Seven men, constituting Eagle Management of North Carolina, purchased Montgomery Country Club of Troy in March of this year and are nearing completion of major renovations on the 18-hole layout.

All work is expected to be finished and the full course open by mid-November, according to general manager Bruce Edwards, an Asheboro resident employed by Eagle Management. Kris Spence of Classic Golf Course Design Inc. of Summerfield, is handling current revamping.

Eagle Management is comprised of six Piedmont businessmen and golf enthusiasts, and international furniture mogul Hans Klaussner of Germany. Deva Reece, former head professional and minority owner of Pinewood Country Club of Asheboro and current resident of Burlington, is president of Eagle and general manager of Stoney Creek Golf Club between Greensboro and Burlington. Others in the golf management company, which owns and operates Pine Knolls near Kernersville and Stoney Creek in addition to Montgomery Country Club, are J. B. Davis, Jerry Bullins, Bob Shaffner and Don Wellington of Asheboro and Jerry Holder of Troy.

Purchase of the Troy course and subsequent takeover by the new ownership group was effective March 1. The purchase included all properties from the membership of Montgomery Country Club Inc.

Edwards took over day-to-day operation of the facility May 1. The long-time Asheboro resident is a popular, outstanding amateur golfer who previously worked at Asheboro Country Club and Stoney Creek. While Stoney Creek and Montgomery Country Club are semi-private, having memberships as well as public play, Pine Knolls is a public, daily-fee course.

The original 9-hole course was opened in 1953 and architect Russell Breeden added a second nine in the late 1960s. And, although much change has been initiated since Eagle assumed ownership, that change has been primarily in the greens and tees with the original design left basically undisturbed, Edwards stated. "Every green on holes 10 through 18 has been re-designed and rebuilt. The square footage is essentially the same but we’ve taken the extreme contours out, making them all more puttable."

Traps were also added to the back nine and some were extended. The most significant alteration, Edwards said, was converting the 10th hole from a weak par-5 to a strong par-4, making the back side a par 35. Overall, 10 through 18 were lengthened 133 yards, now measuring 3,296. This side was closed for play from early summer until completion of work in mid-November.

The front nine experienced only minor renovations with changes to the tee boxes on holes 1, 2 and 8, resulting in an extension of 19 yards. This side now plays 3,388 yards from the tips to a par 36. The course now plays 6,684 yards from the championship tees and 6,175 from the regular men’s tees. Also, there are four sets of tees on all holes, whereas previously there were only three.

Aside from work on the course proper, Eagle Management has added a bar and grill with a new kitchen, all connected to the main building. The original (main) structure housed the banquet room, kitchen and bar. The pro shop, office and storage areas were in a separate building but are now joined to the bar and grill, interconnecting the complete social and business structure.

Other improvements include a cart shed added to the rear of the main building, extended driving range and new putting green. A 2,320-square-foot swimming and wading pool has also been re-marbled.

Edwards enthused that "the town of Troy and Montgomery County have been very helpful and supportive in the change of ownership and genuinely appreciative of all the work we’re doing. Members have been understanding of the temporary inconveniences necessitated by these extensive improvements.

"It has been necessary to close holes l0 through 18 while the work was undertaken, but everyone seemed to understand. They’ve just been great throughout and we really appreciate that."

Montgomery County residents make up most of the membership, but the club has golfers from Stanley, Moore, Randolph and Guilford counties now on the rolls.

The course is open seven days a week from 7:30 until dark and requires advance tee times.