photo by Doug Stein
Sept. 2 marked the 20th anniversary of the opening of Black Creek Club, the centerpiece of the Black Creek development in Lookout Valley.
Doug Stein, Black Creek founder, said, "There are many who thought that the vision of the course was too audacious, that the 6th and 17th holes (among others) were 'over the top,' and that the Club would struggle as a result. But even in the headwinds of the Great Recession a decade ago, the Club and the associated development have continued to thrive and grow.
"Golf Digest recently named the sixth hole as the “best 6th hole built in the last 20 years,” and Golfweek ranks Black Creek the fifth best private course in Tennessee, as well as the 115th best Residential course in the country (the only course in the state to make that list).
"Since Black Creek was built in 2000, other notable courses have adopted the idea: Old Macdonald at Bandon Dunes (Oregon), Arcadia Bluffs South in Michigan, and recently, Davis Love III’s renovation of the Plantation course at Sea Island.
"Over the last 20 years, the governing organizations of golf have also recognized Black Creek’s greatness.
The PGA Tour chose Black Creek to host its Nationwide Tour’s Chattanooga Classic for eight years, and the USGA picked Black Creek as the stroke play co-host to The Honors for the 2005 US Mid-Amateur. Black Creek continues to host the Tennessee Golf Association’s championships on every level.
"Black Creek has also been the incubator of many great golfers, including 4 who will be on the PGA Tour next year: Luke List, Harris English, Keith Mitchell, and Stephan Jaeger, all of whom played their high school golf at Black Creek. Two-time City Prep Champion Jonathan Xoinis claims Black Creek as his home course and will be a Freshman on the UT Martin team this fall."
Mr. Stein calls Black Creek “the grandson of the course at Lookout Mountain,” designed by famous architect Seth Raynor in 1925. The course at Black Creek is modern architect Brian Silva’s vision of what Raynor and his mentor C.B. Macdonald would have built if they saw the modern game, he said.
Featuring squared-off green corners, steep and deep bunkering, and generous fairways, Black Creek is an embrace of classical strategic design on a modern scale, he said.
The community surrounding the golf course continues growing at a rapid pace, too. It may already be the largest residential development in Chattanooga history, with approximately 600 family dwellings already occupied.
photo by Doug Stein