The Tuxedo Club in Tuxedo Park, N.Y. has completed a renovation of its historic RTJ golf course, which included the creation of a new short game practice area, a new ninth hole, the renovation of all fairway and greenside bunkers, and the re-grassing of all necessary green surrounds. Lassing Pointe Golf Course in Union, Ky. will begin Phase 1 of a two-phase project to renovate bunkers and tee complexes, starting Oct. 3.
While a Robert Trent Jones, Sr.-designed course in Tuxedo Park, N.Y. has finished a renovation project, a Hurdzan Design Group layout in Union, Ky. is about to see work begin on bunkers and tee complexes.
The Tuxedo Club has completed a renovation of its historic RTJ golf course, which included the creation of a new short game practice area, a new ninth hole, the renovation of all fairway and greenside bunkers, and the re-grassing of all necessary green surrounds.
C+RB reported on the renovation project in January.
The club tapped golf course designer Rees Jones, son of Robert Trent Jones, Sr., to lead the renovation. In 2017, Rees Jones, along with his Vice President and Senior Designer Bryce Swanson, created a master plan for the renovation of The Tuxedo Club’s course. The newly completed renovation is the most comprehensive project ever done on the course since its creation in 1957 and marks a major step towards the completion of the master plan.
Jones explained that his goal with the renovation at The Tuxedo Club was to restore the course’s classic mid-century look, while at the same time making the entire layout of the course more modern.
“When I was younger, I remember my father’s excitement when he was given the opportunity to design the golf course for The Tuxedo Club,” Jones said. “It has been an honor for Bryce and myself to work with such an historic club. I know my dad would be proud to see how the restored course honors the spirit of his original design from 1957.”
LaBar Golf Course Renovations managed the project’s construction and Casey Klossner, The Tuxedo Club’s Director of Agronomy, provided daily direction and oversight.
“It’s been a privilege to work hand-in-hand with Rees and Bryce to renovate the course and bring back Robert Trent Jones, Sr.’s original vision for golf at Tuxedo,” Klossner said. “This project has not only allowed us to make the course more relevant to the modern game, but it has also provided an opportunity to improve the agronomic health of the course which will ensure better playability for our members and their guests for years to come.”
Highlights from the project include:
– Repositioning and reimagining all the bunkers to make them relevant to the modern game and restoring them back to the original Robert Trent Jones, Sr. style;
– Bunker construction using modern techniques to improve drainage and playability;
– New greenside chipping areas to provide more shot options for recovery shots;
– Widening of fairway lines to tie them back to the bunkers and green complexes;
– Creation of a New Short Game area;
– Creation of a brand-new 9th hole; and
– New tee complexes on holes 1, 2 and 6.
The current golf course is the third course at The Tuxedo Club; the first having closed when a second, improved course was created in 1892, and the second course closing in the 1950s when construction of the New York Thruway required that the existing third course be built.
Boone County (Ky.) Golf announced the project to renovate bunkers and tee complexes at Lassing Pointe Golf Course. This is an on-going effort to enhance the golf experience at the county-owned courses that include Lassing Pointe and Boone Links Golf Courses.
Recent projects have included the renovation and expansion of the Boone Links clubhouse, installation of new cart paths at both courses and bunker renovations at Boone Links. Boone County Golf operates as a full auxiliary and all projects have been funded by revenue generated at the courses with no support from county tax dollars.
ASGCA member Bill Boswell, of Boswell Golf Design, Inc., from Augusta, Ga., has been selected to design and implement the renovation of bunkers and tee complexes, at Lassing Pointe Golf Course. These renovations are split between a Phase 1 and Phase 2 schedule. Phase 1 is scheduled to begin Oct. 3. Phase 2 is anticipated to begin in Sept. 2023.
Phase 1 includes bunker renovation for holes 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17. Phase 2 includes bunker renovation for holes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 18. Tee complex renovation for holes 2, 7, 11.
The age and natural deterioration has prompted the need to renovate the bunkers at Lassing Pointe.
“The original 1993 bunkers have deteriorated over the years and have come to have wash outs, contaminated sand/mud, and hold lots of water” noted Director of Golf Course Grounds, Justin Pack. “Aesthetically they are not at the level we desire and play is being impacted.
“We selected Bill for this project because of his excellent resume, and history with Lassing Pointe, being the lead architect for Michael Hurdzan in 1993,” he continued. “He fits very well with this project and the improvements we need to make to the course, while bringing his knowledge of the original design and construction of Lassing Pointe.”
Boone County Golf plans to implement the Phase 1 bunker renovation project beginning in October of this year.
“The bunkers need to be addressed because of drainage, but also reducing the number of bunkers to an amount that can be easily maintained,” Boswell said. “We studied each hole and re-evaluated the strategy. Some bunkers will be enlarged and re-shaped, while many will be reshaped into creative grass features. We will construct the bunkers with the Better Billy Bunker method – proven to be the best product for this area.”
Topp Shape Enterprises Inc., a golf course construction company, was awarded the bid for Phase 1 bunker renovation. Their renovation resume is extensive, with projects completed at prestigious courses, such as NCR Country Club in Kettering, Ohio, Cold Stream Country Club in Cincinnati, Ohio, Moraine Country Club in Kettering, Ohio, and Scioto Country Club in Upper Arlington, Ohio. They are a Certified Installer of the Better Billy Bunker System, which will be used for the bunker renovation.
Tom Topp, Vice President & Lead Shaper for Topp Shape Enterprises Inc., was the primary shaper for Midwest Golf when they built Lassing Pointe in 1993, and his knowledge of the original design and construction are extra benefits to their resume.
“Our goal with the project is to enhance the courses bunkers from a functionality, maintenance, playability, and aesthetic perspective,” Pack said. “Municipal Golf Courses like this are so important to the growth of the game and for the much needed social and health benefits that they provide to people.”
In order to facilitate the implementation of Phase 1, Lassing Pointe will close nine holes on October 3. The Course will remain open for play through the end of the season as a nine-hole course. Lassing Pointe will re-open in the spring of 2023 at normal operation.
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