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 Par-7 finisher part of reworked Tot Hill plan
By LEO DERRICK
Although Tot Hill Farm Golf Club in
Asheboro sustained considerable flood damage two weeks ago, the front nine is
open and the back nine should be ready for play shortly after September 1,
according to a progress report issued jointly by general manager Douglas Knowles
and head pro Eddie Cox. The second nine is undergoing a restructuring so that
no temporary greens will be used and a unique par-7 is planned for the
re-aligned 18th hole.
Torrential rainfall in the North Carolina
mountains, as well as in the Piedmont, caused a damn break and overflow of Betty
McGee’s Creek, which has its genesis in the western part of the state. Greens
11, 13 and 16 were inundated and cart paths and bridges serving those holes were
washed out. The bridges have been repaired, greens are being rebuilt and the
original nine is expected to be restored to improved playability in about a
month.
Several new tees will be installed and one
will be the launch for an island par-3. Until work is complete, rangers will be
present to direct course traffic.
Cox and Knowles contend the new greens,
when finished, will be more player-friendly than originally. The 11th green, a
downhill par-3, will be raised to prevent a recurrence of another creek surge
and reduced slightly to 8,500 square feet from its original 9,500. The 13th,
previously a 4-tiered par-3, will have the front portion elevated, providing an
expanded landing area, reducing it to a puttable 3 tiers. The lower, right
portion of the green for the par-5 16th hole will be raised and played as
fringe, while the flat surface to the left will be made part of the green.
Knowles and Cox both contend these
alterations will definitely be improvements. The damaged part of the 16th, for
instance, was a hard-to-reach approach with little landing area, while the
planned expansion will be welcomed by golfers familiar with Tot Hill.
Cox was enthusiastic about the
arrangements being made to play holes 10 through 18 without need to use
temporary greens. “We can use shared greens on 10, 12 and 18 and quality of
play will not be compromised”, he stated. “Several new tees can be used and it
will not leave the impression of a make-shift situation that will diminish one
iota the enjoyment of our golfers.”
If he was enthusiastic about the overall
plan, he was downright giddy at the prospect of the par-7 finishing hole. It
will be 825 yards from the back tees with the member, senior and ladies tees
commensurately shorter. It will start at the original 16th tees, play across
the 17th fairway, and uphill to the regular 18th green. “It will be a great
par-7 finishing hole and one players will enjoy and remember,” he added.
While it is estimated the original nine
will be restored around October 1, the restructured version is nearing readiness
and will play to a par of 74 over the full 18.
A par-7 hole may be the only one in either
of the Carolinas. Jack Nance, the venerable and knowledgeable executive
director of the Carolinas Golf Association, reported that he and other officials
in the organization were unaware of any such hole in North and South Carolina.
There are approximately 600 courses in North Carolina and about two-thirds that
in the Palmetto State.
Cox and Knowles were emphatic in declaring
that the permanent changes necessitated by flood waters will result in decided
improvements to the course. “This is not in any way hollow rhetoric or undue
optimism when I say Tot Hill will be a better, fairer and more enjoyable golf
course when our repairs are made,” reminded Knowles.
And pro Cox, a veteran of over 20 years as
a head golf course professional who is intimately acquainted with courses in
this section of the state, added this rejoinder: “I’m not waiting until the
finished product is unveiled; I’m delighted with the temporary plans, our
ability to use permanent greens instead of temporaries, and the excitement and
challenge of a par-7 finishing hole.”
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