I had a chance to play 9 holes of golf with my son Jimmie on our recent jaunt to Atlanta. Jimmie wanted to try the newly re-opened public course, the Bobby Jones Course, not far from his house. The 9-hole layout had been completely renovated
“It was an 18-hole course, but they dug up the entire layout and made it a reversible 9-hole course,” Jimmie explained.
The city of Atlanta opened the first Bobby Jones course as a public course back in 1932 in honor of Bobby Jones, their favorite son. It is located just blocks from Downton Atlanta, pretty precious real estate. The course is really interesting. Each spacious green has two flags. The idea is that you play the hole from one direction one day, then reverse the position the next day. For example, if you were hitting from the Number One tee to the first green the first time, the next round you would be hitting to the green from a different tee box and towards another flag.
The course was in remarkable shape for a public venue – smooth greens, wide fairways and some tricky flag placements. A creek snaked its way through the middle of the layout and trees lined many fairways.
What impressed me the most were the tee boxes. Each was about 75 or 80 yards long with eight different levels. You could tee it up from the level 8 marker – where Tiger and Phil would hit from – or way up at the level 1 marker where their grandchildren would play. I picked the 4-level tee box and Jimmie shot from the 5-level. We had a fun round, though neither of us played particularly well.
The course, however, encourages players to play from a comfortable level. If you are a 25 handicap, don’t play from the back tees. Move forward where you can have an 8 iron to the green on a par 4.
Golf – said the immortal Bobby Jones – is supposed to be fun, and this course was indeed a lot of fun.