Kuchar & Matteson Win Event at Georgia Tech Club

Less than 24 hours after Matt Kuchar and Troy Matteson tied with Camilo Villegas for third place at the AT&T Classic championship in Atlanta on May 20, the two teamed up to defeat Roberto Castro and Kevin Larsen in a match-play event at the grand opening of The Georgia Tech Club in Alpharetta. The match was decided when Kuchar sank a 20-foot putt for birdie on the final hole. Kuchar's round of 66 (played from the course's back tee length of 7,558 yards) established the course record for the club. Castro and Larsen are graduating seniors who played for Georgia Tech's golf team, as did Kuchar and Matteson.

"It was a pleasure to see such talented golfers play the course," said Craig Hartle, director of golf. "Neither team had more than a 1-up advantage through the match. We witnessed some great shots. It was an excellent unveiling of what I'm sure soon will be considered one of the region's finest courses."

Rees Jones, the designer of the private course, was on hand on Monday. He described features of various holes as the match progressed. The Georgia Tech Club, located within the gated Echelon home community, can lay legitimate claim to being one of the most challenging anywhere. The course's rating, as assessed by the Georgia State Golf Association (GSGA), is 77.8 with a slope of 154 from the tips. Only seven courses in the nation have a higher slope than the Georgia Tech Club, among them Pine Valley in New Jersey and the Ocean Course at Kiawah in South Carolina, which are at 155.

"I'm very pleased with the results we achieved at The Georgia Tech Club," said Jones. "The rating of the course speaks to some of its challenges, but we have created tee boxes that will allow every level of golfer to enjoy the course. It's a beautiful setting with dramatic views and we're proud to have been part of the project."

In addition to Jones's course, the facility will eventually include a clubhouse with a dining area, lounge, fitness and wellness area and locker rooms. The 610-acre Echelon community in Atlanta's northern quadrant consists of 230 estate homesites, each over one acre in size. Echelon's initial four tennis courts are currently under construction, with a free form Aquatics Center and Highlands Grill to break ground in July.

The club has an affiliation with Georgia Tech through a license agreement with the Alumni and Athletic associations, which entitles direct marketing access to alumni, boosters, supporters and friends. Georgia Tech will receive royalties from the sale of memberships and operating income.

The developer of Echelon and the Georgia Tech Club is University Clubs by Melrose, an affiliate company of The Melrose Company. A recreational community and club development company, The Melrose Company has projects in South Carolina, Oklahoma, Georgia, Indiana and Texas.

For additional information about the Georgia Tech Club, contact Hartle at 770-888-4653.