It sure seems like everything is coming full circle for Jeff Dunovant, a PGA Member and the General Manager at John A. White Golf Club in Atlanta. His dream clubhouse, a $30 million facility, is under construction and slated to open late next year at this Bobby Jones Links-managed property. More importantly, it will finally provide a physical home for the National Black Golf Hall of Fame that his father, Harold, founded 40 years ago.
From Jeff’s perspective, the Hall of Fame has come a long way from those early, grassroots days. He remembers when it was basically a “family operation” run by his father, mother, brother, sister-in-law, and himself. Now with more than 125 members, it has a board, a marketing director, a treasurer (his wife), and a new home. Until now, it was essentially a virtual organization.
The upcoming 29,000-square-foot, two-story John A. White clubhouse will serve as the home of the Hall of Fame, a senior activity center, casual dining, event space, conference rooms, indoor golf simulators, and a new pro shop. Designed with seniors and golfers in mind, it will combine leisure, learning, and sports into one facility. The plan is to create a warm, inviting space that meets the diverse needs and interests of Atlanta’s senior population, featuring wellness programs, a fitness center, a teaching kitchen, and community activity and meeting areas. The adaptable event spaces can be divided into four sections, each with customizable setups for simultaneous use. They are intended for events, conferences, and gatherings.
“Atlanta golf participation has increased tremendously in the past five years,” says Dunovant. “That brought new golfers to the game, which obviously helped bring players and revenue to our facility. This new clubhouse will not only change John A. White, but the whole west end side of Atlanta. It's going to become a destination where people can play a great nine-hole course, enjoy a great meal after the round, or host functions, and our inductions into the National Black Golf Hall of Fame, where we will have space for up to 200 guests. We're looking forward to that.”
Dunovant’s favorite part? The outdoor terrace that will offer scenic views of the course. Located on the back side of the clubhouse, there will be fire pits and an elevated vantage point that looks out over all nine holes. Dunovant calls it one of the best views in the city, especially at sunrise or sunset.
For all the focus on the building, he’s quick to point out that the course itself was renovated a few years ago and is in great shape. The current project is about elevating the overall experience: pairing that well-conditioned, regulation-length nine-hole layout with a modern clubhouse that serves both golfers and the broader community. As he puts it, the construction feels slow in the moment, but he keeps telling people that once it’s finished and everyone’s enjoying it, they’ll look back and say, “Man, that was worth the wait!”
Throughout all of this, Dunovant is quick to credit Bobby Jones Links for the support they provide in managing the facility. Having worked for several golf management companies over his career, he says this has been “the most supportive” group he’s been part of. From their Club Support Center, he gets help with everything from strategic direction to vendor relationships, including access to preferred partners like EZ-GO for carts and internal talent pipelines for key hires, such as recently bringing in a superintendent who was ready for his first head role.
“I am so happy for Jeff and the Black Golf Hall of Fame,” says Bobby Jones Links CEO, Whitney Crouse. “Both have been waiting patiently for years for this to happen. The new clubhouse and community center at John A. White will be the perfect place.”
In Dunovant’s eyes, those resources and that backing set the stage for a long, productive partnership between Bobby Jones Links, the city of Atlanta, and John A. White Golf Course, one that underpins both the facility's growth and the future home of the National Black Golf Hall of Fame.