After architect John Harvey visited the golf course last month to assess what changes should be made, the staff at the municipal golf course have been working to finance a renovation that could begin this fall. Harvey’s suggested changes include adding a separate practice tee area, bringing back some of the characteristics of the original nine holes, and enlarging some of the greens.

Gardner (Mass.) Municipal Golf Course golf pro Ben Egan is working to grow the game through renovations and using short holes, the Worcester (Mass.) Telegram & Gazette.

Last year, Egan and Bill Frank hand-cut holes of 70, 80 and 100 yards in a field next to the maintenance building behind the second green, the third tee and the fourth green, the Telegram & Gazette reported.

This year, Egan’s application was accepted for a grant from the American Society of Golf Course Architects to pay for architect John Harvey of New Jersey to visit the course last month. Harvey wants to add a separate practice tee area so golfers can hit chips onto the three new greens, and he recommended some changes to the main course, the Telegram & Gazette reported.

Egan plans to discuss Harvey’s report and how to finance the project at the next golf commission meeting August 29, the Telegram & Gazette reported.

“Basically, it’s an area that young kids can play or the seasoned player can work on his wedge game,” Egan said. “We need more golfers, everybody is getting older. Courses are too long, it takes too long to play. People are not aware of where they can learn to play.”

Harvey also had some ideas to improve the main course, the Telegram & Gazette reported

“He really liked those nine holes,” Egan said of Harvey. “He said it would be great if we could bring back some of the characteristics of the original nine to the new nine, like the chocolate drops next to the 10th green and out on 15 with the hay on them.”

Harvey also suggested enlarging some of the greens to bring the greenside bunkers more into play, cutting down more trees, and adding some fairway bunkers. If construction begins this fall, Egan said, the practice area and par-3 holes could open next summer, but that would be the earliest, the Telegram & Gazette reported.

“I think it’s really important to get this built and get this done,” Egan said. “It’s an asset to us. Not a lot of places have stuff like that.”

Egan wants to help new golfers feel comfortable, and he has begun some Get Golf Ready programs. Assistant pro Dan Berry has held junior and women’s clinics, the Telegram & Gazette reported.

Egan replaced his father, Michael, as head pro at Gardner after he died on September 2, 2008, the Telegram & Gazette reported.