Image above by photoangel on Freepik
Course offers newly installed “state of the art” driving range artificial turf by Fiberbuilt, a new tee box on hole 17 and Golf shop upgrade with a new variety of merchandise.
Cookeville – White Plains Golf Course (WPGC) has been one of the top golf courses in the Upper Cumberland since it opened in May 1988. For perspective, that was the same year WalMart opened its first “Super Center” and Sandy Lyle won the Masters Tournament for his second major title. If you are counting, he won by one stroke over Mark Calcavecchia after sinking a birdie putt on the 72nd hole.
WPGC is a staple on the Upper Cumberland golf scene, and in Putnam County, for good reason. With a layout settled in the valley surrounded by mountains and the White Plains community, the course has been an attraction to both seasoned vets and new golfers since the first tee shot was struck almost 35 years ago. The White Plains community features 226 homes and more than 500 residents.
Community – White Plains Community snakes its way through WPGC. Photo courtesy of WPGC.
In 2015, the course needed revamping, and a switch at ownership ushered in change. Other than the obvious improvements in greens, fairways and playability, the course’s first major addition was a full-service restaurant named Birdies that, “offers home-cooked meals”.
WPGC has since ushered in a new era with the hiring of 35-year veteran PGA teaching professional Rick Timm. He told the Upper Cumberland Business Journal that he has seen it all, and White Plains has stood out from the pack.
“Being the US Kids Tour director for Nashville, Knoxville and Chattanooga has taken me to many golf courses since 2020,” said Timm. “White Plains stood out by always being super friendly and welcoming me with open arms to help promote junior golf by allowing the U.S. Kids Golf tournaments. I had always loved the area and saw great potential to grow the game of golf in this community.”
Timm hopes his 35 years of experience will help both golf itself and White Plains grow while creating an excellent experience for guests and members.
“I love teaching people of all ages and conducting junior golf tournaments to help grow the sport of Golf,” said Timm.
In WPGC’s effort to evolve and grow for the good of members and community, they are offering a lot of new things within that growth including a newly installed “state of the art” driving range artificial turf by Fiberbuilt, a new tee box on hole 17 and Golf shop upgrade with a new variety of merchandise.
Hole 4 – Considered by many as the toughest hole on the course, hole 4 is also the most beautiful. Photo courtesy of WPGC.
Timm said the focus has been, and always will be, on the golfers.
“We have enhanced outside services and upgraded customer service with newly purchased course maintenance equipment to focus on providing a higher quality golf course experience,” said Timm.
If you are new to the game or simply want to improve your swing, White Plains has you covered.
“I have been improving swings for about 4 decades and have seen many types of golfers and researched endless teaching techniques,” said Timm. “I truly believe that there is not a swing I cannot improve.”
Timm said his specialty is to simplify the learning process while setting realistic goals for the golfer and helping every player find the perfect equipment. In the spring, WPGC will look to offer Thursday night scrambles, Tuesday couple scrambles and expand the junior tournaments they will allow, including U.S Kids tournaments for kids 5 to 18.
Timm said expanding training programs at the course is important for WPGC’s growth as a business.
“We want to offer lesson programs for all ages and abilities,” said Timm. “Some of the new programs for junior golfers this season will be PGA Jr League (fastest growing youth program over the past decade), LPGA Girls Golf of Cookeville, Golf-in-Schools program (Algood), Little Linkster program and summer junior camps.”
Adults will also be able to sharpen their skills or get started in the game through adult mixed, ladies and senior weekly clinics. WPGC established itself long ago as a force in the golf business. With lofty goals to grow the game, improved facilities and a forward thinking mentality toward better experiences for members and the public, they look to become the premier golf destination in the area.
2023 is looking promising, and spring can’t get here fast enough for WPGC.
Private lessons and small specialized group sessions are available by appointment. Basics lesson rates are $60 for adults, $40 for juniors and discounts are given for packages. Typical group sessions are $15 per person.
WPGC is located at 4000 Plantation Drive, Cookeville. For more information call 931-537-6397, send an email to gm@whiteplainsgolfcourse.com or visit HERE to book a tee time. Birdies restaurant can be reached at 931-537-2226.
