George Cobb design stands the test of time
SCOTTSBORO – The early 1970s probably will never be known as the Golden Age of golf course design, but it was a good time to be around the public golf scene in north Alabama.
Four of the state’s best public-access courses opened between 1971 (Point Mallard in Decatur) and 1974 (Goose Pond Lake Course, Lake Guntersville State Park, Joe Wheeler State Park).
Those four courses remain viable more than 50 years later, and one of the nice things is that none of them require a person to break the bank All four are fun to play, challenging in their own way, and located in some of Alabama’s most scenic settings.
One of the best – and a must-play course – is the Lake Course at Goose Pond Colony Resort, a two-hour drive from my home in Florence. My great nephew, a friend, and I hit it up recently on a cool, brisk late November day. Although the Bermuda grass fairways, greens and tees have gone dormant, and it had rained quite a bit just a couple of days before our visit, the Lake Course was in excellent shape, had drained well and the greens were rolling at a nice speed (not overly quick, not real slow).
A George Cobb design, the Lake Course wraps around the Tennessee River/Lake Guntersville. It’s a traditional par-72 layout with five sets of tees and has hosted numerous Alabama Golf Association events. It also hosted the NJCAA Division II Men’s National Championship seven times. So, it has some chops.
Playing from the tips at 7,101 yards, the Lake Course has a 73.1 rating and a slope of 129. From the white tees, it’s a cozy 6,326 yards (69.6/122).
Cobb did a nice job of utilizing the terrain to create a course that flows naturally through the landscape. There’s a good mix of holes that dogleg both left and right, and enough bunkers to keep players honest. There are some spectacular views, and the Tennessee River/Lake Guntersville is visible from every hole.
The Lake Course has some subtle elevation changes – an assortment of “up and down” holes that can make club selection a challenge.
While the first 12 holes are good, Cobb did a great job with the closing stretch of holes from No. 13 through No. 18. No. 13 is a memorable par 3 that ranges from 155 yards (gold tees) to 190 yards (black). The tee shot is over water to a green guarded on both sides by bunkers. No. 14 is a short dogleg right par 4 where position off the tee is crucial. No. 15 is a gettable par 5 (445 yards gold; 525 black) with water in play on the second shot. The elevated green is guarded by bunkers. No. 16 is a man-sized par 3 that stretches to 223 yards from the tips to a large green surrounded by bunkers. The 17th hole is another dogleg right with water in play along the right side. The second shot is to a green that is surrounded on three sides by water. The finishing hole on the Lake Course is a long, uphill par 4 (430 black) with a bunker guarding the front and both sides of the green.
The miniverde Bermuda greens, renovated in 2022, generous, relatively flat and with some subtle breaks. Think resort-style.
The Lake Course features a large practice range and practice green. There is a grill inside the modest clubhouse. With a senior rate of $61, consider it a bargain.
The companion Plantation Course – just a short drive away – is a parkland stye course that does not play alongside the Tennessee River.
In addition to the golf, the resort features cabin rentals, a lodge and three restaurants.
For information about Goose Pond Colony Resort, go to goosepond.org.
Gregg Dewalt is the editor of Alabama Golf News
Have a story idea or a news item to report to Alabama Golf News? Email gregg@alabamagolfnews.com
Featured image courtesy of Goose Pond Colony Resort
