What was once a question of whether enough people would use Hazlehurst’s local golf course is beginning to have a much different answer. During this week’s Hazlehurst Rotary Club meeting, representatives from Mulliganz shared an update on the course, telling members that activity has continued to grow — with younger golfers making up a surprisingly large part of that growth.
John Turner, Jr. and John Turner, Sr., who are part of the Mulliganz group along with Joel & Leigh Poe, spoke about the progress being made at the course, the work that has gone into bringing it back and what could be ahead.
One of the biggest changes, they said, has been who is playing golf. According to John Jr., the sport no longer attracts primarily the older crowd many people traditionally associate with golf. He estimated that a large percentage of Mulliganz members are now young people. “They love it. They eat, breathe, and sleep it,” he told Rotary members. He said the relaxed atmosphere at Mulliganz has also helped make the course welcoming to a much broader group of people. “It’s kind of taken the uppity out of golf,” he joked.
Mulliganz currently hosts a scramble each Thursday, regularly drawing 50 to 60 participants, according to the presentation. Friday events offer a more traditional individual style of play. The calendar is also filling up with tournaments. Representatives said upcoming events include a hospital tournament, an Appling Christian Academy tournament and the club championship. The course is closed on Mondays.
Rotary members noted that they are seeing considerably more activity at the property, particularly after school when young golfers arrive. For Mulliganz ownership, that’s one of the most encouraging parts of the course’s resurgence. “There is nothing for kids to do anymore,” John Jr. said, adding that he would much rather see young people at the golf course hitting range balls, walking and being active than spending all their free time on tablets.
Getting the course to this point hasn’t been easy. The owners said Hurricane Helene and the loss of trees created considerable work, but the dramatic change in the landscape also produced an unexpected benefit for the golf course. Too much shade had previously contributed to problems with fungus on the greens. With many of those trees now gone, considerably more sunlight reaches the course.
Mulliganz has also installed TifEagle greens, a hybrid Bermuda grass suited to the sunny conditions. Work with an excavator has helped improve other areas of the course and speed up play by making it easier for golfers to see where their shots land. “It’s a working process,” John Jr. said. The driving range is also open, and additional improvements remain on the list, including plans to restore restroom access on the course.
Activity at the property isn’t limited to golfers. The group said Saturday night cornhole tournaments have attracted strong crowds, with approximately 120 people attending on recent Saturdays. Other activities, including possible bingo nights, are being discussed.
The restaurant and food operations at the property have also deiveloped their own following. During the day, Sarah’s continues serving its popular lunch crowd, while Tyler Williams’s food operation has generated interest during evening hours. Mulliganz representatives emphasized that the restaurant is open to the public — you do not have to be a golf club member to eat there.
Longer-term possibilities discussed during the meeting included expanding the food operation, potentially developing a steakhouse concept and eventually constructing a new pro shop near the driving range and putting green. Those ideas, however, remain possibilities rather than finalized plans. For now, the focus remains on continuing the progress already underway.
Rotary members thanked the Mulliganz group for the work being done at the course, with several noting how good it has been to see the property being used again. And perhaps the biggest sign of success is seeing parking spaces filled, tournaments on the calendar and a new generation of Jeff Davis County youngsters picking up golf clubs.
