Pate sees Indian Oaks’ potential
- Updated: May 29, 2015
[corner-ad id=2]Former U.S. Open champion visits Saks course Thursday, advises investors to determine its place in the market
Former U.S. Open champion and Anniston resident Jerry Pate (C) gives Indian Oaks owner Ronnie Cofield (L) and pro shop manager Ron McClellan his opinion of the course’s troubled No. 5 green.
By Al Muskewitz
East Alabama Sports Today
Former U.S. Open champion Jerry Pate told the investors of Indian Oaks Golf Club their weathered golf course has “a lot of potential” and the secret to their ultimate success will lie in determining its place in the market and the amount of resources they want to commit to reaching it.
Pate rode the front nine of the Saks area course with several club officials Thursday before rain cut the tour short. His trip, arranged at the invitation of longtime friend and Indian Oaks board member Sam Stewart, was intended for the former Anniston resident to give investors an objective evaluation from a professional who has seen courses all over the world and designed, refurbished and serviced them since 1978.
The convoy of carts specifically stopped at the greens on 1 and 5 for Pate to give an assessment to Barry Smith, owner Ronnie Cofield, board member Starling Ridgeway and incoming pro shop manager Ron McClellan.
Pate had never been on the property before, having moved from Anniston before it was built. He liked what he saw of the course’s routing and told officials on the tour they had “a really nice piece of property,” but added quickly, “you don’t have a golf course.”
He told the investors they had “a beautiful piece of land” with routing that lends itself to building a “world-class facility … as nice or nicer than Silver Lakes,” but the key is determining the niche they want to fill. At the very least, they have to get their greens in shape.
“There’s great potential for it, but it’s going to take some resources to make it happen; they have to determine what their pain level is,” Pate said. “The site is a nice site, but the golf course has gotten tired. It needs a little renovation.
“We have made golf too hard and too expensive. You have an opportunity to have a nice golf course that’s fun and easy to play.”
That was music to Cofield’s ears. He has been pushing Indian Oaks as a fun, affordable golf course that’s beneficial to the community it serves. To that end, Cofield said the course would eliminate all sand bunkers and provide par-3 teeing areas on every hole on the front.
They have a June 27 grand opening planned and are offering introductory membership packages at $350 ($300 for investors) good through June 30, 2016. After the initial offering, annual memberships will be $600.
“We’re in a real positive mode right now,” Cofield said.
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