Neighbors Of Bobby Jones Golf Course Sue Its Developer

A group of people who live across the street from Bobby Jones golf course are suing its developer, claiming it’s ignoring city rules.

The Bobby Jones Golf Course Foundation, which has a 50-year lease from the state of Georgia, is redesigning the Buckhead course and building new facilities.

Some neighbors of the course are unhappy with the hundreds of trees that have been cut down and with the plans for a maintenance building on Northside Drive and a cell phone tower.

In a lawsuit filed in Fulton County Superior Court, six residents claim the Foundation should have to follow City of Atlanta rules building and environmental rules, even though the state owns the land.

“There is extremely massive construction going on, with grading activities and building buildings and everything, and it’s caused all these neighborhoods a good bit of concern,” said Bruce Brown, an attorney for the plaintiffs.

Chuck Palmer, chairman of the Bobby Jones Golf Course Foundation board, said the organization disagrees with the plaintiff’s position.

“This is a state-owned property,” he said. “The understanding all along is that city ordinances do not apply.”

Palmer said foundation is thinking about the environment, with plans to replant a tree for every one cut down, to build a lake to supply its water for watering the course, and to plant pollinator-friendly plants in one corner of the property.

The City of Atlanta used to own Bobby Jones golf course, but in 2016 it traded it with the state, for property near Underground Atlanta.

A hearing is scheduled for June 19.