Lupton’s original vision is still very much alive in The Honors Course

It has been 14 years since the death of one of Chattanooga’s greatest visionaries and philanthropists, John T. Lupton III. Better known as “Jack,” each passing year sadly takes us further from remembering the profound impact Lupton had on our community at a critical time in the city’s history.

The Tennessee Aquarium is a lasting monument to Lupton’s ability to predict the future. His investment in the project has been a driving force behind the downtown renaissance of the past three decades.

Lupton’s influence was also widely felt in the amateur golf arena, and his spirit lives on at his beloved Honors Course, which continues to flourish as a monument to his love of the game he loved so much.

At a gathering of dignitaries and media last Thursday at the famed Ooltewah Golf Course, the Lupton Club was once again recognized for its contributions to the game of golf throughout the state, ahead of the U.S. Senior Amateur at The Honors Course later this month.

Joe Richardson, president of The Honors Course, recalled that Lupton insisted that USGA executive director P.J. Boatright Jr. fly out to tour the course shortly after it opened in 1983.

“Jack asked him to come out here and look at the course, tell us what he thought of it,” Richardson said. “I was walking with them and we landed on the No. 8 tee and PJ looked at Jack and said, ‘Jack, you can have any USGA-sponsored golf tournament on your course.’ And that’s what we’ve done to always honor amateur golf.”

The U.S. Senior Amateur will be the sixth USGA championship held at the state’s top course. Other events include the 1991 U.S. Amateur, the 1994 Curtis Cup Match, the 2005 U.S. Mid-Amateur, the 2011 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur and the 2016 U.S. Junior Amateur.

This list will grow even longer in the coming years, as the US Women’s Amateur will be held here in 2026, and the US Amateur in 2031.

“That’s what we’re all about,” said Henrik Simonsen, COO and Director of Golf at The Honors Course. “We want to honor amateur golf the way Mr. Lupton wanted to do it, and now Mr. Richardson, which is to have major national tournaments. Having six of the USGA is just amazing, and the club is as prepared for this event as it’s ever been. I’ve lived on the property for 17 years, and it’s not work. It’s home, it’s my backyard, and it’s really fun for the whole staff.”

Lupton’s reach extended far beyond the construction of The Honors Course. It was refreshing to recall Lupton’s influence, recognizing that much of the success enjoyed by Tennessee’s amateur, professional and foundation governing bodies today can be traced back to Lupton’s foresight and generosity.

Dick Horton, who served as executive director of the Tennessee Section PGA, the Tennessee Golf Association and the Tennessee Golf Foundation during his half-century of golf career, credits Lupton with helping to advance golf throughout the state.

“He was a true visionary of golf that extended far beyond that golf course,” Horton said. “I shared with him the desire to have all the golf associations in Tennessee under one roof, and he said, ‘It really should be here in Chattanooga because we’re the number one golf town in the state.’ But he agreed it had to be in the middle of the state.

“We found some real estate and showed Jack our vision. And in classic Jack form, we’re in a lunch meeting and he looked at his watch and said, ‘Oh, God, I have to be there by noon. Let’s just go and build this.’ And as he was walking out of the room, he told us to go build the Golf House.”

When Lupton completed his headquarters with an investment of $3 million, he realized that there would be further financial problems, which were quickly resolved.

“We had a beautiful facility, but we still didn’t have two nickels to pull together,” Horton said. “Then Jack said, ‘I want you to know I’m going to put another seven figures in the bank to equip you and keep you going, because you’re going to need money to run this place until you get some money together.’ That shows Jack Lupton’s vision and generosity.”

Lupton also pledged that The Honors Course would host the men’s and women’s state amateur championships every ten years, setting the bar for other deserving clubs across the state to follow suit.

“It completely changed amateur golf in our state,” Horton said. “Mr. Lupton and his vision for amateur golf were great. I could have had a lot of ideas, but Jack knew how to make them happen. It wasn’t just about the money, it was about his love for the game.”

Lupton’s masterpiece, originally designed by golf course architect Pete Dye and refined by Gil Hanse several years ago, goes beyond hosting tournaments and serving members. The club held its annual junior event last week, where local young golfers are given caddies and invited to a formal luncheon.

There is also a Polly Boyd Scholarship Scheme, awarded to caddies and other club staff, reflecting the charitable structure that Lupton developed when he founded the club.

“I think there have been over 140 Polly Boyd Scholars who have worked here and we’ve helped them move on in life,” Richardson said. “We tell them that we hope that when they get there, they’ll do what we did and help other people.”

While many outsiders will never experience the essence of The Honors Course, it truly is a special place that goes far beyond its majestic landscape and championship history. The 156 golfers who will attend the U.S. Senior Amateur will get a taste of it during their stay, but their experience won’t tell the whole story.

There will never be another Jack Lupton. His profound influence should still be remembered today as an inspiration to us all.

Paul Payne can be reached at [email protected]