Golf Club Atlas
GolfClubAtlas.com => Golf Course Architecture => Topic started by: Mac Plumart on November 03, 2010, 05:30:28 PM
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Due to the generosity and hospitality of Chris Cupit, I got the opportunity to take some friends out to Chris’ club, Rivermont, in the northern Atlanta ‘burbs and meet some fellow GCA’ers yesterday. As the day progressed, it ended up being one of my favorite golfing experiences to date.
For starters, our group was treated to a description of the course by Chris and, the sadistic golf course architect, Mike Riley. They described some of the nuances of the course, like the redesign of hole #5, how to approach hole 8, and the punchbowl on 9. And what became apparent through their talk was that there was more to this course than initially meets the eye…which, as we know, is what is what good golf course architecture is all about.
I had the opportunity to play the course previously with Bryan Icenhower, a member, and I had the great privilege of seeing Mike and Chris goofing around hard at work redesigning holes 7, 8, and 9 and supervising the construction. In fact, I posted a bit on this previously. http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,45238.70/ (http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,45238.70/)
And just like their talk illustrated, to unlock all the mysteries of Rivermont you need to play the course many times.
#1—is a great opening hole. From the white tees (one up from the tips) the hole is a 378 yard par 4 that kind of eases the golfer into the round. The drive is not threatening and the green is somewhat protected by a bunkers and a creek bisects the fairway somewhat near the green. The green has some movement to it, but not too much. Nice opener.
#2—is one of the best holes I’ve played. It is a 517 yard par 5 with a few different options on how to attack the green. And oh that green!!! MAGNIFICENT!!! On the website, Chris describes this green as “devilish”. Yeah, I guess I’d describe it that way…well, maybe I’d use another word. :-X
(http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu239/mplumart/Rivermont2approach.jpg)
#3 is a great par 4 with a green that I’d advise you to keep the ball below the hole on. And #4 is a great version of a redan. What a great hole and, of course, a great green!
(http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu239/mplumart/Rivermont4.jpg)
#5 is a stunningly good par 4 with a strategic decision to make as that creek, that appeared previously, meanders across this fairway as well.
#6 is a forced water carry par 3 with perhaps the most unique par 3 green I’ve ever seen. With its “half pipe” feature inspired by Winged Foot (incidentally both Chris and Mike won championships on the Winged Foot courses).
#7 was recently redesigned and makes for a great par 5. This is hole is a real test of driving ability and offer key strategic decisions as well. And yet again this hole has another fantastic green, this time the “milk jug”.
(http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu239/mplumart/Rivermont7.jpg)
#8 is another hole that was recently updated ;
(http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu239/mplumart/Rivermont8approach.jpg)
as was #9, which can only be described as an Alps/Punchbowl. But in the recent changes the front edge of the punchbowl was lowered/removed and the golfer can now see the green and adjust strategy as needed.
(http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu239/mplumart/Rivermont9approach.jpg)
The back nine has a great and intimate feeling, which is a testament to the courses routing. I don’t know the total acreage they had to work with, but it couldn’t have been the easiest property to work with and throw in the neighborhood surrounding the course these restrictions could have provided easy excuses to offer up a mundane/average course. But that is not what this architectural effort yielded. The routing is so good that the neighborhood is barely noticed and I suppose I would compare the routing efforts to a Canterbury or an Inwood in terms of getting the most out of a small plot of land (I haven’t played Merion so I can’t comment on that one).
#10 is another great par 5 that winds the golfer down the fairway into another great green site with interesting contours.
(http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu239/mplumart/Rivermont10approach.jpg)
This hole is followed by a fantastic short par 4 (276 yards from the tees I played). That is heavily guarded by severe bunkers. In fact, you’ve got a rendition of a Devil’s A$$hole off to the left of the green.
#12 is a tremendous par 5 with a massive bunker lurking to the left of the green. Although not as big as the bunker to the left of the 4th green at Sand Hills, it did remind me of it. It is so big, Chris and Mike gave it a name, “Big Bertha”.
(http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu239/mplumart/Rivermont11approach.jpg)
#13 is a longer par 4 with a crazy false front to deal with. I think Mike is a complete jerk genius for putting this feature in as I couldn’t get my damn ball to stay on the green it adds an incredible amount of variety to the course.
#14 is a nice par 3, #15 is a blind tee shot par 4 that plays into a very solid green.
#16, to me, is the best hole on the course and reminds me a lot of Cuscowilla in its feel. In fact, the natural feeling of the course might be best personified in this hole. Like Cuscowilla, the bunkers at Rivermont have very natural reddish-brown sand in them. Since Georgia is the land of red clay, I don’t want bleached white ocean type sand in GA bunkers. Give me the native looking reddish sand, it just fits. The holes layout will shape your drive, but your approach will require you to hit a fade off a hook lie. Bring your skill or face bogey. I like it!
(http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu239/mplumart/Rivermont16approach.jpg)
#17 is a drop shot par 3 that offers stunning views and #18 brings to the table a demanding approach shot with a green that offers a backstop to play unique shots off of.
I suppose I am taking the time to write such a lengthy post for one main reason. We talk an awful on this site about courses like Pebble Beach, Cypress Point, and Crystal Downs, but the courses that I think need to be talked about are courses like Rivermont. It is a very affordable private course with extremely good golf course architecture. And we need more of these types of golf courses. Many more!
This is a hidden gem of the highest magnitude for the golf course architectural junkie. You want a redan? You got it. You want a “milk jug” green, “Big Bertha” bunker, “half pipe” greens, strategic decisions off the tee and on the approach? You’ve got’em. And to talk about the greens again, they are plain and simply magnificent. Plain and simple.
So, anyway…I think in addition to talking about courses like St. Andrews and Pine Valley, we need to bring to the forefront course like Rivermont; Architecturally significant courses that don’t price out the core golf course architectural fanatic. If hidden gems with significant golf course architectural interest are going to compete with the big budget “signature designer” courses, we’ve got to lead that charge.
Kudos…Chris Cupit and Mike Riley. AMAZING work!!!
Thanks for a wonderful day!!!!
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Indeed that does look like a nice course, Mac. I am curious about the width, it looks like it might have been blasted through forest/trees.
Is the course adequately wide? Could it be wider?
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Hey Michael...
I'd love for Chris to chime in on the width as I am sure he'd have exact distances regarding width of the fairways.
But from my experience, the course is adequately wide. It actually gives a fair amount of leeway off the tee and requires more and more precision as you get closer to the green. Most of my photos are on the approach shot and not the tee shot. So, it does look pretty tight. But I only lost one ball off of a drive that I thought was prett decent (on 15). I pulled a tee shot and hit a bullet up the left side of a fairway that sloped right to left. Ball bounced and rolled OB. I needed to play up the right side. That was my fault.
Could it be wider? I don't think so. Like I mentioned, they don't have an over-abundance of land...like say Ballyneal or The Golf Club. And I think they maximized the use of the land. I hit squirely tee shots on 5, 9, 16 and was fine. It seemed to be fine by me. But like I said, I'd love to see Chris comment.
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Ditto to everything Mac said about Rivermont, Chris and Mike. Chris was a generous and gracious host, and both Chris and Mike should be extremely proud of what they have produced at Rivermont. It is a really fun course and should not be overlooked just because it is not a big name course.
As for the course itself, I'll add the following to Mac's thoughts as they relate to three of my favorite holes on the course:
Hole 2: The green is awesome, with all of its undulations, but the massive bunker about twenty yards short of the left side of the green helps to make the hole. The hole is a dogleg left, with a bunker on the inside corner. This concept usually tempts the longer player to play to the inside of the dogleg to shorten the hole. However, a drive up the left side leaves a partially blind shot over the huge bunker, while a drive up the right side (the outside of the dogleg) leaves a clear view of the green. This gives the player the option of playing a running shot and would seem to minimize the possibility of missing the green to the left (which leaves the player a very difficult chip).
Hole 6: When we arrived at the tee, all I saw was a big pond with a green set about ten yards over the pond so the water is not really in play. On top of that, the green looks relatively plain from the tee (probably just my poor eyesight), seemingly just a big, round, flat green. All looked pretty boring. I should have known better after I saw Mac walking onto the back right portion of the green, where the pin was set, and noticing that I could no longer see anything below his knees, as the back-right portion of the green is a small punch bowl (minus a rim on the right side). I managed to place my tee shot on the front right portion of the green, leaving a forty footer that went down a big slope starting ten feet or so from the pin. It was obvious that I would not be able to putt directly at the hole and stop it anywhere near the hole, so at Chris' recommendation I aimed a few feet left and putted it about ten or fifteen feet past the hole, part way up the backside of the punchbowl, and then watched the ball roll back hole high leaving me a simple enough four footer, that I promptly missed (must have been a bad read from our host). Simple looking hole, but great stuff.
Hole 12. My favorite par five, and perhaps my favorite hole, on the course. The hole, which is fairly straight or a slight dogleg left depending on which tee you play, is reachable with two good shots. However, the fairway slopes gently from left to right, which would seem to increase the difficultly of holding the fairway off the tee. The second shot is what I really love, as you play back uphill to a green set on top of a hill and fronted (maybe ten yards in front, not sure) by a cavernous bunker. With the bunker set back a bit from the green, the player on the bubble of being able to reach the green is left with the dilemna of laying back for a fairly easy wedge shot, or having a go at the green but risking an extremely difficult 25 to 40 yard bunker shot from well below the green if he comes up short. Of course, the green has all sorts of interest, sloping fairly hard to the right.
I suspect I will have more favorite Rivermont holes after playing it again (I have now played it twice, post-renovation), as it seems to be one of those courses that have a lot of subtle (and not so subtle) details that you only notice if you happen to put the ball in the wrong place.
Great stuff Chris and Mike.
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As to Michael's question regarding width, the fairways and playing corridors at Rivermont are plenty wide and it does not at all feel restrictive off the tee. In fact, there are a number of holes, the fifth being the most obvious, where the player really has options as to what side of the fairway he wants to play to, depending on how much risk he wants to take off the tee in order to get a better look on the second shot. The only exception may be the par five seventh, which is cut out of the trees and pretty much just tells you to hit it straight down the middle, but the reward awaits at the uniquie "milk jug" green.
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Mac,
Thanks for the kind words. It was a fun day and I would love to have the guys back--maybe on a nice warm spring day and we could get even more people to come? I still have a few beers left :D
MD
One thing that is nice and lucky is that while our course is not a "core" course, for a real estate course it is very wide and rarely do you feel that homes are on top of you or that they are intrusive at all. In fact many people express shock that our course is in such a suburban area as they often say "you feel like you are up in the mountains". As Mike and I mentioned yesterday morning with the guys, we need to be more vigilant about keeping our fairway width from getting narrowed down but here are my ball park estimates of fairway widths (assuming normal drive zone area):
#1 40 yards
#2 45 yards
#3 35-40 yards
#5 65-70 yards!!!
#7 30-35 yards
#8 40-45 yards
#9 45 yards short if bunkers, 25 yards if you try and drive up the neck of the fairway
#10 30-35 yards
#11 25-30 yards (narrowest hole--301 yards from TIPS) Width from OB left and creek right is easily 75 yards
#12 30-35 yards
#13 40 yards
#15 35 yards
#16 landing area plays 60 yards wide due to slope of fairway
#18 45-50 yards
Certainly there is more width "tree line to tree line".
We are lucky to have mature trees (39 years as a club) that block almost all the views of the homes. We have creeks in play throughout the course but I think OB really is in play on just a few shots. It is certainly not a real estate course where you feel like its picket fences on both sides of the course.
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Here's the crazy second green form behind:
(http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm66/chriscupit/greenslope58.jpg)
The short 11th hole. The pot bunker now has some nice hairy purple lovegrass growing all over and inside it. If you try and drive the green and pull it lft into that little S.O.B. you could end up with anything :D The little guy has about 4 square feet of sand, the bunker in the background is one bunker--about 4500 square feet!
(http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm66/chriscupit/G7LS644356.jpg)
OK. This is the side view of #13 with the huge false front/slope in front and it was the site of the best shot of the day BY FAR from Mr. Leveille.
He's 103 to the middle, into a decent breeze with an uphill lie from a cuppie bermuda rough lie. It's going to play close to 115-120 and if he manages to carry onto the top tier it's likely to go over the green and leave a nasty come back chip. So.....Mike plays a hooded 9 iron, lands it short of the green and forty feet right of the hole (as planned). The balls rolls up the hill, curls hard left to five feet and he made the putt for three--best damn shot I've ever seen on that hole :)
(http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm66/chriscupit/13_green06.jpg)
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It looks absolutely wonderful. I love the bunkers and the greensites look excellent. Thanks for sharing!!
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I think the newly designed #9, as I expressed in an email to Chris, is more multi-dimensional than the post-renovation Alps/Punchbowl. However, I really did like the previous version, and maybe Chris can tell us why he decided to change it. Membership revolt? That wouldn't seem to be it as a membership hearty enough to handle the green at #13 can surely put up with a lot. :)
In terms of difficulty, I consider Rivermont to be "sneaky fast." I shot maybe a stroke or two off my average last week with quite a few 3 putts. It is a very playable and very fun course with a lot of variety; if an occasion came to really stimp up the greens I think you might be talking about something different altogether.
Another shot of that Devil's A##hole:
(http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l137/garydaughters/PictureorVideo068.jpg)
Mac, I find the texture (and color) of the sand at Rivermont to be far preferable to that at Cuscowilla. It is thicker, heavier, cleaner.. more fun. Feels like Scotland.. Dornoch!
It's fascinating how that little ripple of a ridge on the #11 green can cause almost as big a headache as the huge false front at #13.
I grew up playing the old unvarnished Joe Lee Rivermont. Ben Crenshaw came out once and played in an exhibition. Back then the club's most prominent member, or hanger-on, was the one and only Evel Knieval.
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The last few times I came to Atlanta, I played East lake and Longshadow. I certainly need to add this to the list. I must admit I had never heard of Rivermont.
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Bruce...
Me either! And I live 15 minutes from it!!! That is part of the reason I am screaming from the tree tops about this course. It is good...DAMN good...and no one knows about it. NO ONE!!! We need to fix that.
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Bruce...
Me either! And I live 15 minutes from it!!! That is part of the reason I am screaming from the tree tops about this course. It is good...DAMN good...and no one knows about it. NO ONE!!! We need to fix that.
I am about 3 hours. But, my next trip............
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The problem with Rivermont is that it was originally a very pedestrian course built in the middle of a housing project. As a result, many in Atlanta view it that way as they've gravitated to the numerous courses built throughout the area in the last 15+ years.
They absolutely don't know what they are missing! This course is flat out FUN! Mike Reilly did a superb redesign and he'd even tell you that he had to hole Chris back rather than the other way around. One of Chris' goals was to try to create Raynor-type greens in an Atlanta housing golf course... Boy did he succeed! You walk away saying what a great routing it is without reralizing that the routing never changed; that is the sign of a tremendous re-do.
This is the best kind of golf course in that the better you play the more you have to think about what you want to do. Even though there are definite "right ways" to play most of the holes there are also alternates and abilities to recover from even wider drives than the wide fairways permit! There are also a great many true risk/reward decision to contemplate. Add in some wild false fronts and a couple of bastardly-hidden small bunkers and it both challenges and excites the player of all skill levels.
You walk off 18 not only wanting to play it again but wanting to join the club.
This is more than a "hidden gem" it is very special and will mature into something quite exciting in the next few years.
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The wickers compliment the greensites very well! Looks like a lot of interesting holes.
Mark
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Those upper and lower landing areas are wonderful options off the tee.I did not read all the posts...private or public?
Anthony
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Those upper and lower landing areas are wonderful options off the tee.I did not read all the posts...private or public?
Anthony
Very private- not sure if they let dentists in or not but think NGLA, Fishers Island, same kind of crowd.....
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Anthony,
As I hope you could gather, Jack was exaggerating quite a bit. Rivermont is private but exceptionally affordable and accessible. I am not sure there is another metro Atlanta club with lower monthly fees than us (Except the Canongate group but that is really semi-private and a whole different animal).
I am certain almost none of my members have ever heard of NGLA or Fishers Island or care to :D
The club and members are great. My play is mostly all member (not much member and three guest stuff) with the guys coming back for some food and drink to give each other a bunch of grief after the round. I think we have the honor ( ???) of selling more Jagermeister at my club than any other club in Atlanta and I am sure the ensuing dice games at the bar are as fun as any other club tradition at other clubs!
Jack is just mad as he was blackballed for not drinking enough Jager!
Jack--here is the new ninth green. The old "complete" punchbowl just wasn't big enough and the balls all tended to end up in too small an area on the green. Combined with the old path right of the green and a single entry point, the green was simply getting worn out in the middle. The new green lowered the entire front of the green, expanded the green from 6000 square feet of which much was unusable to about 8500 square feet, most of which is pinnable.
The old shot was completely blind, which I loved, but most people hated. Also, many felt that the second shot played too easy as even an indifferent shot would often end up next to a well played shot. I think we fixed that ;D
Below are pics of #9 green:
Looking into the green from in front--new front pot bunker and large right bunker. Path on right completely re-routed away from play and left of the green:
(http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm66/chriscupit/IMG_0524.jpg)
View from left front bunker looking across the green: (Yes, tiny false front means a ball can roll back into that little bunker--it is nasty--just ask Phillip Young ;))
(http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm66/chriscupit/IMG_0541.jpg)
(http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm66/chriscupit/IMG_0539.jpg)
(http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm66/chriscupit/IMG_0538.jpg)
Half-Pipe back of #6 green that Mike putted to:
(http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm66/chriscupit/G7LS638352.jpg)
Gary Daughter's favorite bunker now that it is properly "hairy" ;D:
(http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm66/chriscupit/IMG_0512.jpg)
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Phil...
I think you are right when you say this, "You walk off 18 not only wanting to play it again but wanting to join the club. This is more than a "hidden gem" it is very special and will mature into something quite exciting in the next few years."
In fact, I just joined!! ;D
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Those upper and lower landing areas are wonderful options off the tee.I did not read all the posts...private or public?
Anthony
Very private- not sure if they let dentists in or not but think NGLA, Fishers Island, same kind of crowd.....
Chris, Rivermont looks great! Just trying to get a dig in on Dr. Gray. ;D I have to say that you have some of the best green complexes inthe Southeast. As your pictures attest you have a hidden gem. The new 9th green is wicked-would enjoy watching young Kyle feather a shot from your front bunker-perhaps a return to Atlanta this Spring is needed.
Wish you well, Jack
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I'm keeping my eye on all the dentist applications! I'll make sure none sneak through too easily! I'm ready for a spring trip--my rash from the red basketball shirt in Houston just went away ;D I'm ready for some real fun now.
I want to know what is more unlikely--Kyle feathering ANYTHING or you having a few Jager shots. You know, you dentists could save money on the gas by just loading folks up with a few shots first...just a thought.
Thanks for the kind words about the course.
Chris
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Phil...
I think you are right when you say this, "You walk off 18 not only wanting to play it again but wanting to join the club. This is more than a "hidden gem" it is very special and will mature into something quite exciting in the next few years."
In fact, I just joined!! ;D
Good for you, Mac. Rivermont looks like a fun place to play.
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I grew up in Atlanta and have played most of the "big name" courses in the area (except Peachtree), and after 2 rounds at Rivermont I can honestly say that it is easily my favorite course in Atlanta and one of my two favorite in the state of Georgia (along with Seaside).
The green on #2 is awesome, but so are MOST of the other greens as well in my opinion.
Chris, thank you again so very much for your hospitality.
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Funny...
I know these dudes!!!
http://gsga.org/sites/courses/layout9.asp?id=436&page=58410 (http://gsga.org/sites/courses/layout9.asp?id=436&page=58410)
Chris Cupit and Mike Riley. Winning Championships at Winged Foot (in another life) and now as part of the Rivermont team that wins the Georgia Team Championship over my other club, St. Ives.
Congrats!!!
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I want to know what is more unlikely--Kyle feathering ANYTHING or you having a few Jager shots.
Wow, talk about a dead heat.
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nic pics Mike
wish i coulda made it, maybe next year
keep those beers on ice Chris ;)....
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I was lucky enough to play Rivermont this am. This place is the golf nerd's star trek! It is possible that everyone doesn't understand, but the true believers love it. There are great internal green contours, the green speeds were perfect , the bunkers are awesome. If you are fortunate, go play this course, it is great fun.
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Funny thing about today was as we were walking up 13 fairway, I'm telling Keith all about the severity of the green, the false front...so you can't be short, but if you go long it is a tricky chip shot and/or long putt back towards the hole and false front. But then he holes out for eagle from 100ish yards!!!! :o
Who cares about the green...just hole out and you don't have to worry about it!
Fun times, fun course, good company!
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I missed this thread from last year.
Rivermont is an object lesson in how a golf course can move up to another level when you have an owner and an architect who get it. It doesn't require big budgets, big names or big fees.
Bob
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Since I will be unable to make the July Atlanta GCA event, I knew I had to play Rivermont at some point. Mac and I were able to work it out. Wade was able to join, and I was able to talk with Chris as well. This was the thread that brought Rivermont to my attention.
It is a great golf course. Just some great looks to the holes. Very creative greens. Shelves, tiers, punchbowls, Redan, half punchbowls, cross slopes, mounds, subtle mounds, and the (hopefully) soon to be Wade's front porch on #9. I want to go back. I highly recommend it. Thanks guys.
(http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/wellmond/Dixie%20Cup%202011/photo-4-3.jpg)
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Thanks Bruce! We had a great time...even with the Southern heat and humidity.
"Wade's Front Porch"...I love it. :D
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Since I will be unable to make the July Atlanta GCA event, I knew I had to play Rivermont at some point. Mac and I were able to work it out. Wade was able to join, and I was able to talk with Chris as well. This was the thread that brought Rivermont to my attention.
It is a great golf course. Just some great looks to the holes. Very creative greens. Shelves, tiers, punchbowls, Redan, half punchbowls, cross slopes, mounds, subtle mounds, and the (hopefully) soon to be Wade's front porch on #9. I want to go back. I highly recommend it. Thanks guys.
(http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/wellmond/Dixie%20Cup%202011/photo-4-3.jpg)
Could not agree more with everything you say. It has so much architectural variety, the kinda place you could never get bored of and would always be proud to bring guests to. If it was closer for me, I would join in a heartbeat.
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I was lucky enough to play Rivermont this am. This place is the golf nerd's star trek! It is possible that everyone doesn't understand, but the true believers love it. There are great internal green contours, the green speeds were perfect , the bunkers are awesome. If you are fortunate, go play this course, it is great fun.
Played 36 at Rivermont on Saturday..this golf course is SUPERB!
I echo many of the particulars above and was astounded at the quality and variety of the golf holes.
Furthermore, I loved every minute I was on the property.
The club and staff are terrific.
Not sure how long it will take until the secret's out about how good this place is in its entirety.
It might be the best value in private golf membership in this country!
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Dr. G - these comments mean a lot coming from you. I've never played Rivermont, but I'm going to make damn sure I do now!
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High praise from an informed source!
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I'd love to see a Rivermont v Peachtree hole by hole matchplay!!
I think The 'mont would do itself proud, but the vibe at Peachtree is "top notch" and tough to beat. That, and many other things, are overlooked in hole by hole matchplay scenarios.
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I had a great time at Rivermont courtesy of Mac, the Monday before the Masters. As I said to him at the time, the golf course is great fun, varied and interesting. You would not get bored of playing here any time soon. Isn't that what we are all after in a home course?
The greens are very cool. BIG movement at times but in all the right places. I liked the Redan hole. True to form as a good North Berwick boy, a birdie was the only respectful way to treat it. If my putt hadn't hit the hole it was on the highway.
Great place Mac. Thanks again!
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Interesting course to check out in Atlana suburbs, but while really attractive ..................... the baskets are sacrilegious. Merion is Holy ground.
Is it walkable and is there a walking culture? I see pictures of carts on their website.
How are the membership rolls doing? There are many private clubs in that area that must be dying for membership.
WmFlynnfan
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the baskets are sacrilegious
??? ::) ???
Must be a Georgia thing...Sea Island's got'em too, except Sea Island's are red, like Merion's.
Is it walkable and is there a walking culture?
Yes. Yes.
How are the membership rolls doing? There are many private clubs in that area that must be dying for membership.
I don't know. Seems pretty active, but I am not privy to that information. Seems like you are, per your last comment. Why don't you tell us all about the membership rolls of private clubs in this area, given your insider knowledge? ::)
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Bill,
I would suspect that between the very high quality of both the course, and the management at Rivermont, that they are not going to have membership problems in the future.
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Interesting course to check out in Atlana suburbs, but while really attractive ..................... the baskets are sacrilegious. Merion is Holy ground.
Is it walkable and is there a walking culture? I see pictures of carts on their website.
How are the membership rolls doing? There are many private clubs in that area that must be dying for membership.
WmFlynnfan
Hey Bill,
Our club is doing well after difficult times in 2010-2011. Even after the crash in 2008 we kept a waiting list through 2009 and into the early part of 2010. The late summer and fall of 2010 through the end of 2011 were awful as we did lose Members. We are doing better than most private clubs ( we have a great bunch of Members and a fun course) and we are within a dozen members of being at our cap. With some luck, we may have a waiting list again by the end of the year, though if my family has learned anything since opening the club forty years ago, nothing is for certain in this business :)
Our club allows walking at any time of day and at no charge. (No trail fee or anything like that). The front is an easy walk but the back nine a bit hilly. Every Thursday we have two groups of ladies who walk all eighteen so it can't be all bad. Of course, they are in way better shape than most! We also allow push carts (the Rikshaw) for $9 for eighteen or $5 for nine holes.
As for the baskets, there is a story. Now, I love Merion too but they were not the first to have baskets and several clubs do use them as well. Actually, San Francisco golf club has pictures that suggest they used them a long time ago. They contacted me and I sent them one of our baskets so they could check one out--I'm guessing Merion wouldn't send one ;)
Anyway, after our renovation I wanted something unique and I really was trying for something other than "Merion" baskets. I thought about no flag sticks, flag sticks with strips, with pennants, with nothing. I looked at balls, ovals, all kinds of shapes and nothing looked good. Then I came across an old turf magazine from the late twenties. Stumpf's I think was the name. They had an advertisement for "Wicker Balloon Baskets". When I realized that these wicker baskets were in fact mass marketed at one time I didn't feel so bad "stealing" the idea from Merion!
Actually, I do not believe the intention of the baskets has anything to do with intentionally deceiving a player regarding the wind. In fact, the advertisement I read for them suggested that the balloon baskets were for the visual benefit of the player. On inland courses where wind may be scarce, flags often hung limp and were very difficult to see. The balloon baskets are easier to see on calm days versus a flag dangling lifelessly from the flagstick. It was to aid the player, not deceive him!
We order new wicker every year in the fall, soak it in water and then our guys weave the baskets by hand. We paint them and have them on our course for daily play April through October. (We bring them in during the winter as the weather is tough on them). Our baskets are a bit rounder and quite a bit larger than Merions and all eighteen are the same color (Merion has two slightly different hues for the front and back).
Hey, imitation is the sincerest form........
I have scotch broom in some bunkers too :)
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Whoops. Wrong button
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One of the most enjoyable courses (forget hidden gem) in Atlanta IMHO . . . I need to get back in the "loop" and try to get out there again. Mac and Chris, I hope all is well, it seems to be.
Rob
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Just a shout out to Chris and his work at running the club.
Rivermont was voted the 2013 "Club of the Year" by the Georgia Golf Course Owners Association.
Congrats, Chris!!!
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Mac,
What about a pre or post Dixie Cup day at Rivermont? I'll bet it would be popular!
Mike
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Mac,
What about a pre or post Dixie Cup day at Rivermont? I'll bet it would be popular!
Mike
Sounds like a great idea.
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Rivermont certainly deserves any and all awards that come it's way. As previously described the greens are about as wild and as much fun as you are going to find and the atmosphere is second to none. What Mike Riley did with Chris's blessing is fantastic. I was lucky enough to play five rounds recently and can honestly say that I would be thrilled to head back to Atlanta at any time from New England if only to play Rivermont. Chris Cupit is a real gentleman and I can't imagine anyone better to "watch the store". Hidden gem is an understatement. :)
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Just a shout out to Chris and his work at running the club.
Rivermont was voted the 2013 "Club of the Year" by the Georgia Golf Course Owners Association.
Congrats, Chris!!!
Anyone who plays the course can easily see why Rivermont is Georgia's Club of the Year.
I love the place..
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Mac,
What about a pre or post Dixie Cup day at Rivermont? I'll bet it would be popular!
Mike
Great idea. Having played Rivermont a number of times, it is truly one of the most enjoyable golf experiences in Georgia.
I hope we can set something up pre or post Dixie, could not think of a better venue!
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Congratulations to Chris and Rivermont. I can't think of a course that I would rather play when I am in Atlanta.
If there is a play day around the Dixie cup, please let me know.
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Guys,
Way too kind with your comments but thank you so much. I'd love to host the guys and just need to figure out schedules. I'll get with Mac and work on this ;)
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Just a shout out to Chris and his work at running the club.
Rivermont was voted the 2013 "Club of the Year" by the Georgia Golf Course Owners Association.
Congrats, Chris!!!
What great news for Rivermont. Regardless if it ever wins another award or makes any list, I am proud to call it my home club and look forward to every time I can tee it up. Congrats to everyone at the club, especially Chris, Mark, Roger and Matthew.
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Photos of the 'Mont: http://onegolferstravels.blogspot.ca/2013/03/rivermont-country-club-johns-creek.html
And the corresponding discussion on GCA: http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,54951.0.html
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Mark,
Thanks for the photo thread, I am only on hole 6 and I am impressed... It looks like a great gem...
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Frank Kim and I will be playing Rivermont tomorrow, Saturday 4/5 @ 2:21 directly behind Mac if anyone would like to join. Perhaps some GCAers are in early for Masters, send me a message if interested.
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I played with Frank- straight down the middle- Kim this past weekend at SV..great guy
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Bryan hosted me today at Rivermont CC. What a cool course. Had a wonderful time. Got to meet Mac too. Thanks Bryan.
Rob, you are too kind.
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As a lifelong Ohioan, I've had enough of northern winters. If I ever find myself moving to ATL, I'm making a beeline for Rivermont.
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A had the good fortune to play Rivermont twice in the last month or so with my good friend Mike Riley and meet Chris Cupit who was kind enough to let me play there. Mike and Chris have raised the bar for golf in Atlanta. This golf course no doubt would be classified in the "architecturally significant" category. If I lived there this is where I'd want to join. The green complexes are possibly my favorite ever and without question in my top 5. The shaping and bunkering are also a 10 on a scale of 1-10 and the feel of the course makes it seem like one of the great renowned GCA's like Tilly did this course in the 1920's. Maybe the most amazing thing about this course is that it's a master planned housing development but the houses sit back in and are virtually undetectable. It feels more like you're playing golf in a nature preserve. No detail was missed during the renovation of this course. Even the lakes/ponds seem like they were created by Mother Nature and not by man. You can tell Mike camped on this site during construction and worked for a great client that worked collaboratively with him to create a very unique and great golf course. I'm excited to visit Atlanta again soon so I can play it again! I hope the GCA crew who haven't seen it will have an opportunity to play it soon. My bet is they'll like it as much as I did. Kurt
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Glad you had a good time, Kurt. Rivermont is so much fun to play day in and day out. Chris runs the club perfectly.
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Mac,
You're right! If I was based in Atlanta that's where I'd want to play. I'd never tire of that course. I loved every green but I was thinking about just the par 3's on the front. Both greens are really cool!
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KBowman- I see you have posted three times....how did some spanker like you get cleared to post? These GCA guys have no idea who they are dealing with....
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I snuck in there under an alias name:)
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Luckiest par I ever made was on Rivermont's 6th. Topped it across the water, it skimmed and landed short in the rough. Chip rode the half pipe to one foot:) Awesome course!
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Mac,
You're right! If I was based in Atlanta that's where I'd want to play. I'd never tire of that course. I loved every green but I was thinking about just the par 3's on the front. Both greens are really cool!
So are the greens akin to yours at CCSJ? :o I need to get back up there again. I don't hate them near as much as the average guy.
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Could Rivermont be a future Dixie Cup site?
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Kurt,
Thanks so much for the kind odds and I am delighted you enjoyed the green complexes so much--Mike did a great job for sure.
I would be happy to host a Dixie Cup and have talked to Eric S. a bit in the past though I must confess this spring has been crazy busy and I have dropped the ball somewhat. Actually I'm at NCAAs right now watching kids hit it 350 and I have been busy with my volunteer golf stuff all year!! But I am almost done with that stuff for the year :D
The only small problem I have is that we are a private club and we would need to do an event on a Tuesday when we are closed if we get a decent number of golfers. Obviously I would love to have a large group and there are enough options for golf (and other distractions) to keep everyone busy and happy on the north side of Atlanta.
Whoever is the Dixie Cup "lead" shoot me an IM and we can try and plan something maybe for September??
Thanks again for all the kind words and I would love to get more of you guys down for a fun day(s) of golf.
Chris
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Kurt,
Thanks so much for the kind odds and I am delighted you enjoyed the green complexes so much--Mike did a great job for sure.
I would be happy to host a Dixie Cup and have talked to Eric S. a bit in the past though I must confess this spring has been crazy busy and I have dropped the ball somewhat. Actually I'm at NCAAs right now watching kids hit it 350 and I have been busy with my volunteer golf stuff all year!! But I am almost done with that stuff for the year :D
The only small problem I have is that we are a private club and we would need to do an event on a Tuesday when we are closed if we get a decent number of golfers. Obviously I would love to have a large group and there are enough options for golf (and other distractions) to keep everyone busy and happy on the north side of Atlanta.
Whoever is the Dixie Cup "lead" shoot me an IM and we can try and plan something maybe for September??
Thanks again for all the kind words and I would love to get more of you guys down for a fun day(s) of golf.
Chris
Hi Chris
The 2015 Dixie Cup will be in Chattanooga, but I could not think of a better venue for 2016 than Rivermont. And I could not think of a better host city than Atlanta!
Plenty of time to plan, I will be in touch with you, if we can make Rivermont the featured venue in 2016, that would be great and for sure we will have a full field. We all admire what you have done at Rivermont, what a pleasure it would be to bring Dixie Cuppers there in 2016. Look forward to talking with you further on this!
Eric