- [Dave] "A Fork in the Road" was brought to you by (soft guitar music) - [Announcer] From produce to people, the best things are grown and raised in Georgia.

Even in tough times we come together, work hard, and grow strong.

When you purchase Georgia grown products, you support farmers, families, in this proud state we call home.

Together we will keep Georgia growing.

(soft guitar music fades) (gentle inspiring music) ♪ Picture-perfect ♪ ♪ Hang the picture on the wall ♪ ♪ Mm ♪ ♪ I see you shine ♪ ♪ From afar ♪ ♪ Yet to me you are the star ♪ ♪ All right, baby ♪ ♪ Hey, feels good ♪ ♪ Feels fine ♪ ♪ Take the feeling pass it on ♪ ♪ Just pass it on ♪ ♪ Nah-Na-Na-Na-Na uh ♪ (gentle inspiring music ends) (guitar music) - The fascinating and ever-changing world of agriculture.

Let's hit the road here in Georgia and meet the farmers, producers, makers, and bakers who keep us all fed and keep us coming back for more, straight ahead at "The Fork in the Road".

(southern blues music) ♪ Mm, mm-mm ♪ ♪ Mm, mm ♪ ♪ I came from the mud ♪ ♪ There's dirt on my hands ♪ ♪ Strong like a tree ♪ ♪ There's roots where I stand ♪ Georgia farmers, artisans, merchants, and producers, we depend on these men and women every day of our lives through the choices we make and the food we consume.

Their strategy and approach is always shifting, but the end game remains the same: results.

(southern blues music continues) (southern folk clap music) It's a magical game, playing on a stage that's a mix of nature's beauty and ornamental landscape design.

For the game of golf, the setting alone is often the draw, but course quality and presentation is what keeps the golfers coming back.

(southern folk clap music continues) Here in the Peach state, we have the Georgia Golf Trail which is a collaboration of the state's top resorts and golf clubs presenting Georgia as a premier gulf haven and traveler's paradise.

(southern folk clap music continues) In this episode, we hop aboard a cart with Doug Hollandsworth, founder of the Georgia Golf Trail, as he explores three beautiful state park courses along the trail, meeting the folks who maintain the landscapes, and discover a few of the added and often tasty amenities that follow a round on the greens.

(southern folk clap music continues) Let's begin our journey up in Elberton along the gorgeous banks of Lake Richard B. Russell for a round on this championship 18-hole golf course.

(acoustic guitar music) This is a special course.

Ten of the 18 holes hug the shores of the lake.

Not all of them come into play, at least they aren't supposed to.

These holes often offer a nice breeze off the water and scenes of nature in every direction.

- My name is Todd Gibson.

I'm the park manager here at Richard B. Russell State Park and Arrowhead Pointe Golf Course.

The park is located in northeast Georgia, along the South Carolina border.

The park has 20 cottages and 28 campsites.

Richard B. Russell is one of the most amazing locations because we're in the transition zone from hardwoods to soft wood trees.

So you're gonna see a lot of trees out here that are very diverse.

So you're gonna have pine trees but you're also gonna start seeing the oak trees that align this beautiful lake.

(acoustic guitar music) The golf course is open year round.

We have a grill on the golf course, as well, so once you come here, you hit nine holes, get lunch from the grill, and then come back out here and finish with the back part of this nine-hole golf course, which is, in my opinion, the most amazing nine-hole part of the golf course in any of the state parks in Georgia.

- [Doug] Absolutely, this is one of the prettiest golf courses again, in anywhere in Georgia.

We call these the hidden gems.

- We kind of specialize in stay in play packages out here.

So we have 20 lakeside cottages.

We get groups that come in, rent the cottage for Friday, Saturday nights, and just basically play golf all weekend long.

Cottages are two bedroom, two beds, so every cottage holds four people comfortably, all right on the lake.

They have a dock.

You can bring your boat in and you can spend one of the days on the lake if you want to.

And there's trees.

You're gonna hear the animals.

You're not gonna hear cars and sirens.

It's definitely a different experience than most places that you go for stay and play.

- I've always said, okay, golf, grass, agriculture, Georgia grown, but you have one of the prettiest golf courses, the grass and the facilities that your superintendent's doing is just doing a great job.

- [Barry] Yes sir, he's been doing it a long time.

He makes my job extremely easy.

(twanging guitar music) The different thing about Georgia is that we hit all four seasons.

From winter, we have frost that we have to deal with every morning, to summer, where we have 95 to 100-degree temps all day.

So my superintendent does a great job on keeping the greens the right height, so our grass is higher in the wintertime so that it stays healthy.

And then in the summertime we can cut a little bit shorter to get the greens running and it can stay healthy.

- Being able to play here in Georgia 12 months outta the year, it's a beautiful state to play, and you guys represent the state parks is, you know, just one of the best.

- I've been to a lot of different states and the golf courses and the State Parks of Georgia are about as good as they come.

I haven't been to another state where, collectively, all the golf courses are top notch.

(upbeat southern music) - Hey, before you tee off, tell me about these next three holes.

I know this is the Pointe, so explain that to.

- Yeah, so we consider this like Amen Corner of Arrowhead Pointe, but 14, 15, 16 goes straight out as a peninsula out into Lake Richard B. Russell.

- [Doug] I mean, we're almost looking at what, South Carolina right over there?

- [Barry] Yes, south Carolina's across the lake.

So we're, you know, less than half mile away from it.

- We're right up here, so we want people to come up and enjoy the golf course and the state park.

And since you are the touring pro here at the golf course, I'll let you have honors, sir.

(soft rock music) - You see that?

'Cause I never saw it.

All right, now I got old man eyes, so y'all make sure you see where this ball goes.

Yeah, left.

- [Barry] I got that one.

- Yeah, I bet you do.

Yeah, that's great.

Well, I guess I was incorrect when I said water isn't really in play.

(Barry laughing) (soft rock music continues) Well, you know, I like to hit my balls different spots so I can go and see the beauty of the course.

You don't mind if I just lay up, you know, the senior rules here at Arrowhead Pointe, and just lay up with the pro?

- We have all kinds of rules here at Arrowhead Pointe.

- I bet you do, I bet you do.

How far you think it is?

- We're out at 100 right now.

- [Doug] A hundred, okay.

- Yeah, we're about at a hundred.

And then we'll just have a little closest to the pin contest from 100 in.

- [Doug] Oh, closest to the pin.

Now he's trying to really get me in.

- Well yeah, 'cause I'm already gonna win a Coke, so I'd rather just- - He's gonna get a Coke, you know, probably.

He's definitely gonna get a Coke 'cause I'm already in my pocket.

The grass looks great.

The bunkers look great.

- Yes sir, we have a great superintendent out here.

His name's Clay Norman, he's a local guy.

I tell him all the time, he gets to do all the work and I get to take all the compliments, so it's a win-win for me.

And I haven't seen the course in this good of shape since, I've been here about seven, and I haven't seen the course in this good of shape.

(cheerful guitar music) - [Doug] I have stayed in these beautiful cottages here and I know those things fill up quickly.

So you can't wait till Thursday to call for Friday.

And these cottages are absolutely wonderful.

- [Barry] Yes, sir.

You have 20 cottages, all lakeside.

All have access to a dock, two bedrooms, full kitchen, fully stalked, and a grill outside.

So all you gotta do is bring your food and you're good to go.

- All right, long enough here.

I know you've been kind of running here 'cause you're not sure where your next shot's gonna go.

- Oh, I know where it's going.

- So, this Coke is still up for grabs here.

(Barry chuckling) You could lose.

I could hole this shot from right here.

- Ah, you're right.

I mean, anything could happen.

I'm rooting for you, really.

- Well thank you very much 'cause I need all the roots I can get.

Pretty shot.

- [Barry] Short, we're up there though.

- Are we supposed, on that little, thin green?

That's what I'm supposed to hit it on?

- [Barry] I would prefer it.

Yeah.

Really?

- I mean, I don't wanna try at the same...

I'm not a beach guy.

I don't like going to the beach.

- I don't blame you.

- Buddy, me and the beach.

I just soon pick up and take a shot but me and the beach do not get along.

So we will see.

- [Barry] Keep it on the green.

- What we can do here.

The ball, you see that where the head pro there went to?

(cheerful guitar music continues) - [Barry] Good contact.

- It's in the hole.

It's in the hole!

Nope, wrong hole.

- [Barry] Good contact.

- Well, thank you, sir.

It's always nice to have a good point from the head pro.

- [Barry] You had good contact, good distance.

('80s new wave music) - All right, where's this putting contest gonna take place at?

- Well, I mean, I don't wanna put from where you are, so.

- No, trust me.

I'm just glad I found the ball.

('80s new wave music continues) Oh, ho, ho!

I was fixing to like, what?

- Everybody always asks for a tip on the green, always say what's the secret to the greens.

And out here is take half the break and hit it harder because nothing breaks out here as much as what it looks like.

- Oh, so you kinda off about a foot and a half.

So if I get inside that I win, right?

Is that what you telling me?

- Sure, yeah.

No, you're good.

- Okay, so.

- I'm going, I mean, I gave you the line.

- Oh yeah, I saw a line, but I never saw that hardness and whatever, so we'll see.

('80s new wave music continues) - [Barry] All right.

- Got up there.

Whoa ball, whoa, whoa, whoa.

(Barry chuckling) Ah, he got me about a half an inch.

- I think I got you by- - Yep.

- Yep, about two, three inches there.

- Oh, I'm into Cokes big time.

Oh, I'll get a bunch of Cokes.

All right, you gonna put out there, bug guy?

- Yeah, I'll put one out.

- Put one out and show us what to do there.

(soft acoustic guitar music) - A lot of these people that are coming out here, they're coming from cities.

They're coming from Atlanta, Charlotte, Jacksonville, things like that.

So they're basically used to playing on golf courses where there's white stripes and backyards lining every fairway.

And since it's a core property, we don't have property on this lake.

So you don't see a house out here, you won't see a car driving.

So it's just a, it's a different experience.

I mean, really just listen.

It's just so quiet out here.

It is a wonderful place to come and visit and see another great Georgia State Park.

(rockabilly guitar music) (rockabilly guitar music continues) You wanna go first or you wanna gimme a-?

- [Doug] No, no, no.

You still have honors.

- Okay, we have honors.

I may be able to take drinks home for the family tonight.

That's gonna be a good night.

- Hey.

Dad, one drink from Mr. Doug.

Wait, look at there.

Nice shot there, pro.

But you know, I see those beaches, Barry.

- [Barry] Yeah.

- On both sides.

- [Barry] I'm rooting for ya.

- I know you are.

Well, let's see if I can learn not to go in the beach.

All right, a little practice swing that sometimes helps, sometimes doesn't help.

Having a great time and I'm off kilter.

I'm trying to go in the bunker!

(quirky country music) So, I really messed my shot.

I'll check the ball real quick.

You don't need to check that ball.

- Yeah, check it.

Just see what that is.

- Yeah, lemme check that ball 'cause I, I think that's mine.

- No, I trust you.

I trust you.

(quirky country music continues) - Well, Barry, I'm in the beach.

- [Barry] I see that.

- Any tips?

- [Barry] You wanna hit behind the ball and you want a long follow-through, that's what I normally tell everyone.

- You see that body of water out there too?

- [Barry] Don't worry about that.

That's not even out there.

As long as you hit behind the ball and long follow-through, you'll be just fine.

- Keep your eyes open?

- [Barry] I mean, that's a personal preference.

- Preference, okay.

(quirky country music continues) - It broke toward the water.

- Oh man, I gotta clean this up and I gotta go over to the other beach.

Man, oh man.

(quirky country music continues) - Try to see if I can finish up this birdie?

- Please do.

- All right.

I'll do what I can.

- Yeah, I would give it to you, but I mean, you're the one that makes the- - You wouldn't have to tell me twice.

- I understand.

- You get half that sentence out and I'll pick the.

ball up.

- Okay, well, we're going to see how good you are.

(quirky country music continues) Gotta get cokes.

How many's that?

I may not lose- - I dunno, like, a case.

- A case of Cokes?

- I mean, it was only two holes, but I feel like it's a lot.

- Man, okay.

- That's a lot.

- All right.

- You haven't even left a bunker over there yet.

You're still in there.

- Yeah, I'm still in the bunker, but if you go check, the squirrel picked up my ball.

See the squirrel going in there?

He picked up my ball.

So I'll do a bogie on this hole.

- All right.

No, that was, that's what I wrote down for, four.

- Oh, thank you very much.

- Yeah, yeah.

- I appreciate it.

(Barry chuckles) - [Dave] So bring the family.

Play a round or two just for fun, or maybe even challenge Barry for a coveted Coca-Cola.

(quirky country music fades) Let's continue our journey with Doug along the Georgia Grown Golf Trail a few miles southwest to Rutledge to play a round on a course known as The Creek at Hard Labor Creek State Park.

(acoustic guitar music) (violin and guitar music) Hard Labor Creek is actually listed in the National Register of Historic Places, a perfect setting for one of the best golfing values in the state of Georgia.

The creek offers a challenging layout and well maintained greens with a pristine natural setting.

- [Doug] Let's talk a little bit about the park, all the different things that people can do here.

- Well, you guys are here covering the golf course, which is one of the special things here at Hard Labor Creek State Park.

We have 5800 acres here, so there's plenty of other things to do, including mountain bike and horseback riding trails, cottages, and campsites.

You can shut the phone off and get some peace and quiet, so that's really nice.

What's nice here too, I think, with the CCC history and planting all the trees, we've got really well established hardwood forests, and so sometimes you'll feel like you're in the mountains really far away, and we're only an hour outside of Atlanta.

(banjo music) - [Doug] Hey, Karl, one of the prettiest holes anywhere in Georgia right here.

Why don't you tell us a little bit about this hole?

- Yeah, this is kind of considered our signature hole, hole five here, our water wheel hole.

A lot of folks love it.

Have people taking pictures up on the bridge.

Fun little test.

Plays a little uphill and today, into the breeze.

The wheel has been around a long time and it was an original grist mill that helped feed men back in CCC camp days.

That was back in the early 1940s.

- Wow.

All right, I'm thinking this might be about 126.2.

- [Karl] Give or take, yes.

(banjo music continues) - I don't think that's gonna get there, Karl.

- At least it's a little bit straighter.

- [Doug] Oh, almost.

All right.

- Okay.

- There you are, there I am.

(banjo arrangement music) - Ooh, look at here!

Ah-ho!

(Doug laughing) - I might have gotten a donut back.

- Are you kidding me?

All right.

- All right.

- That was a great chip there, sir.

Maybe you practiced that before here?

- [Karl] Once or twice.

- Okay, maybe.

- [Karl] Yeah.

(upbeat country music) - [Doug] Looking good.

I'll take that.

Can I just drop next to yours?

- Yeah, you, I left you a little room.

(upbeat country music continues) - Ah, I pulled it.

- [Karl] Pulled it, pulled it.

Doug, that's not where the hole is.

- [Doug] It's on the green though.

- Does it count that I'm on the green and you're not?

- It does count.

- Yeah.

- You still gotta putt.

I can't even see the ball now.

(Karl laughing) (upbeat country music continues) - [Karl] Well, that's not bad.

- [Doug] Turn, turn, turn.

- [Karl] We're not in Kansas anymore.

Look at 'em.

Wow.

Nice putt.

- I've been practicing this putt all morning and finally got close.

- Holy smokes.

- [Doug] Thank you very much.

I believe I'm tasting some chocolate?

- You might be, you're making me work for this again.

- [Doug] I'm tasting chocolate.

Don't you drain this chip again.

Oh dear, oh dear.

- Yep, he got me.

- Woo.

- You got me.

- Chocolate glazed donuts.

I'm thinking my back's hurting now.

Let's just go ahead and call the game.

- Okay.

- All right, let's just.

- We could call it a game, that's fine.

- Six donuts, I might have 'em with you.

- I get to have one of 'em?

- No, no.

I'll give you three.

- Okay.

- [Dave] So soak in some history along the creek, but aim to avoid the creek itself as you tackle the course.

And maybe take a little time afterwards to explore the rest of this historic park.

(upbeat country music slows, ends) I now get a chance to join Doug for a round along this Georgia golf trail up in Young Harris at the beautiful and amenity-filled Brasstown Valley Resort and Spa.

(acoustic guitar music) I've been to the Brasstown Valley Resort and Spa many times over the years, and it's a destination that never ceases to amaze.

Be it the setting located just below the shadow of Brasstown Bald, the highest peak in Georgia, or the 50-foot fireplace centerpiece in the rustic main lodge, there are countless surroundings that are visually appealing.

Doug and I visited in the fall.

The Bermuda was dormant for the season, but played beautifully, as did the brilliant greens.

It's a time of year when the mountains are scattered with a brilliant array of colors, leaves changing, and a few flowers still boasting the best of what they have to share for the season.

The local inhabitants made their presence known as we'll discuss later, and Doug pretty much picked a perfect day to visit our friend and PGA professional, Steve Phelps, who is the Director of Golf Operations here at Brasstown Valley.

(uptown mountain music) - The link-style golf course which is unusual in our area, link style, basically, it's one big loop, 18 holes.

Nine goes straight out about two and a half miles out, and then it's another two and a half miles back in.

We're down in the valley, so a lot of folks think mountain golf course, it's gonna be a lot of elevation changes.

We really don't have that.

It's kind of rolling and it's a lot of wildlife preserves.

We have zero houses, nice and quiet out there.

It's peaceful, animals, the whole deal.

Our course conditions are very consistent.

Being in the valley is we're just surrounded by mountains.

So as the foliage starts to change, we get the best of it anywhere you look.

But then with the ponds and the other wildlife areas we have on the golf course, the colors change.

So that's what really makes us unique.

- [Dave] We're gonna be playing a few holes today.

Let's focus on a couple.

Let's talk about 15.

- My favorite.

It gives you everything you want.

It's a par five that goes around the pond.

When you stand in the tee box, you can look to your right and you're looking over the pond.

You're looking at the mountains, Brasstown Bald.

If you hit a pretty decent drive, you can't carry the pond, so you're out at the elbow.

That's your risk reward.

Can you go for it?

Can you not go for it?

But if you lay up, you can still make birdie.

It's a really sweet hole.

- Should Doug and I go for it?

- Why not, you're here.

That's why you came.

- [Dave] That's our first mistake.

(upbeat country music) - [Doug] All right, here we got a par five, number 15.

- Steve said don't try to clear the water.

- We don't see any water on this hole, okay.

You're not seeing it.

You just hit it right toward that beautiful mountain right there and you'd be fine.

- [Dave] All right, all right.

I got it.

- Yep, we didn't lose it, no water.

It's what, about 235, maybe?

You know, sometimes it's not how you drive, it's how you arrive.

- I can tell you three things I did wrong.

- It's not you arrive, it's how you drive.

- [Dave] Geez.

(upbeat country music continues) - How far is that?

Man, I can't even see.

David, bring my glasses.

Man, I'm way out here.

(strong mountain music) - And these are the kind of experiences you can expect up here in the wilderness.

Our game was briefly halted by a spectacle of vultures.

No obvious signs as to why they were gathering.

What was most curious, however, was that when we counted, there were actually 27 vultures on the fairway and exactly 27 vultures on the pavilion.

We had 27 in the field.

- Well, you know, Halloween's a week from today.

- That's right.

- So maybe they're getting ready?

- I hope so, I hope they're not watching us.

- [Doug] I hope they're not watching us.

- Regardless, Doug and I pressed on continuing our game along this championship Scottish link-style course that's been rated as one of the best in the state.

(drop bass instrumental dance music) - All right, Dave.

You ready?

- Yes, sir.

Oh, good loft, good loft.

A little left, but you play on the left side, I'll play on the right.

- That'll do.

- All right.

I have no doubt it's going in, so I will be here to pull it.

Get there.

- [Doug] Hit something.

- No, wait, no.

- [Doug] Whoa, baby!

- Now you're joining me.

Look at that.

(drop bass instrumental dance music continues) - [Doug] Oh, baby.

- [Dave] Come on now.

- [Doug] Baby, oh!

Oh!

- Oh.

Oh.

(Dave laughing) - [Doug] Now you know you got 10 seconds.

No, no, no.

No, no, no, no.

So you got 10 seconds.

- Get in the hole.

It's your home.

I can't believe that.

All right.

- [Doug] All right.

Nice putt.

Very nice putt, sir.

(serene guitar music) Georgia has so much to offer here on the Georgia Grown Golf Trail, and right here at beautiful Brasstown Valley.

They have one of the best golf courses anywhere in Georgia.

Accommodations, golf packages, spa, equestrian.

Five sets of tees that are just perfect for anybody, you know?

You wanna play championship golf or wanna bring out the kids and let them play.

Grass, agriculture, Georgia grown.

You gotta have it all in order to play golf.

Brasstown Bald, we went to the very top of the highest point in Georgia, right there with the little mound sticking up.

- [Dave] Yes, sir.

- That's Brasstown Bald, right there.

(acoustic guitar music) - Nice.

Well, I got all of it.

- [Doug] Yeah, you did get all of it.

Well.

- All right, little right.

- Yeah, just another hop up and putt in, you're you in for an eight.

Here we go, Dave.

- [Dave] All right, Doug.

- Closest to the pin?

- [Dave] Make it rain.

- How 'bout just closest to anywhere?

(Dave laughing) Okay, just... - [Dave] I'm in a legal spot.

(acoustic guitar music) I think you got me beat.

- I don't know.

- [Dave] Watch, you're in the sand.

- We're gonna go on the beach.

- [Dave] Yeah.

(acoustic guitar music) - [Doug] Look at the pro.

- [Dave] There you go.

There you go.

- [Doug] Look at there.

Man, nice shot.

(Doug clapping) (guitar music) All right, it's in the hole.

- Yeah, there we go.

That's it, that is not a gimme.

- Let's see if we can hit this Bridgestone golf ball in the hole.

Way!

- We're both on fire.

So after the vulture spectacular and the edge of our seat finish on the greens, it was time to enjoy the next great amenity of Brasstown Valley Resort and Spa, the dining, which offers a diverse menu with a variety of locally grown options.

- What the dining experience is nice, quiet, that homey feel to it.

We try to get what we can locally.

Our chef, Brandon Holloway is a locally grown chef.

So one of our big sellers is shrimp and grits.

We actually get our grits from Turnpike in Blairsville.

Trout does come locally.

It comes from about 25 miles away from here.

Cook our trout fresh, we get it delivered fresh.

Good food.

- Well, Doug, there's only one thing left to celebrate the Brasstown Valley Resort and Spa, the Creek at Hard Labor Golf course, and, of course, Arrowhead Pointe, that's a cheers.

- That is definitely a cheers.

- To the Georgia Grown Golf Trail, sir.

- Look forward to having you back.

(guitar folk music) - These three state park courses are just a snapshot of what you will find when visiting the over two dozen courses featured along the Georgia Golf Trail, courses rolling through the mountain valleys, marshes, rivers, and lakes with 19th hole amenities, boasting tasty, locally grown meals to cap off an amazing day on the course.

So to my friend Doug, thanks again for inviting me along this journey through the Georgia Grown Golf Trail.

And I'll see you all at the next fork in the road.

(guitar folk music) (guitar folk music fades) "A Fork in the Road" was brought to you by.

(gentle guitar music) - [Announcer] From produce to people, the best things are grown and raised in Georgia.

Even in tough times, we come together, work hard, and grow strong.

When you purchase Georgia grown products, you support farmers, families, and this proud state we call home.

Together we will keep Georgia growing.

(gentle guitar music fades) (gentle inspiring music) ♪ Picture-perfect ♪ ♪ Hang the picture on the wall ♪ ♪ Mm ♪ ♪ I see you shine ♪ ♪ From afar ♪ ♪ Yet to me you are the star ♪ ♪ All right, baby ♪ ♪ Hey, feels good ♪ ♪ Feels right ♪ ♪ Take the feeling pass it on ♪ ♪ Just pass it on ♪ ♪ Nah-Na-Na-Na-Na uh ♪