Isley thinks Pleasant Ridge course has bright future

 By STEVE WILLIAMS

 Good-bye Longview and Bel-Aire … make way for the new course in western Guilford County.

Pleasant Ridge Golf Course opened in September, but it’s not exactly new. It’s a new name for Bel-Aire, the course Red Brame opened in 1970 and remained part of the Brame family until the Piedmont-Triad Airport Authority bought it a couple years ago. The Brames leased it for a year but when it was time for a new lease to be awarded, Eddie Isley got the bid.

At exactly the same time, Longview Golf Course – another airport property – closed to make way for Painter Boulevard. Isley was head professional and manager at Longview.

The Pleasant Ridge Golf Course name was chosen because the course is located on Pleasant Ridge Road, just off highway 68 and near PTI.

“We’re were just trying to cut down on some of the confusion,” Isley said.

Giving the golf course an overhaul was the first order of business and Isley is thankful that his staff (including assistant pro Callan Jennings and superintendent Mark Maners) was able to make the move with him.

Aerifying the greens came first.

“We’ve already put fertilizer on twice,” Isley said, adding that fungicides and insecticides were used as well. “The greens have recovered nicely. I was fortunate that my superintendent and his staff all came with us.”

Isley said he wants to maintain the family atmosphere that was present at Longview.
“We’re just coming over here with a professional golf staff and working to operate it as a golf course and not lose the family atmosphere, which is how we operated at Longview,” he said.

Two ladies associations and a strong senior group have moved over from Longview and will merge with Bel-Aire’s regulars.

“I very much appreciate them making the journey with us,” Isley said. “And Bel-Aire had its own following of play. We want to try to keep those players here. As long as we provide them with a good golf course and good service, we’ll not only be able to keep those customers satisfied, but we’ll be able to attract new golfers.”

There are no plans to change any of the holes on the course but Isley did say that some new ladies tees are on the drawing board.

A full-service pro shop is offered and the restaurant inside the clubhouse is open under separate management.

“We’ve got a good location, we’ve got plenty of water here, the golf course drains really well. There are a lot of good things going for it. I think we can turn it around petty quickly. That’s what we’re hoping anyway.”

Isley, 47, has been in the golf business since his high school days at High Point Andrews. He worked at Oak Hollow and Blair Park, then was the Wilson club rep for a five-year period before returning to Guilford County and working again at Oak Hollow. He took over Longview in 1997 and he also operates Longview Practice Facility, which remains open. He hopes his schedule will allow him to resume giving golf lessons a couple days a week.

Isley thinks Pleasant Ridge Golf Course has a bright future, even though there will always be the potential of the airport deciding to use the property for other purposes.

“I’ve dealt with the airport since 1996,” Isley said. “They’ve always been very up front with me on everything that has happened and they say there are no plans for anything else at the golf course. They’re good people to deal with. When they hear something, they let you know.

“I think we’re going to be here quite a while. I’m thinking at least 10 years, hopefully longer than that.”