New links set to open in summer
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The tee box on the fourth hole at Bartram Trail Golf Course overlooks a steep slope down to the green. Golf course superintendent Shane Schutte says six fairways must still be planted and landscapers will have to put finishing touches on the driving range.
Photo by Jim Blaylock
Shane Schutte can finally smile: mission is nearly accomplished.
The golf course superintendent at the Bartram Trail Golf Course, 5393 Columbia Road in Grovetown, has nearly completed one year on the job and is months away from opening the county's third public golf course.
"Everything is coming together nicely," Schutte said.
"It is definitely an exciting time. Everybody is just counting on me getting this thing green."
Bartram Trail will open in July and Schutte says the course is all but ready to go.
"The greens are doing really well," he said. "All the greens are in and done."
Six fairways must still be planted and landscapers will have to put finishing touches on the driving range."
Schutte said he is confident the course would still open as scheduled, with the construction crew returning the week after the Masters.
Bartram Trail recently hired Robby Watson, the general manager and head professional at Forest Hills, as the course's head pro.
Morgan Tucker, a groundskeeper at Bartram Trail Golf Course, mows the fourth green as he helps get the course ready for play. The staff of the new course wants to create a strong junior program and expects to be the home course of one or more of the county's high schools.
Photo by Jim Blaylock
"A lot of people are really excited about the course," said Schutte, who added that the course will have annual membership.
"Robby has a lot of connections in the area. I think we will get off to a really good start."
Another key belief of the Bartram Trail staff is to create a strong junior program.
"Not a lot of courses in the area cater to junior golfers, but we feel like that is important," he said. "Especially with being a county course."
Schutte added that several of the county's high schools have expressed interest in having Bartram Trail as a home course.
"That's definitely going to happen," he said. "I'm sure we will be a home course for at least one high school. With us being owned by the county, then we might have more."