"IF YOU LIKE GOLF"
weekly online golf column
by
Stan Crawley

June 4, 2002

Trying to get to the Valleybrook Golf and Country Club these days requires maneuvering around several road blocks and dead ends because of the road construction on Hixson Pike.

It really isn’t much different than the task faced by Gibby Gilbert III when he signed a 20-year lease to run the club starting on May 1. Gilbert and club manager Wes Gilliland have burst through numerous road blocks in the last month en route to returning Valleybrook to the facility it was almost two decades ago.

"Everything is going well,’’ Gilbert said. "We’re pleased with the new memberships we’ve acquired. It will still take a while to get the course the way I want it, but right now everything is better than expected after one month.’’

Several problems involving the previous lease holder have been solved. The kitchen equipment in the grill has been refurbished and new chairs are in place, along with a new coat of paint.

In the pro shop, construction is in high gear as new lights are being installed, painters are freshening everything and preparation is being made for merchandise to be in place in a couple of weeks.

"We’re making a lot of cosmetic changes in the club house,’’ Gilliland said. "On the course, we’re cutting trees, killing weeds and taking care of the greens, which are coming along great. We want to get the course and club house back to the way it was 15 years ago when I was a teen-ager playing the course.

"We want a friendly, family atmosphere like it used to be. We want to get everything back in excellent condition.’’

From May 1 until June 2, Gilliland said that 25 new members have been added to the membership roll, moving the number to 370.

"We have the best deal in town,’’ Gilliland said. "For $225 a month, you can become a member with no initiation fee. The $225 includes all the golf you want to play, cart fees and range balls. We’ll have an initiation sometime in late August or early September. When we get to 425 members, we’ll got back to an initiation fee.’’

Gilliland said a lot of people are coming back to Valleybrook, while many long-time members are also excited about the changes. A new fleet of golf carts will arrive sometime in late June.

"The members are positive,’’ Gilliland said. "We want to give everybody value for their money. Word has spread quickly about what we’re doing and the approach we’re taking.

"Some things are slower than we expected because of the road blocks, but everybody is excited about our direction.’’

Gilliland said the entire Valleybrook staff was retained, including professional Lee Cantrell and course superintendent Jeff Reed.

"We kept everybody because they are all good at their jobs,’’ Gilliland said.

Valleybrook will play host to a UTC football fund raiser on June 10, hold its member-guest in early August and the annual Red Bud in mid-August.

"We’re doing just fine,’’ Cantrell said. "All the membership is happy and so am I. The course is almost back to being as good as it’s been in a while.

"It’s too early to know how everything will end up, but I think everything will be fine. Everything will be ready for the Red Bud. We want it to be the good tournament it always is. Play certainly hasn’t dropped off. Valleybrook is a busy place, always has been and always will be.’’

Despite the road blocks.

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