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The
Past, the Present and the Future...
Bigger is not always better. In fact, small
towns got preferential treatment by the FHA*
back in the early 1960’s. The government, in all
its wisdom, decided that towns of less than
2,500 folks could get a loan to turn farmland
into a recreational facility. Norwood, North
Carolina was just such a town – 1,800 citizens
and lots of perfectly beautiful farmland just
aching to be cultivated for golf.
Norwood community leaders, including K.L. Young
and R.L. Isenhour rose to the challenge. They
began work immediately to secure a loan and they
were so successful that Norwood became the first
town in the country to do so. The program was so
new that no rules has been established so it
took many meetings, many long lunches at local
cafes, and probably some good natured arm
twisting, but the deal got done. However, there
was a stipulation.
The FHA told the organizers that they would loan
Norwood the huge sum of $260,000 to build a golf
course, but the town had to come up with $40,000
of its own money.
Undeterred, Young and Isenhour began to sell
charter memberships to this un-built golf
course. They were so successful that they had
more than enough money and members, so by early
fall of 1963 construction began. One
hundred sixty five acres of prime pasture and
farmland on Lake Tillery was purchased (a mere 2
miles south of Norwood), and J. Porter Gibson of
Charlotte was contracted to design and build the
course. This was early fall of 1963, and
amazingly, one year later the course was open
for play!
The swimming pool, large brick clubhouse, and
tennis court were also finished and ready for
the 375 charter members to enjoy. Many obstacles
had been overcome (damage from flooding rains,
more money had to be borrowed) but the
topography of the land was so ideal, its highest
and best use was serendipitously found in the
growing popularity of the sport of golf.
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Expertly shaping this
prime piece of
undulating farm land,
Gibson designed Piney
Point by maximizing the
natural lay of the land
itself. Very little
earth was moved – he
wisely located the best
sites for greens and
tees and designed the
course around them!
Members are still
enjoying the well
designed and executed
facilities, and each
year thousands of
golfers from nearby
towns visit Norwood for
the pure enjoyment of a
great game among fellow
golf enthusiasts.
As for the future, it is
limitless. Piney Point
Golf Club continues to
build upon the dreams
and ideas of those
confident and visionary
planners, community
leaders, and charter
members who so wisely
selected the locale for
a golfers paradise.
There is a constant
drive for excellence and
a pledge to exceed the
expectations of players
and members. Thus, in
1997 an ambitious greens
renovations project was
under taken. Golf course
architect, Chip Powell,
performed an extensive
evaluation of greens and
bunkers, came up with a
plan, and in the summer
of 1998 the rebuilding
work began. The goal was
for all bunkers and
greens to meet or exceed
USGA specifications.
Crenshaw Bentgrass was
selected for greens and
419 Bermuda was chosen
for the surrounds. A new
irrigation system was
installed for each
green. By early December
the course was reopened
for play and
enthusiastically
received by an excited
membership.
So great were the
reviews, in fact,
membership reached its
maximum capacity and the
Board of Directors was
forced to review the cap
and raise it from 475 to
500.
Piney Point is looking
forward to continued
growth, but is committed
to the belief that
growth must not be at
the expense of quality.
The golf experience and
quality of play will
always be the priority
for management, staff,
and membership.
Call
704-474-3985 today to
secure your tee time.
*Farmers Home
Administration |
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