Forrest Crossing Golf Course, an American Golf Corp. property that was originally named after Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest, will now be called The Crossing Golf Course. Forrest later became a grand wizard of the Ku Klux Klan. “We believe that the game of golf is a sport that can help bring people together despite their differences,” the ownership company said in announcing the change.
A golf course in Franklin, Tenn, has changed its name to drop a connection with a controversial Confederate general, The Tenneseean of Nashville, Tenn. reported.
The Crossing Golf Course, previously known as Forrest Crossing Golf Course, made the change at the direction of its owner, California-based American Golf Corporation, on September 22nd, The Tennessean reported.
The public course which opened in 1986, was named after Nathan Bedford Forrest, a Confederate general during the Civil War who went on to become a grand wizard of the Ku Klux Klan.
Rand Huguely, General Counsel for American Golf, issued a statement from the company on behalf of the Franklin course.
“American Golf has changed the name of our golf club in Franklin, Tennessee to The Crossing, effective September 22,” the statement said. “We believe that the game of golf is a sport that can help bring people together despite their differences, and want everyone to feel welcome to play this beautiful course.”
Huguely declined to answer additional questions about the name change, The Tennessean reported.
The course’s previous website, http://forrestcrossing.com, was no longer active after the announcement, but a new website, http://thecrossinggc.com, still had mentions of Forrest Crossing throughout the site, including on the Contact page, The Tennessean reported.
A change to the course’s Facebook profile picture to reflect the new name was met with criticism from some people last week, The Tennessean reported.
“The only preexisting problem with Forrest Crossing is the uneven tee boxes, and drainage of the fairways…..not any kind of racial issue,” wrote Facebook user Josh Petersen.
American Golf based in El Segundo, Calif., owns more than 50 public courses across the U.S.; The Crossing is the only course the company owns in Tennessee.
Tell Us What You Think!
You must be logged in to post a comment.