GREENSBORO, N.C. — The look of a golf course plays a big role in how much players enjoy it. Over time, parts of the course can become outdated and call for a facelift.
That's what's happening at Greensboro's oldest municipal course. The city and PGA of America invested over two million dollars into Gillespie Golf Course for enhancements.
WFMY News 2 spoke with people from the course about the jolt of new life into the historic course.
One hundred and four acres, nine holes and a historical significance that dates back to 1955 when six black golfers known as the Greensboro Six integrated the course, is home to many.
"Without them, people like me on a bigger scale like Tiger Woods wouldn’t be able to do the things that they do," First-Tee Central Carolina Co-Director of Programs Terrington Myles said.
Myles works with young golfers at the course. His program, headquartered at Gillespie, empowers the youth through the game.
"Since the beginning of the year, I’ve had the opportunity to play out here a lot just from whether it’s before work or after work or during lunch breaks. I love to take advantage of that time," Myles expressed.
He's not alone, just ask any golfer you see at Gillespie, they'd tell you it's a special place to be.
"It's affordable and gives people like me the chance to play," one golfer said.
While its history and affordability make the course significant, CEO Ryan Wilson with First-Tee Central Carolina said it can still use some renovations and improvements so it can continue to be a fun place to play.
"Those greens are old out there. They are the same greens that are 80-plus years old when the golf course first opened and so even though it is wonderful, it’s time to make some updates," Wilson said.
Those greens are on the list for some TLC thanks to a two million dollar investment from the city and they're stretching that money to make more improvements.
"There’s a new net on the driving range, which is incredible and a great enhancement for the facility," Wilson said.
They also received an extra $250,000 legacy grant from the PGA of America to build a community that is green.
"It's something that is going to draw a lot of traffic in the afternoon young, old, people of all stripes, they’d be out here practicing putting," Wilson said.
Jeff Abbot, CEO of the Carolina's PGA, said the grant was awarded in conjunction with the 2025 PGA championship.
"The PGA championship likes to have a ‘leave behind’ after the championship comes into the market so next year the 2025 PGA championship will be at Quail Hollow in Charlotte and the behind will be this reimagine project for Gillespie that really spruces a hidden gem of a golf course," Abbot said.
Myles said it's courses like Gillespie that can benefit most from these types of investments.
"Golf needs that. It’s a lot of upkeep for the golf course, a lot to make it everything that it is," Myles said.
From tee box to fairway from fairway to hole the enhancements happening at Gillespie are an exciting thing to see but the treasured history and memories shared among golfers are what make the course a significant gem.
There are also efforts to create a large mural of the Greensboro Six that will sit at the new community putting green.