New management led by Bobby Jones Links
Atlanta, GA – East Lake Golf Club is excited to announce upcoming renovations to the Charlie Yates Golf Course and practice facility located in the historic East Lake community.
East Lake Golf Club is also excited to announce that it has selected prominent Atlanta-based club management company, Bobby Jones Links (BJL), to manage the golf and food and beverage operations at Charlie Yates Golf Course as well as the renovation project.
“We are honored to support the operations of Charlie Yates Golf Course and bring our management systems, expertise, and resources in addition to our significant experience in golf course maintenance and renovations,” said Whitney Crouse, Founding Partner of Bobby Jones Links. “Charlie Yates and Bobby Jones were significant figures in golf, and we are proud to honor their legacy through this partnership.”
To assist in the golf course renovations, Charlie Yates Golf Course has hired Medalist Golf to oversee construction. In addition to converting all nine greens and the practice green from Bentgrass to Prizm Zoysia, the renovations will also include several tee repairs, cart path refurbishment, and a restoration of the practice tee on the north end of the practice range.
“We are excited to embark on these new enhancements to the course and customer experience,” said Chad Parker, PGA, President and General Manager of East Lake Golf Club. “Bobby Jones Links puts tremendous emphasis on service excellence. Medalist Golf has been involved with our facility for many years. Their familiarity with the course, our team, the neighborhood and our mission make these Atlanta-based companies the perfect partners.”
Work on the course will begin in late-May and will conclude by the first week of July when the grow-in process is finished. Upon completion, the course will offer exceptional putting surfaces that are much more heat, shade, and traffic tolerant. The new Prism Zoysia grass greens will offer a highly consistent putting surface year-round.
In addition to the golf course renovation project, Charlie Yates Golf Course has hired the architecture and design firm of Kuo Diedrich Chi to reimagine and expand the food and beverage operation at Charlie Yates and to renovate the interior of the Clubhouse. Work on the Clubhouse is expected to begin later this year and will be completed prior to the 2022 golf season.
About Charlie Yates Golf Course
The Charlie Yates Golf Course is located just minutes from downtown Atlanta, Midtown, and Decatur in the award-winning East Lake community. Owned by the historic East Lake Golf Club, the Charlie Yates Golf Course features a wonderfully conditioned 9-hole golf course designed by famed architect Rees Jones. Facilities include a driving range, chipping and putting areas, as well as a fully stocked Golf Shop.
About East Lake Golf Club
Located in Atlanta, Georgia, East Lake Golf Club is the home course of legendary golfer Bobby Jones and is the oldest golf course in the city of Atlanta. Since 2005, East Lake Golf Club has been the permanent home of the TOUR Championship, the culminating event of the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedEx Cup, with only the top 30 players on the points list qualifying each year.
About Bobby Jones Links
Bobby Jones Links is an Atlanta-based club management company. Bobby Jones Links’ partners and principles have broad experience building, owning, and operating more than 200 clubs worldwide. Bobby Jones Links expertise goes beyond just golf and country clubs with work on additional projects and amenities such as lodging, spas, marinas, and real estate development. Visit www.bobbyjoneslinks.com and get to know how Bobby Jones Links creates experiences all over the world.
About Medalist Golf
Medalist Golf, Inc. was established in 1996 with one goal in mind: To produce the highest-quality golf courses possible. Whether it is a new development, or a complete or partial renovation, our company strives to achieve courses that will make owners, developers and players immensely proud. That is because we at Medalist Golf take immense pride in our work.
With more than forty years of combined experience, we recognize that the completion of a top-quality course involves careful planning, hands-on management and continuous technical support. We are devoted to becoming the builder-of-choice in the golf construction industry, and to that end, we have established a reputation built on a dedication to excellence and an emphasis on the importance of a strong relationship with the architect and client.
About Kuo Diedrich Chi
Kuo Diedrich Chi is a full-service, international architecture and design firm that specializes in lifestyle design solutions for club, resort, retail and residential clients.
Since 1994, the three founding principals have shared a common history and long-held belief that exceptional architectural design is judged not only by its ability to inspire people and enhance environments but also on the relationships built during the process. They view extraordinary design as the outcome of effective listening, strong relationships and expertise.
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
Catherine Woodling
Director of Communications and Marketing
East Lake Initiative
cwoodling@eastlakefoundation.org
Katie Lentine
Marketing Manager
Bobby Jones Links
Katie.lentine@bobbyjoneslinks.com
FAQs:
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Why is Charlie Yates Golf Course embarking on this effort?
East Lake Golf Club and the East Lake Foundation have been involved with the revitalization of the East Lake community for over 25 years. Today’s announcement further establishes our long-term commitment to the Charlie Yates Golf Course and our loyal customers. We are proud of the work that has been accomplished to date and look forward to continuing to serve the residents of The Villages of East Lake as well as our partners at Drew Charter School and First Tee® of Metro Atlanta in the years to come.
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Why Bobby Jones Links? What makes them the right partner for this effort?
This special relationship began almost 100 years ago – and now continues once again.
Charlie Yates, winner of the 1938 British Amateur Championship and longtime Secretary of Augusta National Golf Club, also grew up playing golf at the famed East Lake Golf Club and like Mr. Jones, is a graduate of Georgia Tech. He was a close friend of Mr. Jones all his life. In 1980, Charlie was presented with the Bob Jones Award by the United States Golf Association.
Honoring the name and legacy of both Bobby Jones and Charlie Yates is integral in our partnership. Bobby Jones Links, based in Atlanta, has an impeccable reputation in the industry for service training and providing an elevated customer experience and workplace culture. We will leverage our operational expertise and systems and considerable experience in the Atlanta golf market to maintain the vision and goal of the Yates course – which is to provide public access to golf for the historic East Lake community and broader Atlanta population.
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When will Bobby Jones Links take over as management of the Charlie Yates Golf Course?
BJL’s contract will begin on May 1, 2021. BJL will hire all current associates and leadership at the Charlie Yates Golf Course with the intention of retaining all employees. For future career opportunities at Charlie Yates Golf Course, please contact Bobby Jones Links.
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What is the timeframe for the golf course renovation? Will the golf course be closed during this time?
The golf course renovation is schedule to occur between May 24 and July 1. The Golf Course will close Monday, May 24 and will remain closed until sometime in late June or early July.
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Will the driving range and practice area remain open during the renovation?
During the golf course construction, the practice facilities will remain open and operate under normal hours.
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What do the golf course renovations include?
- We will be converting all nine greens on the golf course plus the practice green from Bentgrass to Prizm Zoysia
- Tee box repairs
- Cart path refurbishment
- Installation of additional netting on the driving range
- Restoration of the practice tee on the north end of the practice range
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What are the characteristics of Zoysia grass putting greens?
Prizm Zoysia grass was developed in an effort to create a putting surface that provides a more sustainable green with increased playability, aesthetics and hardiness. The new Prizm Zoysia grass greens at the Charlie Yates Golf Couse will offer the following benefits:
- Superior wear and traffic tolerance
- Insignificant ball marking
- No grain – a consistent surface
- Outstanding shade tolerance
- Exceptional grass for colder temperatures, disease and insect tolerance
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Why do we have to spray out the existing turf on some tees and collars prior to the renovation?
Spraying out the existing turf in these areas make it much more likely that the new zoysia grass installed will not have to compete with the existing turf. This is a standard industry practice.
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Will there be a price increase for tee times and the practice area?
Charlie Yates Golf Course will continue to provide challenging and convenient golf to the Atlanta community. Bobby Jones Links will provide expert insight with pricing based on demand and product quality, implementing industry-wide best practices in tee sheet management and practice facility operations.
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Will Drew Charter School (DCS) and First Tee® of Metro Atlanta (FTMA) still be able to utilize the course during and post renovations?
Yes. Scheduled programming for DCS, FTMA will continue during the renovations and afterwards. Bobby Jones Links will be made aware of our commitments and they will be supported and taken into consideration with all operational planning.
