Topsail Greens changes course

One of the many wonderful things about living in eastern North Carolina is that the golf courses stay open all year. In the event that they do close down, even partially, it pains local residents to know that they have to live the way normal people do - without a course that is waiting for them at all times. That being said, you might want to sit down for the great news you are about to read:
All 18 holes at Topsail Greens Golf Club are playable again. After months of renovations on the back nine temporary left golfers with a nine-hole course, the full course is back in play and in better condition than ever.
Topsail Greens Golf Club General Manager and Superintendent, John De Matteo described many of the changes that were made to the golf course that he has co-owned with his brothers for over six years.
"The renovation has been coming along nicely. We have had some frosts that have made it a little harder than we would've liked, but it wasn't anything we couldn't handle," said De Matteo.
When golfers see the newly renovated back nine of the course for the first time, they might not recognize it. Many of the holes have been combined.
"We decided to change hole 10 from a par five into a par three. We also took holes 12 and 13 and combined them into one challenging hole; because what was a par three followed by a par four is now one par five," said De Matteo.
Modernizing the tee boxes was a top priority for Topsail Greens' management.

"The tees have all been redone and relocated. The ladies tees are shorter and the golden tees are longer," said De Matteo. "And all have been moved to different spots."
The new back line is now slightly longer than it was before. The second half of the course has been extended about 100 yards longer to a total of about 3,300 yards.
A new surface also now covers the ground at Topsail Greens Golf Club. The Bermuda grass that has been there for so long has been replaced with deep green Bent grass. Bent grass is known to be able to withstand heavy foot traffic and routine maintenance.
Golfers that have gotten used to dodging the bunkers at Topsail Greens might want to take an extra gaze before they tee off. De Matteo said that he wanted to add some variety and to make the course a bit more challenging, so the bunkers were moved to new areas on the course.
De Matteo was quick to give credit to well-know architect Ed Beidel for his contribution to the course. He was also acknowledged the work of his staff.
"Our guys were up to the task. I didn't really have to bring anybody new in to get the job done. We were prepared with the staff we already had," said De Matteo.
The best part of Topsail Greens' renovations is this - greens fees will not change. Many people would naturally assume that a course fix-up would mean a price increase for golfers; however, the situation at Topsail Greens is different.
"The entire cost of the course work was paid for by a neighboring housing development. St George's Reach needed a place to be used for drainage. So, in agreement for the use of our course, they paid for everything. This affluent water scenario allowed us to keep from having a rate raise."
The course, located just 10 minutes from Topsail Island at 1040 Topsail Greens Drive, off of Highway 17 N. in Hampstead, will be renovating the front nine in September of this year, with a goal of having the work completed by early spring 2009.

Memberships start at $900, and a single round is normally $25 for seniors and $30 for everyone else. For more information, call 910 270-2883.