Golf course completes upgrades as it celebrates 100 years

Bartow Golf Course, a public links-style course, recently completed a series of upgrades that includes a comprehensive new irrigation system.

In addition to the irrigation system, which covers the entire footprint of the course, the Polk County facility features four new forward tees on holes 3, 8, 13 and 18, as well as new sand in all the bunkers, according to a press release. Celebrating 100 years in business in 2022, “the TOW,” as it’s known to local golfers, hosted a 1925 exhibition match that featured Cyril Walker, the 1924 U.S. Open champion who defeated Bobby Jones at Michigan’s Oakland Hills Country Club.

For the past 59 years, the release states, the par-72 facility has hosted the Youth Villa Classic, an event that helps raise money for the Sherriff Youth Ranch in Bartow.

“Bartow Golf Course provides a great experience to all men, women and youth golfers,” longtime head golf pro Chris Banks states in the release. “It also proudly hosts many charitable events in Polk County.”