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September 9, 2020

Golf in Gadsden: Twin Bridges Golf Club Reopens

Twin Bridges Golf Club in Gadsden Alabama

Gadsden Golf Course Gets New TifEagle Greens

Twin Bridges Golf Club, one of the best golf facilities in Gadsden area is open once again.

Twin Bridges, which is owned by the City of Gadsden, reopened for public play on Sept. 1 with new TifEagle greens.

Twin Bridges Golf Club No 2 green
The new TifEagle green at No. 2 at Twin Bridges Golf Club.

The greens renovation project on the par 72, Gene Bates-designed daily fee facility began June 1. Twin Bridges Golf Club, which plays to 6,800 yards from the tips and has seven sets of tees, previously had bentgrass greens.

It was a needed makeover, said Twin Bridges Golf Club GM Chet Hallman.

“We kind of struggled with the bentgrass greens at times over the the summer because we are busier,” Hallman said recently.

Twin Bridges Golf Club Says Bermuda Greens a Better Fit

“We are sitting kind of in the Coosa River Valley, so it is kind of lower and very wooded and we don’t have any fans. You can imagine how they struggled in the summer. Even with our best effort, it was difficult to keep them in good shape. Being a city facility, it just makes a little bit more sense to have a heartier summer grass on your greens. It would just be better for the facility.”

Depending on the weather and other factors, Hallman said Twin Bridges averages between 24,000 and 26,000 rounds. The course won’t reach that number this year after being closed for the renovations and because of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Hallman said the many of the golfers who play regularly at Twin Bridges Golf Club have clamored for the change to Bermuda grass greens.

“It finally came to pass,” he said.

Since the project started, Hallman joked that his staff has literally been sitting around watching the grass grow. The contour of the greens remained basically intact.

Literally Watching Grass Grow

“We liked the contouring, so we didn’t do much to that,” he said. “It was basically a no-till renovation,” he said. “They nuked the greens and killed everything out. They came back with heavy verticutting to kind of plow it and churn it up in different directions.”

Pre-fertilizer applications readied the greens for putting down the sprigs. The greens were then top-dressed and then Hallman and his staff watched them grow in for 10 weeks.

Twin Bridges’ staff prepared the greens, a contractor put the sprigs in and cut them in. Then Hallman’s staff did the rest.

Hallman said it was a good summer for the renovation, with ample rain and sun that ensured the greens had a good grow-in process.

“It turned out pretty good – we didn’t want to much rain that would wash out when we put the sprigs on them. You want to be able to control that until they got established. It worked out pretty good – they are healthy.”

Hallman said he has had positive feedback with the course transitioning to the Tifeagle greens.

“When people were calling the feedback was good, that they were glad it was happening and ready for the change,” Hallman said. “They said they were looking forward to when we got on the new greens.”

Affordable Rates at Gadsden Alabama Golf Course

A new price structure is in place for Gadsden’s city-owned 18-hole course. Weekday fees are $45, including cart; and weekend fees are $49, including cart. The course has a new loyalty card program for $35. That lowers the cost to $29 during the week and $34 for weekends.

There are a variety of membership options as well, starting at $1,000.

Gregg Dewalt is the editor of Alabama Golf News.

Have a story idea or a news item to report? Email bamagolfnews@gmail.com.

Featured image: Twin Bridges

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