"IF YOU LIKE GOLF"
weekly online golf column
by
Chris Dortch

October 26, 2004

When golf course architect Bill Bergin was awarded the contract to redesign Chattanooga Golf and Country Club, he was excited, but also concerned.

Bergin’s excitement came from the fact that the 108-year-old course was originally designed by Donald Ross, who is to course design what Rembrandt was to art. Bergin’s concern? Imagine if someone had bought an original Rembrandt and decided to add a splash or two of color, then suddenly realized it was better the way it was and called on a restorer of classic art to return it to its original state.

Bergin’s job will be no less exacting. Through the years, much of Ross’ design at the country club had been lost. Weather and the passage of time had something to do with that, but a series of renovations combined to rob the course of its Ross characteristics and flavor.

"There’s not much Donald Ross left," Bergin said. "Almost none. Therefore, this job is very exciting from the standpoint of trying to restore Ross’ vision. But it’s also challenging, because we don’t have it there to look at."

Bergin’s challenge will be different than the one Brian Silva took on at Lookout Mountain a few years back. Whereas Silva had designer Seth Raynor’s original plans to guide him, Bergin isn’t so fortunate. Ross’ original design sketches have been lost. A research trip to the Donald Ross Museum in Pinehurst, N.C. uncovered the plans for Brainerd Golf Course, another Chattanooga Ross design, but nothing on the country club.

Without the original plans, Bergin has had to get creative.

"We have aerial photos from the 1940s, which helps with bunker placement, tee placement, and things like that," Bergin said. "Then I’ve studied other Ross courses and gotten familiar with other features that are suitable with this golf course. But all courses are different."

Bergin will begin work in January 2005, and the course will close until November. Several area golf courses have offered to accommodate country club members during that time.

Bergin, who has built or renovated 25 courses since starting Bergin Golf Designs, is uniquely qualified for golf course design. A former PGA Tour player, he knows how good players think and what challenges them. Bergin was also a teaching professional for several years, a job that helped him identify with the average player. Bergin learned the design business while working with Bob Cupp—the designer of several respected courses, including Council Fire.

Bergin’s redesign at Fox Den Country Club in Knoxville was well received, and his Fairvue Plantations in Gallatin, Tenn., opened just this summer, has already attracted 600 members.

Bergin’s goal for the country club, besides returning it to a course that Ross might have recognized, is to make it playable for golfers of all skill levels.

"The goal is more challenging course ratings, but more moderate slope ratings," Bergin said. "Course ratings are based on the scratch player. The slope is based on the average player. We want this golf course to be challenging to the scratch player and accommodating to the average player."

How will Bergin achieve that goal?

"Bunker placement is the key," Bergin said, "by always having ground access into the greens. The higher the handicap you have the more important the ground game The lower the handicap, the more you play the game in the air. Frontal hazards have no affect on good players unless they’re hitting a long iron. Frontal hazards affect average players even if they’re hitting a pitching wedge because of the psychological effect.

"We typically will do a challenging side of green and a more bail-out approach. The higher handicapper can try to make bogeys and stay away from trouble. The better player can challenge the difficulty of the hole by firing at the flag."

Bergin plans to work on several of the country club’s more undulating greens, including No. 2 and No. 3, having deemed them too severe. He favors gradual contours over slopes.

"Four or five greens are so severe that they are just no fun," Bergin said. "Three are on the first four holes. That can get you off to a very difficult start with the putter and can shake your confidence."

At 6,392 yards from the back tees, the course is short by today’s standards. Bergin will add length wherever possible.

"I’d like for golfers who play this course to have to utilize all 14 clubs in the bag," Bergin said. "You don’t do that by lengthening short holes. You do it by lengthening long holes. That will spread things out a little bit. If you take a 375-yard hole to 390, you really haven’t done anything. If you take a 430-yard ole to 450, you’ve changed the game. The longer holes are going to get a little longer."

Bergin’s preliminary plans include lengthening the par-4 8^th to 444 yards and the par-4 12^th to 463 yards.

Other changes are in store. The par-3 11^th, originally designed by Ross to be a short par 4, will be lengthened and used as a par 3 and a par 4. At 311 yards from the back tees, No. 11 becomes a driveable par 4, if a player is willing to risk hitting a ball in the water that guards the left side of the green.

Ross’ original design called for the green on the par-5 16^th hole to be elevated and surrounded by sand. That concept intrigued Bergin.

"It was an island green," Bergin said. "It was a complete donut with ladders [to climb in and out of the bunker]. We’re going to put that back."

Bergin will also soften the par-3 18^th hole.

"We’ll drop the fairway and create a little bank on the right side that will catch a ball sailing down the right side," Bergin said. "I like greens complexes that really contain balls in the greens complex area. It makes bogeys a little bit easier, but it doesn’t make pars easier."

That last sentence sums up Bergin’s vision for the golf course.

"Again, we want players of all skill levels to enjoy the golf course and be challenged by it," he said.

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