. You do it by lengthening long holes. That
will spread things out a little bit. If you take a 375-yard hole
to 390, you really haven’t done anything. If you take a 430-yard
ole to 450, you’ve changed the game. The longer holes are going to
get a little longer."
Bergin’s preliminary plans include lengthening the par-4 8th
to 444 yards and the par-4 12th to 463 yards.
Other changes are in store. The par-3 11th,
originally designed by Ross to be a short par 4, will be
lengthened and used as a par 3 and a par 4. At 311 yards from the
back tees, No. 11 becomes a driveable par 4, if a player is
willing to risk hitting a ball in the water that guards the left
side of the green.
Ross’ original design called for the green on the par-5 16th
hole to be elevated and surrounded by sand. That concept intrigued
Bergin.
"It was an island green," Bergin said. "It was a complete donut
with ladders [to climb in and out of the bunker]. We’re going to
put that back."
Bergin will also soften the par-3 18th hole.
"We’ll drop the fairway and create a little bank on the right
side that will catch a ball sailing down the right side," Bergin
said. "I like greens complexes that really contain balls in the
greens complex area. It makes bogeys a little bit easier, but it
doesn’t make pars easier."
That last sentence sums up Bergin’s vision for the golf course.
"Again, we want players of all skill levels to enjoy the golf
course and be challenged by it," he said.
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