Tot Hill Farm Golf Club sold

ASHEBORO — The partnership of Tot Hill Farm Golf Club has announced the sale of the property to Patrick “Pat” Barber of Charleston, S.C., with the closing on Nov. 30.

Barber, who owns The Links at Stono Ferry and The Plantation Course at Edisto, both in the Charleston area, plans to carry out restoration of the Tot Hill Farm course.

According to a press release on the sale, immediate priorities are to clean up several tee boxes and greens, repair cart path damage, build on-course restrooms, update the clubhouse area and repair several bridges.

Next summer, the greens will be replaced and converted to Prism Zoysia.

Tot Hill Farm Golf Club opened in 2000 with a most unique course design in the Piedmont. The property had been in the Yates family for more than 80 years.

“When you talk about unforgettable golf courses and experiences, no one did it better in our region of the country than Mike Strantz,” Barber said. “There are only six Mike Strantz designs the public can play, and when I heard the course was for sale, my interest piqued quickly. I love a good restoration and we want to return Tot Hill Farm back to Mike’s original vision for the golf experience here. This is going to be fun.”

Strantz, the 1998 Golf Course Architect of the Year, died in 2005 at the age of 50.

“Tot Hill Farm is very special to me and my family,” said Ogburn Yates, who was president of the partnership. “Our family enjoyed this land, lived here in the summers and developed this land for golfers and homeowners to enjoy what we’ve enjoyed for many years.

“I am very excited for Pat Barber and his team to be taking the reins and restoring this amazing property. Their vision and track record of success leaves me no doubt Tot Hill Farm is in great hands. The future is very bright.”

Yates’ parents, F.O. and Sue Yates, purchased the approximately 400 acres in 1943 as a place to enjoy their horses. They restored the old dilapidated farmhouse and began living there in the summer of 1945. They kept cattle and horses at the farm.

The name, Tot Hill, came from the first letters of their three children — Tucker, Ogburn and Toler. Later, John was born and his name was given to a portion of the residential development, John’s Ridge.

The Yates family began considering a golf course in the mid-1990s. Partners in the venture along with Yates were C.C. Pharr, Gilbert Cranford, Maxton McDowell, Jack Lail, David Jarrell, Sam Gruber, Hi Marziano, Henry Yates and Tony Cranford. Deceased members were Keith Crisco, Bill Hoover, Mack Priest and Max Jarrell.

Tot Hill Farm Golf Club is located west of Asheboro less than 10 minutes from I-73/74. The course is open to the public. Tee times can be made by calling 336-857-4455 or visiting www.TotHillFarm.com.