ACWORTH - The Cobblestone Golf Course is about to get a $617,000 facelift.

The county-owned, public course on Nance Road along the shores of Lake Acworth has not had any major renovations since it opened in 1993. The Cobb County Board of Commissioners approved the funding of various renovations on the course in January.

"The life of golf greens is usually around 15 years, then you really need to put in whole new grass, and we're coming up on 17 years with the same greens," general manager Greg Ray said. "I think everyone will be excited about the upgrades, and hopefully this will bring in more business for us and keep those who have stayed loyal to the course happy. Greens are the number one thing people look for in a course, with pace of play being next. We have probably one of the best-routed courses in the state, so the pace draws a lot of people, but we need the greens to keep up with that."

Ray said Champion Bermuda will be planted on the greens and will need eight weeks to grow and spread. The bunkers will also be filled with new sand and refinished.

County Public Services Agency Director Bob Ash said funding will come from revenues earned from cell phone towers in unincorporated Cobb.

"Every year, we've seen a decrease in the amount of players and rounds played at the course, and this really is a great course, so hopefully this will get more people back to playing at Cobblestone," Ash said.

The course will remain open during the renovations, which are expected to be completed by September, Ray said.

"Weather will probably play a big part in it, but we'll probably start on the bunkers in May, then get to the grass the first Monday after the July Fourth weekend, as that's usually a pretty busy weekend," Ray said. "In 2007, there were 48,000 rounds played here, but it went down in 2008 and in 2009 we had 40,000. Without these renovations, I think that number would probably keep going down, and this was ranked one of the top five courses in Georgia when it opened, so we want to get it back there."

Ray said the course's loyal golfers, many who have been coming to the course since it opened, keep the course alive.

"You really get a lot for the money, and we have a huge following because people just love this course. It's almost like an Adirondack view when you get to some holes, and really has a following like no other place I've ever been. I think people will start coming in droves when all of the renovations are in place," Ray said.

Cost of play will probably go up slightly, Ray said, as a great deal of money is going into the course and will continue to be put into it to keep it at a high-quality level. See www.cobblestonegolf.com for current rates.

Chuck Matt of Acworth said he has been playing the course for five years, and will visit the course more often once the renovations are done.

"I think it will bring a lot of people here and improve play. It's a nice, comfortable course in a good area and is close to home, so it's nice to have this really good course so close," Matt said.

Kevin O'Leary of Kennesaw, secretary of the course's men's golf association, said the renovations will be great for the course, but the hospitality of the staff and the comfort he has with the course is what keeps him coming back.

"This is a magnificent course we've got here. It's very challenging and it's great to see the county putting more money into it to make it really tip-top shape," O'Leary said. "It's a great value for the price, but really, I can't say enough about the hospitality. You come here once and people call you by name. There aren't many public courses, even some private, that give you the kind of welcome you get here. Hopefully more people will come when the renovations are finished, and when they do, I have no doubt they'll keep coming back."

The course is at 4100 Nance Road.