The Secret Home of Golf: The Authorized History of King-Collins Golf and the Creation of Sweetens Cove

by Jim Hartsell

In April 2010, struggling architect Rob Collins of Chattanooga, Tennessee was looking for any way to get back into the golf course design business. When he learned his alma-mater Sewanee 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 began 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 the dead flat flood plain of Battle Creek. A "homemade, country golf course," it was much loved 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 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 Reece, 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, bold nine-hole course in rural Tennessee was created by King-Collins Golf, a then unknown and untested golf course design-build firm, and went on to become listed as one of the top 60 Modern Courses by Golfweek magazine. You will meet 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 who refused to give up on his dream, and how his resilience and determination became one of the biggest success stories in modern-day golf.

208 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2021

Reviews

[Thomas E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read about the "the little course that could". Have followed this course for years and it's early history was fascinating to learn and read about. Will definitely have to get there, play and take in the total experience. If only you could get a tee time now that it sells out for the year in hours after the times become available! Certainly has become very successful after those early days that Jim Hartsell outlines for us in his book.

[Todd · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charming, fun story of the little 9-hole course in Tennessee that became a household name. I enjoyed Hartsell’s recap of the humble origins, and it was fun to read everyone’s first impressions when they discovered it and word began to spread. Someday I hope to make the trek to play it myself.

[Adam Gamble · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book could have been 4 chapters!
It’s left important people out of it. It was almost a copy of a magazine article. Not worth a read

[Michael Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow - incredible history on a course that I’ve gotten to experience so much joy from alongside my dad, my college teammates, and friends. What a good read!