March 14, 2007

Last Meeting
March 14, 2007
Reporter – Lyn Richards

The meeting was called to order by President Molly. The invocation was given by Irvin Ott. We are saddened to learn of Harvey Hoots’ resignation from our club due to business concerns; John Hanson will be trying to fill his shoes indefinitely. John introduced our guests, Alan Rey from Interact Club and Chuck Baer, our speaker. Lyman Whitehead gave us a few chuckles. Herb Harrison reminded everyone that the Chapin Oyster Roast is coming up on Saturday. Molly reminded us of the Board Meeting at Three Rivers Medical at 7:30 am on Thursday, and that our scholarship deadline is approaching. Jim Jeffers led several tables in a four-way test quiz.

Our speaker was introduced by Ginny Barr. Chuck Baer comes to The Club at Rawls Creek from Augusta, Georgia to be the new club manager. Formerly Coldstream Golf Club, The Club at Rawls Creek has been re-acquired by Dr. Yarrid, and extensive renovations are being done to reopen the golf course and provide a country-club type entity for this area.

Chuck is married, and has a 15 year old son who is learning to drive. He has a degree in Corporate Finance. After spending years in the corporate finance world, he “dropped out” to the golf world. After spending a few years in Myrtle Beach, he relocated to Augusta where he built The Applewood course from the ground-up from an abandoned apple orchard.


Chuck reminded us that the old Coldstream golf course is now 30 years old, which is near the end of any golf course’s natural life span. In addition, the course had been abandoned for a full year. As such, renovating and reopening the course has a lot of challenges. The largest challenge is the irrigation system for the course, which is fed by a reservoir; the dam of which recently was breached. Reconstructing the dam, dredging the reservoir, and determining the adequacy and overall health of the pipes in the current irrigation system is currently underway. Weed removal has been completed. Green re-construction is underway, with several holes undergoing some corrections. Fairways are being upgraded by narrowing the seven varieties of grass down to just one or two, and through landscaping. Many traps are being moved, eliminated or renovated to speed up play.

There will be tennis and pool memberships available through a country club membership and the banquet facility will be used for various community events. Early membership discounts will be available. Rates will remain much the same as they were. A senior citizen discount will also be offered during week-day play.

Anticipated opening date is optimistically set for July 1st, more likely it will be August 1st. All eighteen holes will be open.

The meeting concluded with happy dollars from Beetle, Skey, Irvin, Lyn, Chris Joye, Molly, Ritchie, and Chuck.