Jackson County's Sharp Park and Cascades Get a Makeover
By Leigh Thurston

Renovation of Sharp Park Golf Course in Jackson has greatly improved the nature of this popular municipal golf course. The improvement project focused on better conditioning, visibility, circulation and beautification of the site. Conditioning is greatly enhanced by the addition of tee area to provide a minimum of three tee locations per hole and resolving drainage problems. Visibility is drastically improved by reducing the number of blind shots, which previously posed a conflict and slowed play. Reshaped bunkers also add fairway definition and guide golfers in playing each hole. The re-routing of several holes and additional cart paths improve traffic flow.

Holes are better defined and have become more interesting by creating some movement in the fairways and strategically placing features, such as a pond, gentle mounding and fairway cross bunkers on two holes. Additional landscaping enhanced the maturing hedgerows and groves of trees.

A new seventh hole is carved through the woods with a slight dogleg and pleasant change in elevation down to the green. The 16th hole changes from a short, blind par-4 to a par-3 with an elevated green. A new pond separates the new second green and No. 8 tee. MG