High Point Golf Course owner Rick Gilley hangs out on the deck overlooking his nine-hole golf course in Chickamauga.
Photo by Katie Ward HamiltonHigh Point Golf Course's 40 acres of lush Bermuda grass are greener than ever and awaiting golfers to plays the course's nine holes.
Course owner Rick Gilley remembers when his father, the late Clyde Gilley, built the course and opened it in July 1976. When his father passed away 12 years ago, he left the course to him. Gilley said he plans to one day pass the course on to his son Wayne and hopes that he will pass it to his son Dakota.
In recent years, Gilley, with the help of a local farmer, installed Bermuda grass throughout the entire golf course.
Wearing his cowboy hat, strumming his acoustic guitar and watching westerns on TV, Gilley awaits customers inside the golf store on the scenic course, continuing the tradition of Southern hospitality that his father before him started on the course.
The atmosphere is laid-back, he said, adding that mainly blue-collar workers play there.
"It's first come, first served, with no tee times," Gilley said. "You can play golf in flip-flops if you want to. You can bring your own beer, in cans preferably. I don't sell beer, but I do sell crackers, Coca-Cola products and chips."
Over the years Gilley has tried his hand at construction, truck driving and being a musician. Now he focuses on the golf course.
"The course has four Par 3s, four Par 4s and one Par 5," he said. "It's short as golf courses go. If you can't hit the ball straight, then you're in trouble. I've had senators and congressmen play here, but mostly carpenters, construction guys, roofers and concrete finishers play here."
The golf course is presently celebrating 36 years of tee time, he said.
"I like people to know we're still open and it's inexpensive to play here," said Gilley. "We'd appreciate their business."
Chattanooga Creek runs through the golf course and continues to flow well due to recent rains.
"We mow the grass with our tractors," said Gilley. "I mow twice a week to keep the grass lower than a golf ball. Running a golf course is harder than people think. I am at work every day year-round."
He welcomes businesses to rent the course for tournaments. He is also open to hosting fundraising tournaments for cancer benefits or other worthy nonprofit causes, he said.