Skip to content
Triad Golf
Covering Golf News for the Piedmont Triad of NC
Triad Golf
  • Home
  • Golf News
    • Featured News
    • Tournament News
    • Course Features
    • Junior Golf
    • College Golf
    • Instruction
    • Golf Equipment
    • Destinations
    • TriangleGolf.com
  • Courses
  • Tournaments
    • USGA Qualifiers
    • Amateur Individual Tournaments
    • Amateur Team Tournaments
    • Captain’s Choice Tournaments
    • CGA Tournament Schedule
    • Senior Tournament Schedule
    • Junior Tournament Schedule
  • Past Issues
  • FREE Subscription
  • Hole-in-One
  • Advertise
Search:
Facebook page opens in new windowTwitter page opens in new windowInstagram page opens in new window
  • Home
  • Golf News
    • Featured News
    • Tournament News
    • Course Features
    • Junior Golf
    • College Golf
    • Instruction
    • Golf Equipment
    • Destinations
    • TriangleGolf.com
  • Courses
  • Tournaments
    • USGA Qualifiers
    • Amateur Individual Tournaments
    • Amateur Team Tournaments
    • Captain’s Choice Tournaments
    • CGA Tournament Schedule
    • Senior Tournament Schedule
    • Junior Tournament Schedule
  • Past Issues
  • FREE Subscription
  • Hole-in-One
  • Advertise

Southwick celebrates 50th anniversary in style

Mar292019
Course FeaturesFeatured News
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

By Brad King

Southwick Golf Course in Graham debuted in 1969 as a nine-hole layout designed and carved along the meandering banks of the Haw River by owner Elmo Cobb.

Hoping to appeal to golfers who might moonlight as Civil War buffs, Cobb named his creation Confederate Acres Golf Course. Five years later, he opened a back nine.

Cobb ran the operation with his wife, Shirley, who became legendary through the years for the tasty hot dogs she served to golfers at the turn.

Eventually, the Cobb’s would sell Confederate Acres, and go on to design and operate Sourwood Forest in Snow Camp. Elmo later designed Quaker Creek GC in Mebane.

Now in his 90s, Elmo Cobb continues to tee it up with a senior group several times a week and regularly breaks 80. Also, an avid golfer, Shirley participated in ladies golf associations at several area courses. A true competitor, she made three holes-in-one and was still able to break 100 at age 82. She passed away in 2013.

Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2019, their original Alamance County golf complex still bears certain similarities to the early days, but many things have changed, as well.

Burlington businessman Jim Smith purchased Confederate Acres in 1987 and changed the name to Southwick. In 1998, he oversaw a renovation that included an upgrade of the bermudagrass fairways and the irrigation system, along with the construction of additional bunkers and tee boxes.

In 2007, the ownership group tore down the old clubhouse and maintenance facility and built condominiums around the 18th hole. Now, a modular home serves as the Southwick clubhouse.

At the beginning of 2015, longtime Alamance golfer Tony Byerly, who was managing Brookwood Golf Course in Whitsett, took over management operations of Southwick Golf Course after the former operator relinquished control.

Seeking to cut down on expenses, Byerly assumed the same general manager title at Southwick that he holds at Brookwood. Mike Noah doubles as the course superintendent at Southwick and Brookwood, while Willie Noah serves as Byerly’s business partner and spends most of his time running Brookwood.

Byerly, 44, grew up in Gibsonville and played high school golf at Western Alamance. Following graduation, he began playing professionally on a variety of mini-tours. He was on the staff at Brookwood off and on from 1995-2006. He spent from 2006-08 at Quarry Hills and from 2008-11 at Southwick. “They should have made a ‘Haw River Golf Trail’ with the number of golf courses that go right through the Haw River,” he says of the number of area golf courses.

Through the years, Byerly has captured more than 150 regional, two and three-day tournaments. Last November, he won the seventh annual Graham City Amateur at Southwick for the sixth time with rounds of 69 and 62.

Byerly has shot 59 at Brookwood several times and has fired a 60 at Southwick “more times than I can remember.” He said he has arrived at Southwick’s final hole with a chance to shoot 59 a half-dozen times.

“I can hit a 3-wood to the middle of the green on the 18th (at Southwick), which is a par-4,” he said. “Thinking about shooting 59 is a lot tougher than actually playing in a tournament and shooting a score.”

Byerly said Southwick’s small and undulating, manicured bentgrass green complexes bring to mind the designs of Donald Ross. New tee boxes allow Southwick to play nearly 6,000 yards from the back tees and about 5,500 from the whites. Southwick’s dramatic elevation changes, winding creeks and towering forests allow for some spectacular views while navigating this par-71 layout.

Southwick’s most recognizable hole is No. 14, a par 5 that double doglegs to the left, with the Haw River hugging the entire right side. However, the hole lost one signature hazard — a large tree on the right side of the fairway — during a storm in 2013.

“Since we took over, I’ve put back about 10 bunkers,” Byerly said. “I put another bunker back down there (on No. 14), but it’s not the same without the tree.”

Through the years, Southwick has become a prominent state destination for golfers. Numerous regular groups enjoy Southwick throughout the week, and the course plays host to plenty of area high school matches. Located just a few short turns off I-40 exit 147, Southwick also lures golfers from Chapel Hill and Durham, as well.

As Elmo Cobb originally designed it, Southwick is a short course and senior friendly — a hidden gem that can be enjoyed by any level golfer.

“If you’ve got a good short game and can putt, that definitely helps out,” Byerly said. “It’s a fun golf course to play and has been for 50 years now. It’s got a good legacy in the area.”

 

Categories: Course Features, Featured NewsBy Jay AllredMarch 29, 2019Leave a comment
Tags: Alamance County GolfBrookwood Golf CourseConfederate AcresElmo CobbJim SmithShirley CobbSouthwick Golf CourseTony Byerly
Share this post
Share on FacebookShare on Facebook TweetShare on Twitter Pin itShare on Pinterest Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn

Author: Jay Allred

Post navigation

PreviousPrevious post:High Meadows getting facelift this springNextNext post:The Franz Footprint, upstart architect stars in the Sandhills

Related posts

Murphy and Hardy Partner to Provide Youth Golf Instruction in the Piedmont Triad
October 12, 2022
October Aces
October 4, 2022
Elkin and Cedarbrook Country Club: Married at the Hip
August 11, 2022
Rumbling Bald On Lake Lure Exploring Major Upgrades
July 29, 2022
Pilot Knob Park Country Club Upgrading Greens
July 19, 2022
Champion Hills Prime Example of North Carolina Private Club Meeting Changing Golf Market with Creative Options
May 13, 2022
College Notes
May 7, 2022
Pine Needles Offering Best Female Golfers New Challenge
April 30, 2022

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Post comment

Contact Info

Dave Droschak-Editor
Phone Number: 919-630-6656
E-mail: ddroschak@earthlink.net

Jay Allred – Publisher
Phone Number: 336-924-1619
E-mail: Jay@triadgolf.com

Find us on:

Find us on:

Facebook page opens in new windowTwitter page opens in new windowInstagram page opens in new window
Triad Golf