The Melbourne, Fla. club, which recently unveiled a $7.5 million facilities project that included a brand-new clubhouse, new cart barn, and landscaping, enlisted Mark McCumber & Associates to give members a dedicated putting green plus a dedicated chipping/pitching green. A brand-new teaching tee with fairway bunker is also part of the scope of the project.

Suntree Country Club in Melbourne, Fla. has commissioned Mark McCumber & Associates to design and build a new, cutting-edge short game area.

“This project is part of many other recent projects the club has undertaken,” said Steve Lamontagne, General Manager of Suntree CC. “During recent club improvements, we have asked the membership what they would like at the club and a state-of-the-art short game area was met with resounding approval. We are excited with what the McCumbers have designed to give our members a great place to work on and improve their short game with design features that they see out on our golf courses.”

C+RB reported the completion of a $7.5 million facilities project in January. Those renovations included a brand-new clubhouse, new cart barn, putting green, landscaping, and transforming the current ninth hole into the 18th hole on the Classic course.

Many members and players have already benefited from the Arnold Palmer designed course, but with the addition of the Mark McCumber designed short game area, the club will provide an enhanced golf experience.

“We are excited to create something that utilizes the space, so the members have a great spot to work on their short games and putting, said Mark McCumber, President of Mark McCumber and Associates. “It will also allow ample room for clinics and group events for Steve and his staff to help improve an important part of the game that lowers scores. We also are looking forward to giving the 12th hole a new look with more options to play the hole by all levels of players.”

“The improvements that we are making to the golf course and facility will take the golfing experience to a new level,” said Doug Hyde, president of Suntree Country Club. “Our Classic course was one of the first stops on the PGA TOUR Champions, and we are proud of that tradition of the club. We are excited to have Mark McCumber, 10-time winner on the PGA TOUR and member of the American Society of Golf Course Architects, add to that tradition our club has earned.”

The project will take around four months to complete, with the work and grow-in likely to be completed in the middle of the summer. The short game area will open by August 2022.

The short game area will give the members a dedicated putting green plus a dedicated chipping/pitching green. Design features from the Classic and Challenge course will highlight the short game practice facility. A brand-new teaching tee with fairway bunker is also part of the scope of the project.

Hole 12 on the Classic course will also get a makeover as new tees and improved bunkering will make that a featured hole, not only aesthetically, but better strategy for all levels of players.