The project at the property in Village of Golf, Fla. will include an expanded driving range, short-game practice facility and teaching facility. A climate-controlled building will be created for swing analysis. “Thankfully, we have something to work with that a lot of clubs don’t have, which is land,” said Director of Golf Chris Kushner.
The Country Club of Florida in Village of Golf, Fla. is upgrading its practice facility, Golf Course Architecture reported.
The project will include an expanded driving range, short-game practice facility and teaching facility. The upgrade is scheduled to coincide with a renovation of greens and regrassing. The club also plans to reconstruct bunkers with a modern liner system.
The club’s Robert Bruce Harris-designed course opened in 1957 and was renovated by Lester George in 2006. Since then, Golf Course Architecture reported, George has visited the course on an annual basis as the club’s design consultant, and he will be involved with the latest projects.
“We will have a comprehensive short game area, a climate-controlled building for swing analysis, and a contoured area for landing,” Director of Golf Chris Kushner told Golf Course Architecture in describing the latest project. “Lester has shown us a lot of options. Thankfully, we have something to work with that a lot of clubs don’t have, which is land.
Added the club’s Golf Course Superintendent, Jeff Klontz: “We’re always trying to further enhance the playing ability of our members, and with this renovation, we can alter the short-game area to reflect the shots members will find on the golf course.”
Doug Kannapell, the club’s Greens Committee Chairman, told Golf Course Architecture that “More people are utilizing the practice facility than ever before. Members will come in and practice for an hour, then come back later in the week when they have a full day to play the course. During tournaments, the range gets very crowded, so we’re going to expand the driving range.”
“It’s an enormous blessing to us that Kinloch Golf Club [in Manakin-Sabot, Va.] is Lester [George]’s baby,” Kannapell added. “Kinloch is the preeminent practice facility in the country, and other clubs look to that as a model to create their own practice facility.”