ANDY BEMIS |
Golfers who last played The Hollows years ago are in for quite the surprise. The Hanover County course, just 35 minutes from Richmond,“ has a fresh look and is more challenging,” says club elder stateman Jim Rice. In fact, the old beginner-friendly course has undergone a complete transformation, emerging as a revitalized and challenging experience for golfers of all skill levels. Since 2008, the course has been under the leadership of owner, general manager and golf professional Andy Bemis, PGA, who also brings superintendent expertise and a wide range of hands-on skills to keep the course running smoothly.
“ This is my little Augusta,” says Bemis.“ I’ m here more than I’ m at my own house— and I am always trying to reinvest in the golf course.”
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The Hollows members will attest to that.“ Andy’ s office is in the maintenance shop. He has put a lot of sweat equity into the course,” states member James York.“ He wants affordability and playability, and for you to have a good time.”
“ He has done a tremendous job continuously working to improve the course,” adds Greg Skillin.“ He has redone many of the fairways, improved drainage, reworked the driving range, established a short game area, painted the clubhouse and upgraded the dining area.”
As a VSGA board member, Will Saunders is a true steward of the sport.“ Andy has just poured his heart and soul into making The Hollows the best public family golf course in the surrounding area,” Saunders says.“ He’ s in the pro shop. If he has to cook, he’ ll cook. If he has to help the superintendent, he does. He has
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a good staff, but when you are a small operator and someone doesn’ t show up, you gotta put your big boy pants on.”
Back in the Day
The Hollows was founded in 1984, and many current members have a lengthy relationship with the course. Rice started working there when he was 15.“ I handled the carts, water coolers, cleaned the clubhouse and did various odd jobs. It was a great job for me,” he recounts.“ I played a lot of golf, was paid well and met people with whom I am still friends today. Later, I worked on the grounds crew— mowing, watering, repairing plumbing, raking bunkers and learning a ton about course maintenance. I had a blast.”
In the mid-‘ 90s, owner Tommy Pollard added another nine holes( Cottage) to the existing Road and Lakes tracks, along with a clubhouse that left much to be desired.
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