We will stay at the brand new Hotel Indigo in downtown Chattanooga. Most rooms are single king beds, but rooms with 2 queen beds are available if you'd like to stay with a friend (one who doesn't snore maybe, and wants to save a few bucks and split the cost of a room).
You can fly into Chattanooga, or work your way over from Atlanta or Nashville. If you don't want to rent a car, contact Groome Transportation to arrange airport transport, with many affordable trips offered each day. Nooga Shuttles will be getting us everywhere once at the hotel.
*We know this trip is a lengthy time commitment, but Tuesdays were the only day we could secure Sweeten's Cove for a group. This will be well worth the time :)
Check in between 2-5 p.m. at the hotel, then come to the meeting room at any time to grab some food and meet some of the other guys. We'll gather at 5:30 for Happy Hour, then off to dinner at 6:30 p.m.
After dinner, we'll return to the meeting room, and enjoy the insights of Rob Collins and Doug Stein. We're calling the first conversation "Problems and Possibilities: Golf Course Architecture, and How Golf is Much Like Life."
Rob Collins is one of the designers/owners of Sweeten's Cove, and was nominated as one of golf’s Most Influential Architects in the February 2016 issue of Golf Inc. He became interested in the field of golf course design after a trip to Saint Andrews in 1994. An Art History major at Sewanee: The University of the South, he later obtained a graduate degree in Landscape Architecture from Mississippi State University. His graduate thesis, which was recognized with a national award from the American Society of Landscape Architects, addressed the environmental impact of golf course design and construction.
Doug Stein Doug Stein is one of the Founders of Black Creek Club and the person responsible for its architectural vision as a modern iteration of a classic Raynor/Macdonald golf course. His involvement with golf began when his company was contracted to build The Honors Course for Pete Dye. Later, he and his close friend, the Reverend King Oehmig (for whom the famous 4th hole at Sweetens is named), founded the Seth Raynor Society while researching the restoration of Lookout Mountain, which Stein’s company did with Brain Silva in 1997. Stein also worked with Gil Hanse at The University of the South to see the nine hole course at Sewanee renovated.
His career spans over 4 decades in golf, and he has the stories to prove it!
Late Night
Depending on the timing, we might offer some Pub Night Trivia (with prizes, of course!). We'll also have a spot in the hotel bar for those who want to hang out later into the night.
Continental Breakfast will be served, and then we head out to Black Creek Golf Club for a morning round of golf. We will have just heard from Doug Stein the night before, so will enjoy the twists and turns of this great golf course. Following golf, we will eat a big lunch at the clubhouse, and then there are a couple options:
We have limited spots for 18 holes of golf in the afternoon at Lookout Mountain. First to sign up and register for Lookout will head there in the afternoon.
Others will head back to the hotel, and we are working on a second potential 9 or 18 holes for you. Otherwise, you'll have time to clean up, and do whatever suits your fancy (taking a nap, reading, exploring the downtown or other Chattanooga sights, etc.),
If you're feeling bad about your golf game, or ready to keep the hot streak going, here's a chance to have some fun in other sporting competitions. We'll head to Southside Social, where we have a side room reserved for dinner grub and drinks. We'll have a little bowling tourney, and various other games (pool, darts, etc.), can be part of the evening. Unlike the golf course, highest score takes home the prizes.
After breakfast, we'll make the trek to The Course at Sewanee, on the campus of the University of the South, where our group will have exclusive access to a day of 27 holes of golf. Matt Daniels (Head Golf Professional and General Manager of The Course at Sewanee) promises a special day, with competitions, a big leaderboard, and various games. Ever wondered what it is like to have your name up on the board as you walk the last hole? Come see if you can make it happen.
We will end the golf with a tasting of Sweeten's Cove spirits,
After some time to clean up, we'll enjoy a big dinner at the hotel restaurant with chef Erin Meeker before gathering in the meeting room.
Jim Brommers Bergquist will present "Takeaways from Caddyshack, East of Eden, Positive Psychology, Carl Jung, and my midlife crisis." Interspersed will be a chance to chat with those around you, and learn from one another as we share our own experiences and best practices.
There will also be a chance to give input on wisdom and thoughts you'd want to share with 12-18 year-olds who are moving toward manhood.
If interested, there will be opportunity to head out and catch some live music.
After Continental Breakfast, we'll load up and head west to South Pittsburg, TN, and what has been ranked the 49th best Modern Golf Course and the 21st Best Course You Can Play in the United States by Golfweek. Our group will have exclusive access to a day of golf at Sweeten's Cove. Thanks to the generosity and support of Rob Collins and the Sweeten's Cove team, we are in for a treat (back in January, when tee times were posted, Sweeten's filled over 90% of its season in 30 minutes). Lunch will be catered, drinks and snacks will be plentiful throughout the day, and Rob will set us up with some of his favorite shots, angles, and special tee locations for the day.
We have been granted special access to the Chattanooga Whiskey Riverside Distillery for an evening of catered dinner, tour, and tasting. This space is not usually open to the public, so will be an awesome addition to a a great day. Chattanooga Whiskey will also provide some great swag!
We'll head back for a last chance to gather in the meeting room, and are still working on a couple surprises and speaker for the end of our time together.
[Time permitting, we will also have a video chat with Clay Phillips, who will 2/3 of the way through his attempt to play 50 courses in 50 states in 50 days, in order to raise money for global clean water initiatives with Water 1st International.]
We know everyone will need to get to different places at different times. Breakfast will be available, and we'll be there to say good-bye, and thanks for being a part of this first event.
*Groome shuttles start in Chattanooga, so early transport can usually be arranged.