ZOYSIA GRASS ADDED TO BENT CREEK FAIRWAYS, TEES

Zoysia grass is one of the newest additions to the Bent Creek Golf Course here in Jackson. This grass is a good choice for fairways and tees because of its resiliency and hardiness. With zoysia grass, the ball can sit up so it can be properly hit.

The 72-par golf course has four par 3s, 10 par 4s and four par 5s. Water comes into play on about half of the holes.

There are 24 condominium units on the golf course, divided into seven buildings.

Jack Litzelfelner, an owner of the golf course, said, "Fifty percent of the people who live in condos don't play golf."

He said that in the newest addition, Spring Lake Estates, which opened a little over a year ago, more than half of the 38 units have been sold.

The name Bent Creek came about when wife, Judy Litzelfelner, chose three names, the family voted and the majority ruled: Bent Creek was it. Later on when Judy got her dog, she named it Bentley, for Bent Creek.

The family is an important factor in this whole story. Jack Litzelfelner came from a family of 12, and the original homestead sat on the land now the golf course.

As Jack Litzelfelner tells it, his father had about 30 acres and when his mother and father died, he began to buy more acreage. The buying began in about 1970 and now totals 500 acres.

Jack and Judy Litzelfelner have three sons: Jack Jr., Mike and Rob, and two daughters: Pat and Debbie.

Judy Litzelfelner said, "The whole family loves to golf. Before Bent Creek, we spent a lot of time at Kimbeland, golfing, enjoying the pool, etc. Here at Bent Creek, when it was raw land, we'd have family picnics and such."

She added that someone would always end up saying, wouldn't it be great to build a golf course here, and eventually the dream came true.

The golf course has come a long way since its inception in 1978. It was then that the Litzelfelners first spent any real money to get an estimate from a golf architect.

Rob Litzelfelner had worked in construction at the time and persuaded his father that it would be a good idea to convert their land to a golf course.

Architect Gary Kern of a golf design company owned by Hale Irwin was chosen.

Kern decided the No. 5 hole would be his signature hole because of the challenge it offers. Construction began in 1988, and Bent Creek officially opened Labor Day 1990.

Jack Litzelfelner's favorite hole is No. 17 because of the challenge it offers and the scenery surrounding it.

He said, "It's awfully pretty with the creek running right in front of it and all."

The Bent Creek Golf Course is at 2200 Bent Creek Drive in Jackson.

For information call 243-6060.