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GREENSBORO -- Greens at Sedgefield Country Club won't receive new grass until owner John McConnell sees how the Champion Dwarf Bermudagrass greens work at Starmount Forest Country Club.

"I'm a software guy," McConnell said Saturday, referring to how he built his wealth. "You don't buy a (version) 1.0 product. You buy a 2.0, and 3.0 is even better."

McConnell spoke Saturday about his philosophy regarding the changes at Sedgefield since he purchased the golf club this year. He has reworked cart paths and cut down massive trees in front of the clubhouse. A wall of past tournament champions was erected. And several holes have been tweaked.

McConnell bought Sedgefield, his seventh purchase of the eight clubs in his portfolio, in much the same way he came to buy his first golf course in 2003. That purchase, Raleigh Country Club, was about to be razed for condos.

Sedgefield also needed more money to continue running.

"And it was a split decision, so to speak," McConnell said of the members' vote to sell. "They ultimately decided to go with McConnell Golf. I think that today, that if you did that vote right now, I would say I'd probably get a 95 percent approval rating."

McConnell's plans for the club include knocking down a building by the pool, building a fitness center, then possibly an indoor tennis facility.

The permanent scoreboard for golf tournaments will be replaced by a temporary leaderboard.

"The scoreboard that nobody looks at, which was a waste of resources, probably, at the time," McConnell said.

Not all decisions are based solely upon what PGA Tour pros want, he said. There are members, cost and prioritization of resources to consider.

"Yeah, the PGA pros and the tour would love to have Champion Bermudagrass greens this time of year, but they're only one of the factors," McConnell said. "And an important factor, but one of the factors."

Contact Gerald Witt at 373-7008 or gerald.witt @news-record.com