Renovation Roundup: Tracking Projects at Charlotte Clubs

Welcome to the Two Down Press golf newsletter!

We’re less than 50 days from the Masters, but winter in Charlotte is still putting up a fight! Golf season is coming despite the snow flurries and cold temperatures this week.

We cover a lot of ground in this week’s 2DP! Updates on renovation projects across the city (a hot topic right now), a spotlight on a unique club event, and an assortment of quick stories to close. Let’s dive in.

THIS WEEK’S HEADLINE

Renovation Roundup: Carmel, Pine Lake, Skybrook, and Charlotte

With full membership rosters, long waitlists, and increased initiation fees in a post-COVID world, golf clubs in Charlotte today find themselves in a strong financial position. Evidence suggests, however, they are not eager to let this influx of cash burn a hole in their pockets, as they continue to invest heavily in facility upgrades.

Today we’ll take a quick spin through the news and share some updates from ongoing renovation projects. Here are 4 snippets that have recently caught our attention:

Carmel Country Club

Carmel recently released a video on LinkedIn sharing an update on their South Course Improvement Project. The project scope includes bunker renovations (including Capillary Concrete liners) and tee expansions on the Rees Jones-redesigned South Course. The course is set to reopen on April 1st.

Pine Lake Country Club

Pine Lake Superintendent Will Laine has been sharing regular updates on what is currently the city’s most extensive renovation project. The latest video (posted February 8th) shows the full scope of the ongoing work at PLCC, as all green complexes are being rebuilt and regrassed with oversight from architect Jeff Lawrence. Pine Lake is scheduled to reopen in September 2025.

Skybrook Golf Club

Private clubs aren’t the only ones getting in on the renovation game, as Skybrook is investing in enhancing its driving range with new hitting bays and Toptracer Range technology. Skybrook is also renovating the parking lot to add new space near the practice facility to accommodate more traffic.

Charlotte Country Club

Andrew Green is yet to break ground on the course (though practice facility work has been ongoing), but there is clearly work going on behind the scenes as CCC prepares for a major renovation project. Triad-based artist Dave Baysden recently shared a new Donald Ross-inspired logo he designed to “commemorate this moment in the club’s history.” I’m loving the vintage vibes and I’m sure the merch is going to fly off the shelves!

Heard of other active renovation projects in Charlotte? Let us know!

TOURNAMENTS

The Schlager: Cedarwood’s Biannual Putting Competition

In May 2024, Cedarwood Country Club introduced a new tournament to its membership. A brilliantly simple concept - a March Madness-style putting tournament played throughout the year on the main putting green. The event has been an instant success, so much so they’ve decided to hold it twice a year.

The story: “The idea came from a group message I’m in with a bunch of members,” said Josh Stockwell, Assistant Professional at Cedarwood. “We do a ton of tournaments, but nothing match play, so I threw out the idea of a putting contest run by the pro shop.”

“I play golf with a group of members and we’re all traditionalists - we love tournaments named after people rather than having a generic name. The tournament is named after long-time Cedarwood member, Charlie Schlager. When he was on his last legs and couldn’t play golf, he’d sit out back on a rocking chair and tell stories.”

Format: 64-person, single-elimination match play bracket. All matches are 18 holes and are self-scheduled by competitors. The leader selects the next hole and all holes must be longer than 10 feet.

The prize: Players reaching the Sweet 16 win back their entry fee ($25). Remaining funds go into the purse, and the winner receives a custom Cedarwood putter cover.

My two cents: I love everything about this event. It brings players of all ages and skill levels together, and it doesn’t take four hours to participate! What a great way to meet other members and create camaraderie. Every club should have a Schlager.

STORIES TO TRACK

Charlotte Represents at Gasparilla Invitational: Both John Eades and Hayes Brown (featured in last week’s 2DP) made the cut and finished T22 at the Gasparilla. Eades jumped out to the first round lead after a 5-under 65, but a 77 during Friday’s second round scuppered his chances. Brown spent most of the event inside the top 10 but backslid a bit on Saturday with a round of 75.

North Carolina Senior Amateur Registration Now Open: Qualifying signups opened last week for May’s event at Country Club of Salisbury. Charlotte-area qualifying at Stonebridge Golf Club in Monroe on April 16th.

UNC Charlotte’s Justin Matthews Loses in Playoff at Gator Invitational: Matthews finished the event at -8 in a tie with Florida’s Ian Gilligan, but a bogey on the 2nd playoff hole left him as runner-up. Impressive performance by Matthews against a stout field including traditional powerhouses like Florida and Oklahoma State, and a strong start to the spring season for the 49ers, who finished 5th out of 13 teams.

Winston-Salem Reclaims Trophy at Twilight Golf Club Presidents Cup: Team WS took back the cup in the second iteration of TGC’s Winston vs. Charlotte team event at Mimosa Hills Golf Club. Interested in learning more about TGC and events like this? Learn how to get involved.

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