The nine-hole White Course at Wyndemere Country Club in Naples, Fla., recently completed a “wall to wall” renovation, while The Oaks Club in Osprey, Fla., finished a year-long upgrade to its Heron Course, and the Quail Lodge & Golf Club in Carmel, Calif., renovated its golf course as the final piece of a $28 million property-wide update.
The renovation of the nine-hole White Course at Wyndemere Country Club in Naples, Fla., has been completed.
The project included completely renovated USGA greens, wall-to-wall irrigation system with state-of-the-art electronic monitoring, and new tee boxes. Asphalt cart paths were removed and concrete paths were installed around all tee and green complexes, combined with screening and back-to-nature areas, and around the clubhouse and the cart barn.
Greens were planted with Tifeagle and the rest of the course is Celebration Bermuda grass. All new range equipment includes bag stands, benches, ball washers, ice coolers, tee box dividers, Titleist range balls, new flags, new flag sticks and tee and yardage markers. The bunker sand was also replaced with new ParAngle sand.
The project was contracted and managed in-house by the General Manager/COO Jimmy Lynn and Golf Course Superintendent Aaron Ohloff.
In Osprey, Fla., The Oaks Club has completed the renovation of its Heron Course, a year-long project that brings a memorable new golfing experience for members and guests.
Course architect Jason Straka, of Fry/Straka Global Golf Course Design, said the renovations are designed to enhance playability and improve maintenance conditions. The new Heron Course will play between 4,185 and 6,825 yards, slightly longer than the current 6,695 yards.
“The revitalized course will have new surface contours, better constructed and strategically placed sand bunkers, interesting greens complexes, and a new teeing system that will accommodate players of all skill levels,” said Straka, who redesigned the course on behalf of Hurdzan/Fry Environmental Golf Course Design. Other design changes include a brand new irrigation system, a new drainage system, state-of-the-art greens construction, new and improved turfgrasses and new landscaping.
“This renovation project was a total team effort,” added Straka, noting that he and Director of Green and Grounds Nick Kearns regularly led member tours of the project. “Nick also used an aerial drone to create video updates, which were sent to members every Friday, documenting that week’s progress. He should win an Academy Award for his filming!”
Director of Golf Tim Beckwith said the redesigned course features large, tightly mowed chipping areas, fewer bunkers, forgiving fairways, shorter carries over hazards, and new and larger tees at a wide variety of distances. Oaks Club members approved the project in late 2013 and construction began in mid 2014. The project was completed within budget and on schedule, and was reopened November 20.
In Carmel, Calif., the renovation of the 51-year-old golf course at Quail Lodge & Golf Club was the final piece of a massive, $28 million resort-wide upgrade that was completed this summer, Golf Advisor reported.
The work done by California-based architect Todd Echenrode of Origins Golf Design improved the 6,464-yard course where the original Robert Muir Graves design needed help. The par-4 fourth hole that climbs uphill still confounds players and the pond right of the drop-shot, par-3 fifth hole still gathers balls. Holes 10-12 run through the most natural section of the property away from the surrounding neighborhood and lodge, Golf Advisor reported.
Echenrode carved fairway swales on the first three holes to spice up previously flat land, and added more contour to the par-4 16th and par-3 17th holes, taking out several ponds. Both play to table-top greens. A handful of water hazards throughout the course were replaced with drought-tolerant areas of wood chips and native plants, a nod to California’s ongoing drought, Golf Advisor reported.
Bunkers rebuilt or repositioned in more appropriate landing zones better defend the modern game. These new-look sand traps, lined with eye-catching tufts of fescue that swallows balls, have become the signature of Quail Lodge, Golf Advisor reported.
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