The (Not-So-Typical) story of How American Classic Golf Club Came to Be
2012 — When a Golf Course Meets a Geothermal Guy
At American Classic, we like to say we’ve been different from day one.
And honestly? We didn’t even stand a chance at being normal.
Picture this: a Geothermal/HVAC entrepreneur—Rock Morrison—gets the opportunity to buy a golf course that’s… well… let’s just say “in need of enthusiastic affection.” Most people would pause. Maybe make a pros/cons list. Sleep on it.
Rock? Nope. He buys it immediately.
This is a man whose golf background included:
• a father who loved the sport
• occasional rounds in between a busy work schedule
• “watching” the golf channel behind closed eyelids
and that’s about it.
But hey, how hard could running a golf course be? (Spoiler: very.)
2012–2013 — The Great Golf Course Glow-Up
Once Rock had the keys, things got interesting fast.
Suddenly, he was:
Re-drawing hole layouts like a mad golf scientist
Bulldozing greens and re-building them from scratch
Wrestling with broken irrigation pipes (somewhere underground, possibly laughing at him)
Learning the difference between all the grasses—bentgrass, bermuda, fescue… who knew grass had personalities?
And he was doing all of this on the fly, in classic Rock Morrison fashion:
Full send. No manual. Maximum chaos and creativity.
Meanwhile, the whole Morrison family jumped in. Family-owned, family-operated, family-sweating-their-faces-off. It was truly a team effort—with a little blood, a lot of sweat, and maaaybe a few tears.
Memorial Day Weekend 2013 — Opening Day
After months of work (and more than a few “are we sure this is a good idea?” moments), the big day arrived.
The tee markers were set.
The greens were green-ish.
The excitement was off the charts.
And on Memorial Day 2013, the doors officially opened for the first ever time at American Classic.
Who took the inaugural first tee shot?
Rock Morrison himself—owner, accidental golf course designer, and the man brave enough to build a golf course before fully knowing how to maintain one.
And just like that…
This is where it alllll started.
Where We Are Today — Still Wonderfully Different
Fast-forward to today and… well… not much has changed in spirit.
We’re still learning. Still evolving. Still innovating.
Because at American Classic, we’ve never pretended to have it all figured out—we just keep getting better (and having a lot of fun) along the way.
And yes, you’ll still find “The Family” around almost every single day:
Rock
Still out there perfecting the golf-course-craft like a man on a mission. If there’s a sprinkler running at an odd hour or a new project underway, Rock is probably nearby with a shovel and a big idea.
Bonnie
Rock’s wife and the unofficial voice of reason. Still lovingly trying to reel him in… and occasionally succeeding.
The Daughters
Britt — Running (B)alanced by Britt Marie Fitness, her on-site studio where she trains clients, improves swings with Titleist performance training, and still finds time to help with daily operations.
Brooke — Usually juggling two small kiddos (who you’ll definitely see cruising around the course), while handling all the behind-the-scenes magic that keeps ACGC running smoothly.
The Sons-in-Law
Brandon — Out caring for the course itself, keeping the turf happy and the place looking sharp.
Austin — Managing day-to-day operations, re-gripping clubs, keeping golfers smiling, and maintaining a top FlingGolf ranking (yes, really!)
And That’s the Story… So Far
From a geothermal guy with a wild idea to a family-run, feel-good, swing-your-swing kind of golf course, American Classic has always marched to the beat of its own drum. We’ve built this place with our hands, our hearts, and occasionally a bulldozer.
And the best part?
We’re all family here — and that means you are welcome, and you belong here.
Whether you’re here to golf, fling, fitness, sip, snack, or just soak up the vibes…
you’re officially part of the story now.