About the year 1909 or 1910 several Newnanites decided to act upon the need for a golf course in the area. George Martin, Ben Hill Pinson, Dr. W.A. Turner, Judge W.Y. Atkinson, Garland Jones and T.S. Parrott met and laid the plans for a pasture course on Nimmons Street, extending back into what is now the Woodbine area. This was used for several years as the only club and course for golfers in the immediate section.
Newnan Country Club was organized in 1919 and the golf course and clubhouse were built at the club’s current location on U.S. Hwy. 29 north. Duke Cole was the club’s first president. Since that date [1919] the club has been the center of many social and golfing activities. It has furnished the setting for many wedding receptions and various kinds of entertainment. NCC also serves as the meeting site for several local civic clubs.
Newnan native Harold Barron, who joined NCC in 1939 served as NCC president when the club purchased the property for what is now the Newnan Pines subdivision and when additional property was bought to expand the club to eighteen holes and add additional amenities. Barron said membership was relatively small until after World War II, when the postwar boom swept America. He fondly remembers all the activities at NCC, especially the so-called “Scotch foursome” golf tournaments that featured husband and wife pairings. “Those were wonderful events and we really made some great friends there and at other club functions,” Barron said. “That has always been a special place to me and I have nothing but fond memories of the people and good times we had out there.”
In 1923, the first annual Newnan Invitational was held with B.H. Pinson winning. In 1960, the club decided to name the event after long time Newnan Country Club member, Wilkins Kirby. Litt Glover Sr. & Jr won the event many times ( Litt at the age of 14 ). Mr. Kirby’s son, Wilkins Jr and Louis Brown, two of the best local golfers, went on to play college golf for the University of Georgia Teams. Both of these outstanding players captained the UGA team and won two SEC championships ( 1951 & 1985 respectively ) Louis won the Georgia State Amateur in 1985 which was held at Pinetree CC in Kennesaw. Brown turned professional later in 1985 and holds the course record at NCC with 63.