Member Clubs
Renaissance at the Highlands
Owner and visionary George Emerson creates major course improvements
by MICHAEL J . STOTT
The reimagined and renovated Golf Club at the Highlands begins with go-getter George Emerson . A real estate developer , cancer survivor and fundraiser , he has never strayed from his Chesterfield County roots . As a 1978 business graduate from Virginia Commonwealth University , he quickly ventured into real estate . Emerson has built some of the county ’ s premier living communities , including River ’ s Bend , Meadowville Landing , Chester Village Green , Lake Margaret and the Highlands .
Emerson also added first class golf ( River ’ s Bend , Highlands , etc .) as an intrinsic element to his developments on the premise that one can ’ t own a quality real estate development with a sub-par golf course . Which brings us to the Highlands renaissance .
Built in 1990 , he sold it in 1992 , bought it back in a state of disrepair and took it private in 2005 . It reverted to semi-private status in 2018 amid sagging revenues . Discouraged , 50-percent owner Emerson bought out his six partners in the fall of 2020 allowing him to undertake future changes without consultation . His goal : “ to create the nicest golf course I can own .” His efforts , begun less than two years ago , are coming to fruition .
Let us count the ways . In a few short months he has :
• Installed all new cold-tolerant MiniVerde Ultradwarf Bermudagrass course and practice greens
• Redone four miles of asphalt cart paths ( a $ 400,000 investment )
• Rebuilt bunkers ( with porous concrete drainage ) and added new sand
• Reconstructed nine bridges
• Replaced the entire cart fleet
• Created combo tees
The 2022 season has brought other enhancements , including the removal of nearly 100 trees , extensive resodding of bare areas , addition of synthetic driving range turf , landscaping / paving of the parking lot and placement of new signage . Upgraded indoor hitting bays are adjacent to the pro shop and the fitness center may be found in the old pro shop space .
10 V IRGINIA G OLFER | J ULY / A UGUST 2022