Construction is set to begin on the Overton Park Golf Course starting Monday, January 18. The final day to play a round before closure is this Sunday. Golfers are asked to call the clubhouse at (901) 725-9905 to request a tee time this weekend. The team from King-Collins Golf Course Design will begin placing erosion control materials around the perimeter of the course as early as Saturday.
The project will begin with some work on the edges of the course, where vegetation has encroached five to ten feet past the boundary of the Old Forest State Natural Area and into the golf course. Working under the supervision of Overton Park Conservancy staff, contractors will remove this growth in some sections of the edge with a forestry machine, which is a lighter-impact machine than an earth-moving bulldozer. Other areas will be worked by hand to remove invasive shrubs and vines while leaving valuable native plants intact.
The golf course renovation will also include the removal of some trees, such as the small crape myrtles on the fairway between holes #3 and #4. Specimen trees, such as the large magnolias in this area and the oaks near the green on hole #1, will be left intact. Although golf course designs normally prioritize as much sunny, open space as possible, the architects from King-Collins recognized this course’s unique site, adjacent to the habitat-rich Old Forest State Natural Area, and are highlighting this uniqueness in their design approach.
The Conservancy, as part of its ongoing park planning process, will explore other areas of the park where new trees may be added to compensate for any losses incurred in making the golf course a more playable amenity.
Construction is expected to wrap up in March or April, followed by several months to grow in the grass. Play on the course is expected to resume in the fall, to include the return of the historic Overton Park Open junior golf tournament. This project is a partnership between the City of Memphis Division of Parks and Neighborhoods and Overton Park Conservancy, funded by private donations from Conservancy board members emeritus, park supporters, and golf enthusiasts.
While this course is under construction, golfers are encouraged to explore the City’s other municipal courses at Audubon, Fox Meadows, Galloway, Pine Hill, Riverside or Whitehaven Golf Courses. For more information on those courses, please visit memphispubliclinks.com
About the City of Memphis Division of Parks & Neighborhoods
The Division of Parks and Neighborhoods contributes to the City of Memphis’ overall rich cultural history by supporting active civic culture reflective of the diverse community voices. The Division provides an array of services for people of all ages, supporting their engagement in health and wellness, lifelong learning, and leisure and recreational activities. This is facilitated through a vast system of parks, public spaces, community and recreation centers, museums, entertainment venues, and sports facilities. In all, the system is comprised of over 5,600 park acres across 189 locations, 17 pools, seven golf courses and 30 indoor recreation facilities. Learn more at www.memphistn.gov/parks
About Overton Park Conservancy
Overton Park Conservancy is the nonprofit organization that has been caring for and improving Memphis’s central green space since 2012. The Conservancy is responsible for daily management and maintenance of the Old Forest State Natural Area and the picnic, play, and open spaces of the park. The Conservancy is currently developing a comprehensive plan for the park’s future which will include the transformation of 13 acres at the park’s southeast corner from a vehicle maintenance facility back into parkland. Learn more at www.overtonpark.org.
About King-Collins Golf Course Design
King-Collins Golf Course Design was founded in 2010 with the vision of creating bold and artistically inspired golf courses that are strategic in their approach but fun for all ages. Their Design/Build model reduces costs and increases efficiency through one to one communication with the team from concept to earth moving. They are best known for their flagship work, Sweetens Cove Golf Club outside Chattanooga, which has been ranked by Golfweek as a Top 50 Modern Course in America, the “#1 Course You Can Play in Tennessee” and the #7 Nine Hole Course in the World by GOLF.COM. For more information, visit www.kingcollinsgolf.com and www.sweetenscovegolfclub.com.