West Pines Golf Club Public Golf Course Review

July 8th, 2008

West Pines Golf Club (Public)

9090 Rose Avenue, Douglasville;
678-391-1600; www.westpinesgc.com

STAFF: Mike Schlueter is the Golf Professional; Jimmy Greenway is the Superintendent.

PAR/YARDAGE: West Pines is a par 71 with four sets of tees – Gold (6,832 yards); Blue (6,332); White (5,691); Red (5,066).

COURSE RATING/SLOPE: 72.9/131 (Gold); 70.4/125 (Blue); 67.7/117 (White); 69.1/122 (Red).

ABOUT THE COURSE: West Pines underwent significant renovations 2005, and the result is a much better course in several respects. Atlanta native Bill Bergin, a former tour player and club professional turned course designer, handled the renovation work, and the new West Pines is markedly difference from the original, which was known for its numerous blind shots and sharply sloping fairways. Bergin has altered a number of the original holes, designed several completely new ones and helped re-route the layout. What was the first hole is now No. 13, as a new clubhouse is located on the opposite side of the property from where it once was. Bergin added a considerable amount of length, with the course remaining a par 71 with five par 3s, including holes 10 and 18. With the exception of a trio of holes 7, 8 and 9, the new West Pines is by no means a short course, with the blue tees comparable in the length to the old back tees.

West Pines retains its rolling nature, with a nice mix of uphill and downhill shots. A few of the holes early on the back nine require some fairly hefty carries on either the tee shot or approach, but West Pines is not an overly penal course overall. The fairways are mostly generous and Bergin has left the approaches to the greens open, with the quality putting surfaces featuring moderate amounts of slope. The relatively hilly terrain will result in some testy pitch shots if you miss the greens on the low side, but the greenside bunkering is minimal, easing some of the short game concerns. The par 5s offer both scoring opportunities and potential problems, with the 13th an intimidating site from the tee with a lake that is not as much a concern as it appears. A pair of rolling par 4s require you to be ready to play on the first tee, and there are enough hazards in play along the way to keep you on your toes if you hope to post a score you’ll be happy with. The rates and the friendly atmosphere will ensure an enjoyable experience regardless of how you play, with the location just off I-20 making it easily accessible.

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