Rendered image of new 11th hole
John’s Creek, Ga. (January 18, 2022) — The Atlanta Athletic Club (AAC) is embarking on a multi-million-dollar renovation of its championship Riverside Course. Golf course architect Tripp Davis of Tripp Davis & Associates (Oklahoma) has been retained to re-envision the routing, playing strategy, and design of this storied course set alongside the Chattahoochee River.
Riverside will be redesigned to accentuate the beautiful terrain while offering optimum playability for members and professionals alike.
“This is a chance to reimagine the course by making better use of the land as well as developing a better flow in the routing, enhancing views, and creating a golf course that has strong strategic variety and interest,” said John Stakel, board member and chairman of the Riverside renovation committee at Atlanta Athletic Club. “Working with Tripp, we are looking to strengthen an already fantastic golf course and to heighten the playing experiences.”
The club’s rich history of championship golf—particularly amateur golf and its former member and past president, Bob Jones—were also considered when embarking on this project. Riverside hosted the 1990 U.S. Women’s Open and stroke play rounds for the 2014 U.S. Amateur. Its sister course – Highlands – has been the site of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, Arnold Palmer Cup, three PGA Championships, and numerous USGA Championships including the U.S. Amateur, U.S. Junior Amateur, U.S. Mid-Amateur, and the 1976 U.S. Open Championship, won by Jerry Pate.
Riverside’s basic infrastructure will be renewed, and changes made on every hole, with a focus on how tees offer ways for players to find an enjoyable challenge, how fairway widths and bunkers present options, and how bunkers and greens create strategic angles. The flexible design will allow course setup to vary the level of challenge, so members can enjoy playing it every day while making Riverside a championship test when needed for tournament golf.
For Davis, this a coming home of sorts, as he grew up in Atlanta and played junior golf tournaments at the Atlanta Athletic Club.
“My level of excitement to come ‘home’ to work with the Atlanta Athletic Club is something that is hard to put in words, so I will do my best to show it in the work we do, Davis said. “With this beautiful piece of property that the club has entrusted to me, I believe that the redesigned Riverside Course will only add to the rich championship golf tradition of the Atlanta Athletic Club,” said Davis.
The renovated Riverside Course is expected to be open for play in Fall 2022.
Along with two 18-hole courses, Atlanta Athletic Club has a nine-hole par-3 course, fitness center and spa, outdoor clay courts and indoor tennis facility, Olympic-sized pool, and magnificent clubhouse, with indoor/outdoor social spaces and dining facilities.
The Atlanta Athletic Club, which will celebrate its 125-year anniversary in 2023, has a mission to deliver an exceptional family-focused experience that consistently exceeds the expectations of all those served, while preserving the heritage, traditions, and reputation for championship golf. Regularly ranked among the top family athletic clubs in the country, Atlanta Athletic Club is renowned for personalized service and for serving as a social and recreational hub for members.
For additional information on Atlanta Athletic Club, access the website at www.atlantaathleticclub.org.
