Scott Schroeder, PGA,Director of Golf,Atlanta Country Club,Marietta, Georgia
When planning any type of a renovation, gathering input from your members is essential. Scott Schroeder, the 2023 Georgia PGA Section Golf Professional of the Year, took this to heart at Atlanta Country Club in Marietta, Georgia.
Before embarking on a significant 2024 course renovation (pictured) led by renowned architect Beau Welling, Schroeder and his team engaged with members through surveys and focus groups to ensure the changes would meet their expectations before Walling even visited the property.
“I cannot stress this enough: Knowing what your members want is vital in any kind of renovation, big or small,” says Schroeder, also the Georgia PGA Section’s 2020 Bill Strausbaugh Award recipient.
The process took a couple of years and began with basic surveys to identify members’ preferences and concerns, such as drainage improvements, hole adjustments and even preferred shot types. Following the surveys, the club formed focus groups that included wide-ranging member demographics, from seniors to women, to juniors. This open approach fostered untethered dialogue, where members could express their ideas and hear the club’s vision.
The renovation included building a new short game area, adding 13 forward tees, reconfiguring tee boxes and relocating bunkers to enhance shot variety. The result was a course that’s more challenging for low handicappers, but more accessible for higher handicappers. To maintain transparency and build enthusiasm, the club organized guided walks during the renovation (pictured) to showcase the changes. These walks, some attracting nearly 100 members, provided a platform for questions and feedback.
“The overall feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with members blown away by the aesthetic and cosmetic changes,” Schroeder explains. “You’ll never make everyone happy, but all you can do is try to satisfy as many people as possible. Member engagement and transparency are two of the most vital parts of a renovation.”
By proactively involving members throughout the project, Schroeder ensured the final result was something the entire Atlanta Country Club community could take pride in.
