Aug. 25, 2020
Pine Oaks Golf Course new practice facility opens
Area golfers looking to hone their skills now have more than 4 acres of space to practice driving, putting, chipping and pitching. The new Pine Oaks Practice Facility, a 250-yard-long by 70-yard-wide driving range and short game area, is the culmination of efforts that began with the closure of Buffalo Valley Golf Course in 2017 when City officials and staff agreed to divert funding to needed improvements at Pine Oaks.
“To say that I am excited about the opening of the practice facility would be an understatement,” said Johnson City Mayor Jenny Brock, an avid golfer and instructor with the First Tee of Tri-Cities. “This space provides golfers of all skill levels a convenient and inexpensive opportunity to improve every facet of their game.”
Golfers can tee off from the grass area or utilize a new 100-foot-long turf mat as they aim for yardage markers placed at various distances and work on their short game in a practice area that includes sand bunkers.
“This facility supplies every practice scenario needed by today’s golfers,” said Bryan Bentley, golf manager for Pine Oaks Golf Course. “Regardless of skill level, golfers can tee up a driver, a wedge or an iron. They will be able to work on all the clubs in their bag. We want to build the game of golf by helping people perfect their skills. This practice facility is a simple and affordable way to engage people in the game.”
While open to individuals, the practice facility is also a valuable instructional resource. Pine Oaks Golf Course offers affordable lessons to golfers of all skill levels from beginners to those with a low handicap. Youth-oriented programs like First Tee and the junior golf program offered through the City’s Park and Recreation Department can take advantage of this space as well. The practice facility will allow groups hosting tournaments at Pine Oaks to engage in a variety of additional contests.
Previously golfers were required to bring their own balls and had to spend time retrieving them. Now golfers pay for a bucket of balls, designated as small (30–35 balls) or large (60-70 balls), and hit at their leisure.
“Golf is a fantastic activity for individuals, couples and families to engage in while being compliant with social distancing guidelines, and we’ve seen an uptick in the number of games played in recent months,” Brock said. “Pine Oaks Golf Course is really the perfect place to play golf. It is peaceful, unintimidating, has a relaxed atmosphere, and some of the most amazing views in town.”
A video tour of the Pine Oaks Practice Facility can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mqYadevZSw
Pine Oaks Golf Course is located at 1709 Buffalo Road in Johnson City. For more information, call 423.434.6250 or go to www.pineoaksgolfcourse.com.