DALTON, Georgia (Jan. 18, 2021) – Duininck Golf announces the completion of its $3.5 million renovation of Dalton Golf & Country Club, the historic membership by invitation only private club founded in 1923.
The small group of forward-thinking Dalton citizens, who initially bought stock to form Dalton Golf & Country Club in 1923, would be pleased with how their club has evolved from its humble beginnings as a nine-gole golf course with putting greens made from a mixture of cotton seed hulls and oil flattened with a heavy roller.
Today members are enjoying a “new” golf course that rivals the best in north Georgia.
“It had been nearly 40 years since the last time any major improvements had been completed and the golf course was showing signs of wear,” said Judd Duininck of Duininck Golf.
Following detailed plans developed by golf architect Bill Bergin, ASGCA, Duininck mobilized in January 2020 and completed the project on schedule in eight months despite extraordinarily wet weather and the COVID-19 pandemic. The scope of improvements included complete renovation of the golf course and irrigation system, while improving the layout to make it more enjoyable for members of all skill levels.
“Their greens were well beyond their expected lifetime, the irrigation system needed to be replaced, and the course suffered from poor drainage on many holes,” said Bergin. “It was time for a major renovation. In determining the scope of work, we recognized that while we were tackling these items, we could give the golf course an entirely new look and identity. Our goal was to design a ‘golden age’ golf course that would function well for the next 30 years or more.”
Greenside and fairway bunkers were rebuilt with 41,500 square feet of Better Billy bunker liner and Tour Angle sand installed to improve maintainability and playability. Several putting green complexes were relocated and others rebuilt to USGA standards to enhance shotmaking and maintainability.
Greens were sprigged with TifEagle Bermuda. New laser graded tees were added throughout the course to add a new dimension of playability and shot making opportunities. All fairways were graded to improve surface drainage and re-planted with Tiftuf Bermuda. The renovation also included the addition of a new 650 head Toro irrigation system, pump station, and pond intake.
“The project couldn’t have turned out better,” said Mike Whaley, CGCS, Golf Course Superintendent. “The members are thrilled with the new golf course, especially with how well it drains, the quality of the new putting greens and how fun it is to play.”
“Duininck’s team was great to work with and although we had some setbacks because of wet weather and the pandemic their team never compromised quality or attention to detail,” added Scott Stuart, Dalton Golf & Country Club General Manager.
Duininck Golf is also working on projects elsewhere in Georgia at Green Island Country Club, Columbus, GA.
