_Jan/worththewait.jpg "Worth the Wait")
By Steve Donahue
Weather delayed the opening of The River Club by months, but now that it's online, the nine-hole facility is becoming an integral part of the community
It’s been said that good things happen to those who wait. That’s what management of The River Club—a potential golf course/practice facility model of the future—has discovered.
The Clarksville, Tennessee, facility’s clubhouse opened in December 2013 and its partially lighted, 30-acre practice facility opened four months later. However, wet weather delayed the innovative nine-hole course’s debut—scheduled for early 2014—until late September.
No matter. The community has welcomed The River Club with open arms.
“We’ve been really busy since the course opened,” says co-founder and managing director Greg Guinn. “We had 150 members before the course even opened. People have wanted to see what we’re all about. We’re unique. There’s a niche here that wasn’t being serviced. We fill that void.”
Unique is an understatement. The Billy Fuller-designed course’s nine flexible holes can be played in three-, six-, nine- and 18-hole loops, stretching to as long as 7,150 yards. Three holes (Nos. 1, 4 and 9) have two separate greens located approximately 30 yards apart. The other six holes feature large (8,000 to 10,000 square feet) double greens, which allow for two hole locations for players making two loops.
Each hole includes up to five tees; some have six. Every holes share a fairway, save for Nos. 9 and 18, which each have fairways but share a tee box. There are 12 greens and par varies, depending on the tee boxes played. For instance, golfers who play 18 holes might encounter a specific hole that’s a par-3 measuring between 140 and 230 yards on the front and as a 280-yard par-4 on the back.
Ownership’s main goal has been, and will continue to be, affordability. Green fees range from $30 (weekdays) to $35 (weekends) for 18 holes and cart. Nine-hole rounds are priced at $16 (weekdays) and $20 (weekends) with a cart. The club also offers an endless number of reasonably priced, personalized membership packages—all-inclusive or a la carte. “We think golfers need to have fun, do it quickly, and be able to bring their spouse and children out, so it’s all-inclusive,” says Guinn.
The River Club’s practice facility has also been a huge hit. Four grass tees cover 3.5 acres, and a short-game area features 15 target greens, chipping areas, putting surfaces with MiniVerde and bentgrasses, and white- and river-sand bunkers. Four staff instructors offer lessons, and a PGA-certified trainer provides golf-specific fitness services.
“We’ve had a steady flow of traffic on the practice facility,” Guinn says. “It’s standing room only when it starts getting dark.”
The course and practice facility remain open throughout winter, weather permitting. If it’s too cold, the clubhouse provides indoor hitting with nets and mats.
Next summer, Guinn envisions such programs as Ladies’ Night Out where women receive a group lesson and post-session glass of wine for $25. The club will provide loaner clubs for those who don’t have them, and instruction will focus on the fundamentals. Afterwards, participants will be taken out onto the course for a brief tour and playing time. Guinn also plans to offer Nine-and-Dine promotions, where couples play nine afternoon holes followed by dinner, and various junior programs.
Guinn’s ultimate goal is to introduce as many people to golf as possible, and a huge part of that equation includes children. Parents are urged to bring kids as young as age 3 to the course. If a child wants to hit balls, the club offers Smack Golf, where they belt tennis balls with oversize golf clubs while their parents hit elsewhere on the range.
“We’re the most kid-friendly place you’ll ever encounter, and that’s a big deal,” Guinn says. “Many courses, including lots of private clubs, don’t want kids on their courses until they’re seven or eight [years old]. We’re reaching our tentacles out to get these kids before they start playing other sports instead.”
The River Club may not have opened when Guinn originally planned, but if early signs are any indication of the future, it was well worth the wait.
Steve Donahue is a Connecticut-based freelance writer.