In April 2010, struggling golf course architect Rob Collins was looking for any way to get back into the design business. When he learned his alma-mater Sewanee (the University of the South) planned to renovate their mountain-top nine-hole golf course with renowned architect Gil Hanse, he contacted Sewanee golf coach King Oehmig in hopes of getting involved in the project. This led to an unlikely series of events which started the incredible saga of Sweetens Cove Golf Club.
Sequatchie Valley Golf & Country Club was located the small town of South Pittsburg, Tennessee—in a dead flat flood plain of Battle Creek. A “homemade, country golf course,” it was much beloved by many golfers in the area—not the least of which was Bob Thomas, successful businessman and founder of nearby Sequatchie Concrete Service. After his beloved home course closed down due to financial difficulties, Thomas bought the 100-acre property in picturesque Sweetens Cove mere days before it was slated to become a horse farm. Under the guidance of his son Reese, what started as a simple renovation project of a run-down golf course turned into something much larger than anyone could have ever imagined.
The Secret Home of Golf is the recounting of how a new 9-hole course in rural Tennessee was created by King-Colins Golf—a then unknown and untested golf course design-build firm—and went on to become listed as one of the top 50 Modern Courses by Golfweek magazine. You will be introduced to a cast of characters that were integral to the ultimate and unlikely survival of the course—which was days away from shutting down on multiple occasions. It is a story of sacrifice and almost unimaginable providence.
THE SECRET HOME OF GOLF tells the story of a man refusing to give up on his dream, and how his determination not to fail led to one of the biggest success stories in modern-day golf.
“You want a pure golf-playing experience? Get thee to Sweetens Cove. You want a pure golf-reading experience? Read Jim Hartsell’s book about the place.”
—Michael Bamberger, author of To The Linksland and Men in Green
“There’s no hyperbole in this book’s title, no matter what the folks in the Kingdom of Fife might say. Sweetens Cove has become a hub, a haven, a Mecca we visit to bask in golf’s bright new day. And how that happened—this masterfully researched account by Jim Hartsell gives us all the beautiful dirt and shows us how magic came to South Pittsburg, Tennessee, one shovel at a time.”
—Tom Coyne, editor of The Golfers Journal, author of A Course Called Scotland“The story of Sweetens Cove is so incredible and such a rollercoaster ride that it needed a special chronicler to do it justice, and the course’s run of good luck, which has been consistently remarkable in the last few years. Hartsell’s book tells the amazing tale of how a run-down nine-holer that was within a hair’s breadth of closing down was transformed into something good enough to be voted among the top 60 modern courses in America, how, eventually, everything came good. It is a story with enough twists to be a great movie. But for the moment, it is just a pretty damned good book.”
—Adam Lawrence, editor of Golf Course Architecture
“This book is essential reading for anyone who has ever spent an afternoon mesmerized by the joys of Sweetens. Jim Hartsell combines the eye of a seasoned observer with the heart of a poet. If reading this doesn’t get you amped to make the pilgrimage to experience Sweetens, I can’t imagine what will.”
—Kevin Van Valkenburg, No Laying Up, former ESPN senior writer
“The story of Sweetens Cove is one of determination, grit, and unlikely salvation; it’s also the story of the place and the people who made it. Jim Hartsell is the perfect person to tell the entire story. Jim’s devotion for Sweetens, as well as his empathy, attention to detail, and soulfulness are ideal tools to chronicle the unexpected twists that have made South Pittsburg the secret home of golf. From the hardheadedness of Rob Collins, to the legend of Patrick Boyd, to the dozens of others who coalesced to make Sweetens a reality, Jim captures the characters in this story, cutting to the heart of one of the most unique places in American golf.”
—Tron Carter, No Laying Up
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jim Hartsell is a native and lifelong resident of Alabama. A registered architect, he has worked on the design of projects for the University of Alabama, Jacksonville State University, University of Georgia and University of Florida. Scottish golf and golf writing are his true passions, having made many trips to Scotland to study the lesser-known courses. He is the author of When Revelation Comes (2022) and The Secret Home of Golf: The Authorized History of King-Collins Golf and the Creation of Sweetens Cove (2021). He has written extensively on golf in Scotland for The Links Diary, No Laying Up, and is a contributor to The Golfers Journal and Today’s Golfer. With Stephen Proctor, he is the cohost of the golf literature podcast, The Duffer's Literary Companion.
Honestly, I'm not such a super fan of golf that I would normally pick up a book on the topic. But this book by Craig J Gill is about so much more than golf! It's a fascinating, and also challenging, deep dive into the lives of Black caddies in the South. It's a book about American History, Black History, the South, White Supremacy, the human spirit, and factors driving societal change, as well as an entrée into the worlds of the premier golf clubs in the South. This is such a valuable and deeply researched book, and I highly recommend it to anyone even vaguely interested in golf, or those who want to learn more about the complexity of America.
Caddying On the Color Line
Justin Tobe
Wonderful addition to any golfer’s book collection
Great content and photographs, quick shipping, wonderful addition to any golf book collection, especially those who love Seth Raynor courses
The Golf Courses of Seth Raynor
Dennis Weber
Great combination of travelogue, sports book, human interest and business intrigue. Well crafted and well written.
Playing Dirty
Brian Hickey
Playing Dirty
I enjoyed how the author weaved the evil influence of money and power (the LIV vs. PGA struggle) with the beauty of the role of golf in Scottish life. The simple virtues of the golfer interacting with what nature has provided will hopefully survive, while the divide within the professional golfing ranks is not sustainable in the long term.
Playing Dirty
Christine C.
Interesting, well written, and relevant
I wish more people knew the history of black golf caddies - and how relevant it is to understanding golf today! I learned so much reading this excellent book and it struck the hard to find balance between informative and interesting. I hope to see more from Dr. Gill!
