MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) – With the FedEx St. Jude Championship set to tee off this weekend, a lot of people may try to hit the links, and thanks to major investments by the city of Memphis, the public courses around the city are nicer than ever.

Since 2020, the city has invested almost $20 million into making improvements to four different public courses.

Memphis Parks and Recreation Director Nick Walker said those upgrades have really elevated the city.

“Memphis Parks not only have among the best public golf courses in the state of Tennessee, but I would argue among the best in the region,” Walker said.

Walker said that compared to 20 years ago, these courses are unrecognizable.

“Ask anyone who played Memphis golf courses in the late 90s and early 2000s, and what they looked like then as opposed to what they are like today and they would say the difference is night and day; it is remarkable,” Walker said.

Before 2020, the last course to get an upgrade was The Links at Galloway back in 2000, Walker said for years, everyone just wanted to play there, but now that is going to change.

“There are so many changes, a renovated and reimagined Overton Nine with significant upgrades to the clubhouse. A new clubhouse and refreshed Pine Hill golf course and a driving range, the city’s second, new greens and new carts paths at Fox Meadows. New cart paths at Galloway and this beautiful golf course where you can see the driving range behind us at Audubon,” Walker said.

The most recent upgrade was the Links at Audubon, a course that was originally opened in 1941. This was the first major upgrade it has had, a $9 million project spearheaded by lead architect Bill Bergin. He has designed courses like Richland Country Club in Nashville and Santa Rosa Golf Club in Florida and said this project was very unique.

“There were a few meetings that caused us to reinvent the golf course a little bit; but, in the end, I think it was for the best it really produced a fantastic course,” Bergin said.

Bergin said it is a great driving golf course, with native areas, and only 21 bunkers. Even with that being said, Bergin stressed it is great for beginners and experienced golfers alike.

“There are some great areas around the greens because we think people play less-than-perfect golf, and this golf course is great for playing less-than-perfect golf, but we could have the University of Memphis teams out here, and it would give them all the challenge they want,” Bergin said.

To book a tee time at any public course, just visit the Memphis Public Links website.

Click here to sign up for our newsletter!

Click here to report a spelling or grammar error. Please include the headline.

Copyright 2024 WMC. All rights reserved.