My No-Budget Plan for Charlotte Municipal Golf

Welcome to the Two Down Press golf newsletter!

Election season has come and gone, but this week’s newsletter will feature some belated political campaigning - don’t let the calendar be the enemy of content! Trust me, it all ties back to golf in the Queen City.

PRESENTED BY

IMPROVING MUNICIPAL GOLF

Part 2: My Platform for Improving Charlotte’s City Golf Facilities

In Part 1, we lamented the fact our city courses need a lot more work than can be done with the $550K recently earmarked for renovations.

Instead of dwelling on that bleak reality, let’s pretend we’re living in a version of Charlotte ready to go all-in on improving its city courses. In fact, I hereby nominate myself for the newly created position of President (Czar? CEO? Title TBD) of Charlotte golf, where I’ll have free reign and unlimited budget to create a public golf experience that matches our city’s growing stature. Here are the four pillars of my campaign:

1. Double-down on Sifford Success

The best muni in town needs the best driving range - it’s proximity to Uptown and South End should make it THE practice destination for Charlotte professionals with limited time for golf. Don’t mess with the course - it’s fun, engaging, playable, and usually in great shape!

My plan: build a double-decker range (to expand capacity) outfitted with Trackman and heaters for year-round access. I’d also add floodlights for extended hours and a small snack bar down by the range (i.e. somewhere to buy a beer without walking to the clubhouse).

2. Evaluate Alternatives for Harry Jones

Things are… not good at Harry Jones. There are a few holes I don’t hate, but with 3 stars on Google, a zero on the Doak scale, and generally poor conditions, we have nothing to lose by considering radical alternatives!

My plan: blow up the back nine entirely and convert to an expanded practice facility + par 3 course (a la Belmont Golf Course or Rock Creek Park). In parallel, invest in renovating the front nine, maximizing the wider corridors on that piece of land. This provides more ways for golfers of all skill levels to enjoy the facility and does away with the overly penal slog that is the back nine.

3. Invest in Course Conditioning at Charles T

I’ll die on this hill - there are some great golf holes at Charles T. Myers. The stretch of 11-16 is one awesome hole after another and features tons of variety. Blind tee shot to a diagonal fairway on the 11th, ridgetop drive-and-pitch 12th, reachable par 5 13th with a blind approach… I could go on (OK I can’t leave out the blind, drivable 16th!). You have to hit every club in your bag to score well. Conditions, on the other hand, are generally poor and hit a low-point during a particularly hot and dry spell last summer.

My plan: fund a full course renovation (focused on bunkers and injecting interest into the greens and surrounds), hire an awesome superintendent, and give them a serious maintenance budget. I don’t think this place needs much more than cash to be a huge golf asset for the city.

4. Explore Public/Private Partnership to Execute

When it comes to funding, we have good blueprints to follow as cities like Nashville, Washington D.C., Atlanta, and Charleston have all executed on similar projects in the last 5 years. The common thread? Private fundraising.

In reality, it’s difficult to fund these projects with taxpayer dollars alone, but I’m convinced a well-organized non-profit could easily shake loose a few million dollars from Charlotte’s corporate coffers and golf community under the guidance of a strong leader with a clear vision. Until then, I’ll keep my plan on the shelf.

LOCAL RECS

Tour Level Fitting in a Monroe Strip Mall?! Check Out Birdie & Blades.

I love getting fit, but my club fitting experiences to date have been a mixed bag. Unengaged fitters, pushy salespeople, and a lack of brand options have all conspired to ruin fitting sessions for me in the past.

These factors were notably absent at Birdie & Blades when I visited for an iron fitting earlier this year. Owner Matt Decker, who purchased the studio in 2022, is a certified master fitter and has worked at multiple facilities garnering the Best Clubfitters in America designation from Golf Digest. Located inconspicuously in a shopping center off US 74, this place is absolutely worth the ~40 minute drive for your next fitting.

My experience: Matt is a straight-shooter - he wasn’t trying to push me in any particular direction. He used launch monitor data to inform his recommendations and skillfully explained the “why” behind each suggestion. He also has a huge selection - I think I hit 10 different iron models from 6 brands during my fitting.

The cost: Fitting costs at Birdie & Blades are about half those of the national chains with locations in Charlotte. $200 for a full bag fitting and $75 for a driver or iron fitting.

The difference: The local touch goes a long way. There are no hidden commission structures or corporate overlords trying to drive a bottom line at Birdie & Blades - just a knowledgeable, local golf professional focused on providing a great experience at a fair price. Plus, it’s cool to tell your friends you have a “club guy” down in Monroe.

HOUSEKEEPING

Introducing two new content series on Two Down Press!

• Q&A Series: Launching later this month, our Q&A series will explore Charlotte’s golf community through conversations with some of our most prominent and interesting local golfers.

• Day Trips: Launching in January, Day Trips will highlight under-the-radar, affordable, and interesting golf experiences within driving distance from Charlotte. We’ll help you break out of your Charlotte golf rut with some unique ideas for golfers looking to get off the beaten path and see something new.

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