“Golf knows no color. We all follow the same set of rules and honor those who helped establish the integrity of the game”. – James Black, noted Charlotte Golfer.
Bonnie Brae Golf Course was constructed in the 1930’s and was Charlotte’s first municipal golf course. However, it was not open to people of color. Even though Charles Sifford (who lived close to the course) was a young aspiring golfer, he was not allowed to play due to the color of his skin. Similar restrictions existed on the PGA Tour. Due to Dr. Sifford’s determination to break that color barrier and coupled with his exceptional playing ability, he became the first African American to earn his PGA tour playing card. Concurrently through a civil rights case, Bonnie Brae Golf Course was then opened to people of all color and walks of life. This facility has been renamed Dr. Charles L. Sifford Golf Course at Revolution Park and is dedicated to all people from all walks of life in recognition that golf is truly a game that does not discriminate and is for everyone to enjoy for a lifetime!* Thank you – Dr. Charles Sifford!
Today we had a gathering of old men – excuse me, I mean senior golfers. Our 55+ community Golf Club was out for a beautiful autumn day in Charlotte – 9 holes of golf; 9 beers (I mean a few beers) at Olde Mecklenburg Brewery; and finally, the drive home by 9pm (before it got dark)!
Since none of us had played this course, I went off on a scouting trip to find Hole #1. Of course I went in the wrong direction and somehow found myself in the middle of the first fairway. I’m sure the foursome on the tee box were thinking – old men shouldn’t be allowed out by themselves! After I apologized for taking a joy ride on their fairway, I gathered the troops and led them to the middle tee box. This 9-hole layout consists of the back tees (2936 yards); Middle (2745 yards); and Forward (2260 yards). The first hole is a par 4 measuring 402 yards. The fairway is wide and straight, but any wild slice to the right will find tree trouble (or a path to the driving range). A nice opening hole to ease you into your round. Of course you have to first locate it!
Hole #2 provides a risk/reward tee shot. Do you take the safe route up the elevated, rolling fairway? Or do you carve your way through the trees on this entertaining dogleg left hole? Hole #3 is a par 3 of 145 yards. A large bunker awaits any shots short and left. Hole #4 greets you with a big dogleg left and plenty of dense trees to the right. The fairway is very welcoming, so the trees “shouldn’t” come into play. Your approach shot at this par 4 is better long than short due to a perilous false front on the green. This green is very similar to most of the greens in that they slope from back to front.
A short (258 yards) but interesting design welcomes you at the fifth hole. It’s a risk/reward par 4. The safe route is to take a long iron down the fairways, then a short iron over two large bunkers and hope you have a birdie putt. If you have length and height from the tee box, you might be able to clear the trees and bunkers that safeguard the green. Have fun at this hole! At the sixth hole it is imperative that you choose a club that will carry past the trees that protect the dogleg left hole. If you attain a clear second shot to the green, the undulating green is surrounded by hills, valleys, and sand. Good luck at this one!
The hazard at Hole #7 is – the green! No matter where your ball finds a landing spot at this par 3, it is not going to have straight access to the cup. You will find another short (300 yards) risk/reward par 4 with a dogleg right at Hole #8. A high ball-flight drive “might” be able to clear the trees on the right, or is a better option taking a long iron and finding the fairway straight ahead? After trying to use my 9th grade algebra (or was it 10th grade geometry) to calculate the apex of my drive, I just decide to try to find the wide fairway.
At the ninth hole, you find the only par 5. It is uphill with a slight turn to the left. The middle and back tees have a creek to carry with your initial swing.
Rating – Birdie (47 out of 60): Overall, I like the course. It has a good combination of hole designs and routing. There were only a few bunkers on the course, but all were strategically placed. Most of the tree trouble is to the right, so beware all you big slicers out there.
This course is the official site of the First Tee of Charlotte. The First Tee Core Value is Responsibility – accounting for one’s actions. Responsibility is perhaps one of the most important core values, both on and off the course. You are responsible for your actions in life, and they will determine your future path. Charles Sifford understood this and rather than conform to standards that had been in place long before he arrived, he took on the responsibility to effect change for the better*. I am a First Tee volunteer and this organization a fantastic way to help kids with their future success, both in golf and in life.
* statements from the First Tee and the Charles Sifford GC scorecard.
1225 Remount Road, Charlotte, NC 28208; 704-333-3949; www.charlottepublicgolf.com
