Since reopening on July 27, the club has seen a 10 percent increase in membership. The project included rebuilding or rerouting ten holes, renovating the remaining eight holes as well as the practice facility, and restoring 2,000 feet of an Army Corps of Engineers jurisdictional stream on two holes, adding to the course’s environmental benefits.
Columbia (Mo.) Country Club reopened its golf course on July 27. Fry/Straka Global Golf Course Design oversaw the project at the private club, which is managed by Dallas-based Eagle Golf.
“The comments by the membership and guests of the club have been incredibly complimentary,” said Jason Straka, a Fry/Straka principal. “If they enjoy the course now, they will fall in love with it as it matures over the next few years.”
Ten holes were rebuilt or rerouted, and the remaining eight holes and the practice facility were renovated. In addition, 2,000 feet of Army Corps of Engineers jurisdictional stream were restored on two holes, adding to the environmental benefits of the renovated golf course.
Since the course reopened, the club has increased its membership by nearly 10 percent. On August 3, it hosted the first round of play for the inaugural Columbia Women’s City Golf Championship.
“You can get a risk-reward shot or you can play it safe—nearly everyone says the redesigned course is beautiful and extremely fair,” said Brett Bieske, PGA, General Manager and Director of Golf. “It now has the look and feel of a Lake-of-the-Ozarks course.”
Enhanced aesthetics and playability were two central goals of the redesign project. Among the many changes were the removal of a number of trees and invasive vegetation, which previously had restricted imaginative and challenging shot-making on certain holes. The resultant new vistas opened up the par-71 course in many spots to views of Hinkson Creek and several of its tributaries. In addition, some new tees were added and some tee boxes redesigned.
A number of challenging factors required consideration as Straka drew up plans for the redesign. The course is landlocked by surrounding development roads, freeways and an abandoned Missouri Department of Transportation site. It also is bisected by a small river, which courses through a deep ravine. Over the years, municipal decisions, such as a new freeway exit, a new bridge spanning the river and a new access road, directly impacted the golf course, taking out a portion of three holes. Consequently, all of the back nine holes had to be redesigned and some holes completely relocated in order to keep the overall yardage. The rebuilt holes feature significantly improved drainage, irrigation, turf-growing conditions, aesthetics and playability.
The new golf holes are wider than the old holes. The course now ranges from 4,702 yards from the forward tees to 6,527 yards from the back tees. State-of-the art construction led to more disease- and drought-tolerant greens, which now drain well and can withstand the transition zone’s heat and summer stresses. Stilling pools were created throughout the streams to control sedimentation, and hundreds of native riparian plants were installed along the streams.
Tell Us What You Think!
You must be logged in to post a comment.