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Devils
Ridge Goes Private; Gates Four Not Far Behind
By KEVIN BRAFFORD
RALEIGH--One
favorite semi-private course in the region has gone private and another one is
on the way.
Devils Ridge, a John LaFoy design
in Holly Springs
that’s consistently been among the favorites of Triangle-area golfers, has
gained enough new members to go private. The course is owned by ClubCorp, which has two other Triangle semi-private courses
in its stable — Lochmere in Cary
and the Neuse in Clayton.
The decision to take Devils Ridge private was followed in
February with the news that it and the Neuse were two of
just three ClubCorp courses chosen from 210 in the
company’s ownership to be honored for quality, service and growth.
Farther south, Gates Four Country Club in Fayetteville
has completed a $5 million clubhouse and several improvements to the golf
course and has launched a major membership drive that concludes at the end of
March.
Members who join the Cumberland
County city’s
only gated golf community by the end of this month receive significantly
reduced prices on initiation fees. The goal, says
Chris Hawk, the director of sales and marketing, is to add enough members to
make it a totally private club.
“We’re definitely in a growth mode,” says Hawk. “I think you
can put this golf course and these facilities up against any.”
Since 1999, Gates Four has been managed by Maples Golf
Management of Pinehurst, which is headed by renowned architect Dan Maples.
Under the direction of Maples, significant upgrades have been made to the
design, maintenance and drainage systems of the Willard Byrd-designed
championship layout. In addition, Maples Golf oversaw the recent construction
of a state-of-the-art, 29,000-square-foot clubhouse that’s become a magnificent
centerpiece for the club.
“It’s a $5 million work of art,” Hawk says. “There are all
kinds of people out there that don’t know of the facilities we have to offer.”
In addition to the clubhouse, which features a main ballroom,
private dining area, lounge, conference rooms, fitness center, fully-stocked
pro shop, men’s and women’s locker rooms and more, Maples Golf upgraded the
golf course.
For starters, Dan Maples reversed the two nines, making the
old front nine the back nine, which now allows the course to finish with a
manageable par-5 that provides a wonderful view of the new clubhouse. The old
18th hole, now the ninth, was a difficult, dogleg left par-4 that
tested even the best of players to reach the green in regulation. Maples
softened that hole, providing a wider fairway and better landing area for tee
shots.
The designer also completed a major overhaul to the par-4
seventh hole. The fairway used to slope about 35 degrees left to right, sending
most tee shots down toward a creek on the right side of the fairway. Now the
large bank that comprised the left side of the fairway has been leveled to
create a hole that is more receptive to tee shots.
Other improvements include the completion of a cart path
system throughout the entire course, and the addition of drainage systems on
several of the low-lying holes.
To entice people to join Gates Four, the club has reduced
membership rates. Through the end of March, the initiation fee is just $1,000 —
a $5,000 break off the regular price that will return on April 1. Once the club
reaches 500 members, it plans to go private. For information on Gates Four Golf
& Country Club or memberships, please call (910) 425-6667.
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