Is Golf Returning To The Area
By Mike Branch Sports Editor sports1advance@gmail.com
For several years now the Toombs County area has lacked a golf course. After Rocky Creek and Hawk’s Point shut down there has been a definite need for a course in the area. Not just for the recreational aspect, but it is also a big part of charity events, and it helps to bring more business to the community. Well, all of that may be changing, and changing soon.
The City of Vidalia has been working over the past five years to get the grants and funding to be able to bring golf back to the community.
Mayor Doug Roper said, “Getting golf back in Vidalia has been an ongoing process for over five years with both prior councils and private citizens trying to find a solution. For almost two years, our current council has been working diligently on this issue while at the same time applying for and receiving grants to support this project. With those funds in place and exhausting every effort to revive either of our prior courses, the time has come to move forward and bring golf back to our great community.”
The City of Vidalia is seeking to construct a new 18-hole golf course that will be owned by the City of Vidalia and overseen and operated by an authority of appointed individuals by the Mayor and City Council of Vidalia.
The city realizes the importance of golf as a recreation opportunity for patrons of all ages along with the significance of golf in high school sports. The City of Vidalia is seeking a Golf Course Architect to design and build an 18-hole municipal golf course on its property to include all 18 holes, a practice range, a putting green, a cart/equipment shelter, and a pro shop.
The golf course will be designed to include irrigation that will be supplied by the city’s water system. An eight-inch line will be utilized to supply a water source to where the water will be pumped out and irrigated throughout the course.
The Golf Course Architect will also coordinate with the Authority regarding the construction of cart bridges that will be required to cross streams to accommodate safe play and movement of golfers.
The city will be taking applications for this position up until September 30. After that date the city will then open all bids and begin moving into the next steps of this project.
This will be a big project for the city, and it is something that this community needs. With the pedigree of Vidalia High School golf, and the big changes that Toombs County High School has made for their golf program this will be something that will help both of those programs. Robert Toombs Christian Academy also has a golf program as does Montgomery County and Heritage Academy. All schools should be able to benefit from this project as well.
It will also be beneficial for the many charities such as the Sweet Onion Classic, the United Way Golf Tournament, and the many other businesses and nonprofits that will be able to hold events there. The amount of money that has been raised for this community through charity golf events, and the financial benefits that they have provided over the years has been tremendous.
There are still many questions that will be answered as the project moves forward, but at the moment this is very promising news for the area.
