Jeff Brown:
A Golfer Just Like You..
but better

Brown is a member of the Canongate Golf Club; you may see him at any of the Canongate Group's nine courses. About two and a half years ago, one of his friends told him about the great deal at Canongate, where you can join and play nine courses, with unbelievably low greens fees and dues. He looked into it, decided that it was "too good of a deal to pass up" and has been a member ever since.

Last year, as he was surfing the Internet looking for yet another driver, he came across a banner ad that asked: "Do you have what it takes?" Either his curiosity or his ego kicked in and he entered the Golf Channel site.

"I learned that a reality show was scheduled to take place in the near future, pitting 10 top-level amateurs against one another in a 10-week golf challenge," says Brown. "One golfer per week would be eliminated. It got me interested."

Brown answered a series of questions including: How would you describe your perfect day? His answer: "Taking the family to IHOP for breakfast, then to the golf course to play golf with my two sons, while my wife rides along in the cart," he remembers. "I think they liked that I'm a family man."

A few weeks later, Brown received an e-mail from the producers. They liked his answers and had more questions for him. One of those questions, "What is your lowest score?" Brown answered with an impressive 64. Even better, he had played with, and beaten, PGA Tour Pro Paul Peterson, who shot 67 that same day.

Brown was contacted soon after and was asked to come to South Carolina for a skills test. He packed his bags and hit the round, thinking, "Well, I've got nothing to lose; I'll just go and have fun."

And have fun he did. While other prospective contestants were choking all around him, Brown cruised through the skills test and made a solid impression on the producers. Later, they called with the news that he'd been chosen as a contestant.

"The Big Break", which aired from October 7 to December 9 in 2003, was actually shot in less than one week. Brown says he felt most of the pressure during the first elimination skills test. "I had guaranteed everyone that I would not be the first one knocked out. I didn't want to have to eat my words," he says. Luckily, he performed well and lived to compete another day.

Eventually, Brown wound up being the fifth contestant eliminated, but the experience gave him the confidence to know that he can compete at a higher level. He is planning to play in as many Hooters Tour events as his work schedule allows, and then take a shot at the Tour Qualifying School in 2004. G

One of the most enticing attributes of the Peachtree Region is the abundance of golf in the area. Peachtree City has long been known for its golf courses, but the rest of the region now has plenty to offer to golfers.

The golf enthusiast in the Peachtree Region has many options, from private, upscale country clubs, to daily fee public courses, driving ranges and teaching centers. Additionally, with the growth of golf in the area, the retail needs of players have grown. Those needs have been met with new golf shops that offer anything a golfer could ever want, whatever the budget or skill level.

Canongate

The largest provider of golf in the region based on sheer numbers of golf holes is Canongate, a group of seven clubs under the same owner and management group. Members of each club have reciprocating rights to play on any of the 9 courses, so a member could golf once a week for over two months and never play the same course twice!

Canongate's first club, Canongate I in Palmetto, has completed a transformation in the past few years that includes a new clubhouse and an expansion from 18 holes to 36 holes. Flat Creek and Braelinn golf courses have been the backbone of Peachtree City golf for years, and the Planterra Ridge course is relatively new, being built in 1994.

Canongate-on-White Oak offers 36 holes in Newnan, and farther west, (on I-20), are Chapel Hills and the newest addition to the group, Mirror Lake. Also, there is a new benefit to any members who travel to the Hilton Head, South Carolina area; a course is being built in Bluffton, which members will be able to play.

The Palmer Course at Starr's Mill

A semi-private club in the area is The Palmer Course at Starr's Mill, with some of the fastest, truest greens in the region. There are 18 holes designed by Arnold Palmer. With its gently rolling terrain and beautiful flowering trees, the course is challenging and enjoyable to golfers of every handicap.

Members receive special privileges including advanced tee time booking, complimentary greens fees, unlimited driving range privileges and an extensive schedule of club tournaments and social events.

Newnan Country Club

Established in 1919, the course offers a challenging but fair test of a golfer's ability. Located in Newnan on Highway 29 North.

In addition to the Private and Semi-Private golf offerings in the area, there is plenty of golf to be played on a daily-fee basis. Most courses in the area range from inexpensive to reasonable, with the quality level of the courses far exceeding the price tag. The courses offer varying degrees of difficulty, so the beginner as well as the scratch golfer can find courses that are both fun and challenging.

SummerGrove

SummerGrove Golf Course is one of the newer, more beautiful offerings in the region. Located in Newnan, it winds through both residential neighborhoods and untouched woodlands where it is not unusual to see deer casually making their way to a lake for a drink of water. The impeccably manicured Zoysia fairways and bent grass greens make SummerGrove a special course.

SummerGrove Golf Club in Newnan continues to define what good golf is all about. Their practice center, with three practice holes and 100-station double-ended grass tee area, is second to none. At SummerGrove, golfers have a truly special course that is scenic, fun to play and challenging from the back tees.

Orchard Hills

Orchard Hills has a traditional Scottish Links flavor with its gentle rolling fairways and subtle mounding. The well-maintained Bent grass greens have an average stimp speed of 10 or better. In 1997, Orchard Hills added an additional nine holes to the existing 18 hole course. The "Rock Garden" is a shot maker's course and requires accuracy off the tee with its narrower fairways and smaller undulating greens.

The Links

With one 18-hole course and one par 3 course the Links is a Scottish links-style course that plays more difficult than the yardage indicates. Ponds come into play on six holes and many moguls highlight the fairways.

Rivers Edge

Located along the lush banks of the Flint River, this Scenic 6,810 yard, par 71 championship course features rolling hills and subtle undulating Bent grass greens. River's Edge was voted Georgia's "Best New Public Course" in 1990 and is now owned by the same group that owns Lake Spivey.

Lake Spivey

Featuring "Crenshaw" Bent grass greens and Bermuda fairways, Lake Spivey offers 27 holes of challenging and interesting golf. The course is situated on rolling terrain with eight lakes and requires a wide variety of playing strategy. Pines and hardwoods tower over the tees, fairways and greens.

Arbor Springs

Arbor Springs is on its way to becoming one of Atlanta's best and most challenging golf courses. The course winds through and across many ridges and ravines, offering breathtaking vistas. G

The Palmer Course at Starr's Mill

Nearly every golf professional has dreamed at least once of owning his own golf course -- John Boykin was no exception. So when opportunity came knocking, he didn't hesitate. He bought a golf course.

The mere fact that there is but a handful of PGA Professionals in Georgia who own a golf course undoubtedly makes him unique. But the story that's even more compelling is how he managed to buy one of the top semi-private facilities in the state.

It was in early September of 2003 when Boykin signed on the dotted line, making him the sole owner, "along with the bank" as he quickly points out, of the former Whitewater Golf Club located in unincorporated Fayette County. His first step as the new owner was to rename the Arnold Palmer design, The Palmer Course at Starr's Mill. He took the name Starr's Mill from a nearby historic landmark.

"It's a rare chance when someone who grows up in the business actually gets to own a golf course," acknowledges the 51-year-old who has been a golf professional his entire adult life. It was the United States government that offered Boykin his chance of a lifetime.

After some investigating, he discovered a little known federal government program that would allow him to purchase a golf course. Through the United States Department of Agriculture's Community Facilities Development Department, the USDA would provide a partial guarantee for a commercial loan. "Normally a lender wants at least 40 percent equity to make a loan. Rarely can anyone, especially a golf pro, afford to do that," says Boykin. He knew he was on to something but he would first have to wade through a 762-page application process, a daunting task. And there was more.

There were stipulations, the property had to be rural in nature and he had to operate as a non-profit organization. He would also need to offer school golf programs, golf programs for senior citizens and make charitable contributions to charities within the county. "You must demonstrate that you will enhance the quality of life in the area," he explains. "We are the first facility in the United States to be approved (under the USDA program) and open for business."

Boykin brings a wealth of knowledge from more than 30 years in the golf business and the enthusiasm of a new owner. Renaming the course is just the beginning - he has big plans that will undoubtedly have the south side course humming with renewed activity.

For those who regularly tee it up on this Fayetteville course, it will quickly be obvious that changes are in the air - and all for the better. Taking a cue from the stately clubhouse, which resembles Augusta National's clubhouse but on a larger scale, he is continuing the theme by having the outdoor staff wear white jump suits and green caps like those of the famed club that hosts the Masters each year. And he goes a step further in carrying on the tradition. "We don't have members, we have patrons," he explains. "We have three kinds of play, patron play, their guests and the public."

The golf course and 35,000 square-foot clubhouse are slated for a $1 million facelift. The renovations include restoring the original 18 holes, which first opened in the mid 1980s. A third nine had been added by the previous owner three years ago but the land has been sold to a developer to build homes. The only other major change will be relocating the driving range to behind the clubhouse. "Mr. Palmer's design is quite good the way it is," Boykin says, "so there's no need to change it." Like most of Palmer's designs, this is truly a great test of anyone's game.

Located along a winding road just off Highway 74, The Palmer Course, meanders through the 305-home Whitewater Creek subdivision. But the houses offer no distraction; the course will undoubtedly demand your full attention. There's plenty of water in the way of lakes, ponds and Whitewater Creek that snakes throughout. The front nine circles around a very large lake with heavily tree-lined fairways, the back is more open with fewer trees with wind becoming more of a factor in scoring well.

"The intent was to give you all the elements," says Boykin of Palmer's design. While many designers lend their names to a project without being instrumental in the day to day work, that wasn't the case here. "Mr. Palmer was very involved it its design; he was here a lot during the construction."

Undoubtedly Boykin's background will be an important ingredient in the success of his new venture. The Savannah native came up through the ranks first serving as an assistant pro at two high profile facilities before taking on the responsibilities as head pro at a club in South Carolina. Following the developing of successful instruction programs internationally, he served a key role in the total reconstruction of the golf course and golf program as Director of Golf at Brookfield Country Club in Roswell.

Ownership does have its privileges as well as its drawbacks, says Boykin who admitted to getting very little sleep since he began the journey that is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. But after being a PGA member for more than 25-years and running successful golf operations for others, he's more than ready to take the big step.

Golf Resources

Private Golf Clubs and Country Clubs

Canongate Golf Clubs 924 Shaw Rd, Sharpsburg 770-463-3342

Newnan Country Club N Hwy 29, Newnan 770-253-9856

Semi-Private Golf Clubs and Country Clubs

The Palmer Course at Starr's Mill
175 Birkdale Dr, Fayetteville 770-460-0877

Daily Fee Courses

Arbor Springs Golf Club300 Arbor Springs Pkwy, Nwn 770-683-4727

Lake Spivey Golf Club 8255 Club House, Jonesboro 770-477-9836

The Links Golf Club 340 Hewell Rd, Jonesboro 770-461-5100

Orchard Hills Golf Club 600 E Hwy 16N, Newnan 770-251-5683

Rivers Edge Golf Club 40 Southern Golf Ct, Fayetteville 770-460-1098

SummerGrove Golf Club 335 SummerGrove Pkwy, Nwn 770-251-1800

Pro Shops

Braelinn Pro Shop
500 Clubview Dr, Peachtree City 770-631-3100

Flat Creek Club Flat Creek Rd, Peachtree City 770-487-8140

Mirror Lake Golf Club 1000 Canongate Blvd, Villa Rica 770-459-5599

Planterra Ridge Pro Shop
500 Clubhouse Dr, Peachtree City 770-487-8141

The Palmer Course at Starr's Mill
175 Birkdale Dr, Fayetteville 770-460-0877

White Oak Pro Shop 141 Clubview Dr, Newnan 770-251-6700

Golf Shops and Retail Outlets

ProGolf Discount Hwy 85, Fayetteville 770-632-5911

Discount Golf Shops 510 Crosstown Rd, Peachtree City 770-486-7474

Driving Ranges / Teaching Centers

Champions Golf Center 174 Hwy 279, Fayetteville 770-460-7408

Twilight Driving Range
311 Raymond Hill Rd, Newnan 770-251-6540

Wendell Coffee Golf & Teaching Center
1963 Hwy 74, Tyrone 770-969-4469

.