Belle Meade Country Club (Semi-private)

2660 Twin Pine Rd, Thomson
706-595-4511; www.bellemeadecountryclub.org

STAFF: Gregg Hemann is the Golf Professional; Ted Shurling is the Superintendent.

PAR/YARDAGE: Belle Meade plays to a par of 72 with four sets of tees – Blue (6,533 yards); White (6,142); Gold (5,861) and Red (5,021).

COURSE RATING/SLOPE: 70.4/123 (Blue); 68.8/119 (White); 67.4/114 (Gold); 67.9/115 (Red).

ABOUT THE COURSE: Located 30 miles west of Augusta just off I-20, Belle Meade has been a quiet part of the Augusta area golf scene for 40 years. The course was renovated in 2005, with Augusta’s Jeff Knox overseeing the improvement to the course his father Boone helped construct. The changes mainly involved re-contouring some of the putting surfaces and work on the greens complexes, with a few holes adding a little yardage. The greens are more receptive to approach shots and the positioning and condition of the bunkers has improved, with the essential character of the thoroughly enjoyable layout having been preserved and enhanced. Belle Meade is relatively short and inviting, although it may not be quite as friendly as its very modest course rating and slope numbers would indicate.

The front nine is considerably longer than the back, and its open nature leaves it more exposed to the wind than the considerably tighter incoming nine. The terrain on the two nines also differs markedly, with the gentler front contrasted with some significant uphill and downhill shots on the inward half. The front nine features a group of very solid mid-length par 4s, with the short and narrow par-5 7th the most interesting hole on the side. Two of the fairway trees that made it a little quirky are gone, but others are still very much in play and require some precision for those looking to get home in two, or just trying to negotiate them with your third. The short but potentially perplexing back nine can produce a variety of scores, with its absence of length leaving it very vulnerable, providing you keep it in play. Trouble lurks in the form of tight tree lines, a few hazards and one devilishly sloping fairway that will leave you with a very testy approach shot. All in all, a course you will enjoy and leave with fond memories of some of the more unique golf holes you’ll encounter.