Many celebrity golf fans have made enough money in their careers to be able to invest in golf courses.
Michael Jordan is probably the best example. He designed The Grove XIII in Florida to fit perfectly into the game of golf.
Justin Timberlake, another avid golf fan, once decided to take the same plunge. In 2007, he learned that Big Creek Golf Course in Millington, where he first hit a golf ball as a child, was scheduled to be auctioned off.
He and his family set out to purchase the course before spending millions to transform it into the first of its kind in the United States.
Photo credit: David Cannon/Getty Images
Why Justin Timberlake’s golf course was unique in the Americas
What sets this course apart isn’t the famous name that owns it, but its history with its unprecedented surroundings.
Reopening as Mirimichi, which means “happy retreat” in Cherokee, the course became the first golf course in the United States to be certified as an Audubon International Classic Sanctuary. This recognizes the course’s commitment to environmental management and conservation.
It is also the first course in the Americas to be certified by the Golf Environment Agency. Achieving this required a fundamental overhaul of traditional golf course management. Timberlake reportedly invested $16 million to transform the property into an eco-friendly golf course.
Mirimichi utilizes a state-of-the-art biological filtration system and natural grasslands, and by replacing approximately 100 acres of traditional lawns with native plants and wildflower meadows, the course has significantly reduced its fossil fuel and water needs.
Timberlake eventually sold the course in 2014 to focus on other business ventures, but Mirimichi’s legacy as an environmentally friendly venue remains.
Mirimichi’s environmental improvement effects
Timberlake’s efforts at Mirimichi paved the way for many other famous courses in America to follow.
Broken Sound Club in Florida was highlighted as the second golf course in the United States to achieve GEO certification. It is widely known for its extensive composting program and efforts to reduce dependence on chemicals.
Old South Golf Links in South Carolina has held this status since 2016, and PGA National Resort, a highly visible venue, has held GEO status since 2015.
Timberlake’s influence is now felt throughout American golf courses.
