The Jackson Country Club is proud to announce September 12th will mark the completion and reopening following the restoration and renovation of the Club’s golf course. Architect Kris Spence of Spence Golf has completed the work.
The multi-million-dollar project has upgraded every area of the Golden Age golf course that was built in 1929.
The upgrades include: a state-of-the-art irrigation system, new USGA spec green complexes with TifEagle Bermuda, new tee boxes with Zeon Zoysia, new fairway grass with TifTuf Bermuda, new cart paths, renovation of all greenside and fairway bunkers, and new bunkers and landforms have been added throughout the course.
Additionally, a new practice facility featuring a 7,000-square-foot putting green and a 1.5-acre short game practice area have been completed. A total renovation of existing holes 8 and 9 has also occurred. Number 8 has become a scenic par 3 and number 9 has become a dramatic 615-yard par 5.
The restoration has resulted in added length from the championship tees with a total yardage over 7,000 yards. However, for members, multiple tee box choices will result in a course that all skill levels will enjoy.
Spence Golf and Kris Spence have developed a renowned reputation for restoring and renovating Golden Age golf courses. Their work includes projects throughout the southeast and includes the Memphis Country Club, Holston Hills Country Club, Sedgefield Country Club, Blowing Rock Country Club, Roaring Gap Club, and The Country Club of North Carolina to name a few.
Spence’s intent is to implement the design features of the original Golden Age architecture while upgrading the course to fit the modern game.
Spence is very excited about the project and offered the following –
“The Jackson Country Club has a golf course that was designed in or around 1929 by a highly skilled golf architect with a pedigree from the Golden Age era of golf design.
“It bears all the hallmarks of a designer who was accomplished in the art of building strategic and classic design features. The elevated greens with distinct fill pad shoulders and depressed grass faced bunkers coupled with meandering and artfully designed landform grass ridges initially led me to suspect William Langford’s involvement.
“The architectural team of William Langford and Theodore Moreau were based out of Chicago and designed many courses in the Midwest region. While we have not been able to verify his direct onsite involvement, news articles and historical documents suggest Langford’s close protégé Hugh H. Miller as the likely designer or having been put in charge of the design and construction by Langford who designed Chickasaw Country Club in nearby Memphis a few years earlier.
“Either way, the course bears a design consistent with the Langford and Moreau philosophic approach. It is traditional in style following the lay of the land and takes great advantage of its rolling topography to produce a thoughtful, interesting and compelling test of golf. The upcoming project will reconstruct greens with new drainage and root zones, recapture lost putting surfaces along edges and in the corners of original greens, reinstate closer integration between greens and bunkers, restore width of playing corridors, open long course vistas through thoughtful tree reduction and expand the strategic placement of raised landforms and grass bottom depressions, all unique hallmarks of Langford and Moreau design.
“Upon completion, I am confident the Jackson Country Club’s restored course will be looked upon and respected as one of the best classically designed courses in the state of Tennessee, if not the southeastern United States.”
Construction was completed mid-May, and full grassing began the first week of June. As stated above, much anticipated member play will resume September 12.
“The restoration is a truly historic undertaking that we fully funded with no debt,” said Hunter Simmons, President of the Board of Directors. “We look forward to unveiling the enhanced JCC golf course for our members.”
Simmons anticipates that this restoration will lead to many inquiries for perspective members – “We do have limited availability for those locally and nationally that want to enjoy one of the best golf courses and historic private clubs in the state of Tennessee.”
To see photos and videos of our progress, follow our social media pages: Instagram @jacksoncclub and Facebook Jackson Country Club. For membership information please contact Sara Rowland at 731-225-4314 or membership@jacksoncclub.com or visit our website at jacksoncclub.com.
About Jackson Country Club: Located in Jackson, Tennessee, the Jackson Country Club is a private club that has a long and storied history dating back to 1914. The current course opened for play in 1929.
No private club in the state has hosted more Tennessee Golf Association state championships and USGA qualifying events. Since 1938, the club has hosted 45 TGA championships and USGA qualifiers.
Additionally, the JCC has hosted such legends as Walter Hagen, Ben Hogan, Byron Nelson, Patty Berg and Mickey Wright. The JCC also boasts a world class tennis program, swimming pool, member dining, and recently renovated wedding/event facilities that can accommodate groups up to 425 people.
