Renovation completed at Dalton Golf & Country Club

Duininck Golf and Bergin Golf Designs have completed a $3.5 million renovation of the historic 98-year-old private Dalton Golf & Country Club in far north Georgia.

The club has evolved from its humble beginnings as a 9-gole golf course with putting greens made from a mixture of cotton seed hulls and oil flattened with a heavy roller. Following the renovation, members are enjoying a “new” golf course that rivals the best in north Georgia. 

“It had been nearly 40 years since the last time any major improvements had been completed and the golf course was showing signs of wear,” said Judd Duininck, division manager, golf for Duininck Golf. Following detailed plans developed by golf architect Bill Bergin, Duininck mobilized in January 2020 and completed the project on schedule in eight months despite extraordinarily wet weather and the COVID-19 pandemic. The scope of improvements included complete renovation of the golf course and irrigation system.

“Their greens were well beyond their expected lifetime, the irrigation system needed to be replaced and the course suffered from poor drainage on many holes,” Bergin said. “It was time for a major renovation. In determining the scope of work, we recognized that while we were tackling these items, we could give the golf course an entirely new look and identity. Our goal was to design a ‘golden age’ golf course that would function well for the next 30 years or more.”

Greenside and fairway bunkers were rebuilt with 41,500 square feet of Better Billy Bunker liner and Tour Angle sand installed to improve maintainability and playability. Several putting green complexes were relocated and others rebuilt to USGA standards to enhance shot-making and maintainability. Greens were sprigged with TifEagle Bermuda. New laser-graded tees were added throughout the course to add a new dimension of playability and shot-making opportunities. All fairways were graded to improve surface drainage and re-planted with TifTuf Bermuda. The renovation also included the addition of a new 650-head Toro irrigation system, pump station and pond intake.

“The project couldn’t have turned out better,” golf course superintendent Mike Whaley said. “The members are thrilled with the new golf course, especially with how well it drains, the quality of the new putting greens and how fun it is to play.”

Duininck Golf is also working on projects at Green Island Country Club in Columbus, Georgia.

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