October 22 – While Waynesville’s oldest country club is deeply in a renovation process that will transform the property while maintaining its historic character, now may be a good time to join the club.
JD Trueblood is a member director of the Waynesville Inn & Golf Club and said the heavy lifting of remodeling and modernizing the 1955 golf course and iconic inn is in full swing.
The land has been cleared to include eight four bedroom, four and a half bath cottages being built by Clark and Leatherwood Construction, and the golf course that many local residents have played over the years is being renewed in an upgrade that will be the focal point of the first golf opportunity Attractiveness of the club.
The cottages will be positioned on 2.8 acres at 176 Country Club Drive. Trueblood expects them to be sold as an investment, with the units becoming part of the inn’s rental portfolio.
“We’re where we need to be with the renovation,” said Trueblood of the golf course works that will have a 9-hole golf course in fall 2022. The rest of the place and the internal changes won’t be ready until next spring.
Designed by Donald Ross in 1926, the course has served the area well over the years, Raines Company owners said during a members’ event in July. The new course is designed by Bobby Weed and builds on the golf opportunities under the picturesque mountain backdrop with a different design and the best grass on the market.
Weed became the in-house architect of the PGA Tour in 1987. Seven years later he started his own company, Bobby Weed Golf Design, and has designed more than 50 golf courses since then.
While most of the property is closed during the renovation, the Tap Room is open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and Trueblood has a permanent deal for prospective members – just give them a call for a full tour.
“We encourage people to meet in a safe environment, make an appointment, and see what is really going on,” said Trueblood. “There’s a lot of traction here and it will be interesting to see what develops.”
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Membership in the private club is capped at 400, Trueblood said, and about half of the memberships are already sold. Even if the excitement of renovation – and the promise of great golf right in time for next fall – are the only amenities on site, guests who have already registered can look forward to other activities.
“We have created a future calendar of events to offer to members and we are focused on delivering the best membership experience,” said Trueblood. “We want to make sure that people who are part of this club can have these experiences that will last a lifetime.”
Right now, those are get-to-know dinners, trips to other clubs, and off-site activities, he said, but eventually membership will include access to a world-class fitness center, swimming pool, discounts on food, drinks, rooms, and merchandise. but above all the chance to be part of the club.
“At some point we will have a cap and no amount of money will buy you a membership,” he said. “We try to show how hospitable our company is and how committed our membership will be.”
Trueblood said a trademark of the Raines Company, which is investing $ 28 million in the upgrade, is helping local businesses as much as possible.
“Many members are local business owners and we want to make sure this property is a great meeting place for them,” he said.