{"product_id":"the-secret-home-of-golf-the-history-of-king-collins-golf-and-sweetens-cove-back-nine-press","title":"The Secret Home of Golf: The History of King-Collins Golf and Sweetens Cove | Back Nine Press","description":"\u003ch2\u003eJourney from a run-down nine-hole to a national landmark\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn April 2010, a Chattanooga architect named Rob Collins sought a path back into golf course design. A chance conversation with Sewanee's renovation project and golf coach King Oehmig set in motion a chain of events that would birth a remarkable narrative—the Sweetens Cove story. This book chronicles how a humble nine-hole layout in rural Tennessee grew into a celebrated chapter in modern golf, filled with ambition, craft, and a sense of place.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe course sat in Sequatchie Valley’s quiet floodplain, in the small town of South Pittsburg, where locals cherished the “homemade, country golf” ethos more than any glossy brochure. When Sequatchie Valley Golf \u0026amp; Country Club faced financial threat, local businessman Bob Thomas stepped in, purchasing the 100-acre property just days before it would become a horse farm. With his son Reece, what began as a renovation evolved into a broader mission to save the course and give it a lasting life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe narrative follows a cast of characters who believed in the project through countless near‑shutdown moments, sacrifices, and small wins. It paints a portrait of King-Collins Golf, a forerunner in design-build collaboration, and the people who rallied around a place that golfers grew to treasure. The result was more than a course; it became a symbol of resilience and an emblem of a new era in American golf, earning recognition among Golfweek’s Modern Top 60.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat you’ll gain from this book\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA vivid, real-life arc about dedication, teamwork, and the power of community to rescue a beloved course.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInsight into the design and renovation choices that can transform a simple layout into a destination.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProfiles of key figures and their motivations, plus the dynamics of a small-town golf revival.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRich storytelling that blends place, people, and sport into a memorable narrative.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWho this book is for\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGolf readers who crave stories of resilience and place-based history.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFans of Sweetens Cove and public course culture seeking a deeper origin story.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDesign enthusiasts curious about collaboration between architects, coaches, and local supporters.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReaders will encounter a sense of place—the Tennessee hills, the quiet fairways, and the hands-on work that turned a run-down nine into a talking point for golfers nationwide. The book is grounded in real moments of doubt and triumph, offering a human-centered view of course revival that complements the technical side of design. Whether you’re planning a golf pilgrimage or simply curious about how communities sustain cherished spaces, this narrative offers context, detail, and a touch of fascination that might spark your own exploration of the game.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003csection class=\"product-faq-snippet\"\u003e\u003ch3\u003eFAQ\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"faq-item\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"faq-q\"\u003eQ: What is The Secret Home of Golf about?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"faq-a\"\u003eA: It details how a small Tennessee nine-hole course became a national story through community support and design collaboration.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"faq-item\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"faq-q\"\u003eQ: Who will enjoy this book?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"faq-a\"\u003eA: Golf history lovers, design enthusiasts, and readers drawn to resilient, place-based narratives about small-town revival.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\u003c\/section\u003e","brand":"Back Nine Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53079809130607,"sku":"B0BX8Y1D9G","price":39.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/7354\/2767\/files\/back-nine-press-secret-home-of-golf-cover.jpg?v=1778537908","url":"https:\/\/golfavero.com\/products\/the-secret-home-of-golf-the-history-of-king-collins-golf-and-sweetens-cove-back-nine-press","provider":"My Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}