Historic Durham, N.C. club enters its second century with Kris Spence-led golf course restoration underway in its century-old Donald Ross course.
ALPHARETTA, GA – Bobby Jones Links (BJL), one of the fastest-growing club management and development companies in the industry, is pleased to announce that Hope Valley Country Club in Durham, North Carolina, has appointed golf industry veteran Aaron James as its new general manager. James, who has a strong hospitality and golf background, joins Hope Valley as the club celebrates 100 years since opening in 1926. He will also help oversee a major renovation of the golf course, which was designed by the legendary Donald Ross.
“Aaron James is the perfect fit for the general manager role at Hope Valley Country Club given his experience and vision to help guide the club into its second century,” said Bobby Jones Links Co-Founder Steve Willy. “Optimism for a bright, prosperous, and proud future is running high at Hope Valley and our BJL Support Center is thrilled to see the heights to which Aaron and the team take this club in the coming months and years.”
Hope Valley’s course has gone through multiple renovations throughout its history, but this one will be a golf restoration by architect Kris Spence, who specializes in meticulously restoring Ross designs to their original charm and challenge while optimizing them for modern play. The course will be closed in January and is expected to reopen in the fall of 2027.
In the meantime, James said the club is focusing on other improvements, continuing to enhance the member experience, and celebrating Hope Valley’s legacy.
“It’s an honor that they chose somebody like me to step into a role like this,” said James, who is originally from the Lake Tahoe area. “It’s an exciting opportunity for me and my family. It’s a place where I feel I could have a very long tenure and hope to have one at Hope Valley.”
James comes to Hope Valley from The Country Club of Asheville (N.C.), which also features a Ross design restored in the last decade. James’ resume also includes a number of hospitality stints, including work internationally for Club Med. He believes his mix of experience is valuable as the club continues to evolve.
The club kicked off the year with a big party in January to celebrate its centennial. That celebration continues throughout the year through its biggest events, and more importantly, through initiatives to carry into the next century. Although the restoration of the golf course is the biggest upcoming project, there’s so much more that James would like to see accomplished.
“Understanding the next chapter involves really understanding where we’ve been and what got us here today,” said James.
He said the staff has been empowered to get out front with the members and get to know them personally.
“To some people it’s a golf course, to some it’s home, to some it’s a refuge and escape from the world they live in outside of here,” he said. “Just like any other golf course or community, you’re always looking for a sense of belonging. And what’s made Hope Valley so special over the last 100 years is a group of individuals who are able to come together to create that special bond.”
Previous projects included upgrading the on-course bathrooms and making improvements to the clubhouse. And of course, the golf course, a par 70 that currently measures 6,720 yards. The work will include restoring the greens and tee boxes, replacing the irrigation and drainage systems, and renovating the bunkers. The fairways will also be converted to Zeon Zoysia, a more hardy grass for today’s climate, while the greens will be Tif Eagle. It’s expected to take 10 months.
“We want to give the course time to settle in,” James said. “We don’t want to rush it.”
The golf course project also gives James’ team opportunities to look at and emphasize all the other amenities at the club, including tennis and pickleball, the pool, dining, and other recreational opportunities. Already, the club has started to bring in a massage therapist regularly for members, and there are now weekly yoga sessions on the lawn.
“Bobby Jones Links has been great,” James said. “They provided us with the HR and back-office components, allowing us to focus more on the member experience and ensuring that, as a team, we are member-facing. By freeing the management team from the computer, they allow us to get out front, integrate with the members, and create an everlasting memory.”
For more information, visit BobbyJonesLinks.com.
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About Bobby Jones Links
Bobby Jones Links is a privately owned club management company that offers hands-on, turnkey operations management and advisory services to select daily-fee, private, and semi-private clubs. Based in Atlanta with an office in Scottsdale, the company supports more than 40 properties in 12 states and is currently assisting with $75 million of new golf course construction.
Visit www.bobbyjoneslinks.com to learn how Bobby Jones Links makes a difference for their clients and associates.
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