What makes a good architect when it comes to renovation? Big name, innovative ideas, great smile? Try thoroughness.
While thoroughness may not be the flashiest quality, it can make the difference between a course that stands the test of time and one that makes a big initial splash but quickly fades because of design or construction problems.
This year’s Renovation of the Year winners are all noted for their thoroughness.
In the private sector, Brian Silva’s remake of Metairie Country Club in Louisiana took the top spot. To celebrate 100 years of operation, the course went back to its original design.
“Silva, working with Mr. Darryl Bartlett and his team at NMP Golf Construction, made this a reality while overcoming adverse weather conditions and logistical hurdles during the pandemic,” said Paul Reuter, former club president and chair of the renovation committee. “Membership is extremely excited with Brian’s design, which brought back our Seth Raynor heritage.”
Golf Inc.’s Renovation of the Year once again sought nominations from across the globe and judged entries on the following criteria: vision; course aesthetics; economic and environmental sustainability; and course routing and land use. This year’s judges were Jason Sloan, director and project manager at Frontier Golf; John Buser, general manager at TPC Colorado; and a panel of Golf Inc. editors.
Here are the winners for the Private Club category.
(Excerpted from the July/August 2023 issue of Golf Inc.)
FIRST PLACE
Metairie Country Club
Metairie, Louisiana
Owner: Metairie Country Club
Architect: Brian Silva
Contractor: NMP Golf Construction
Cost: $10 million
For Metairie Country Club’s centennial in 2022, the owners wanted to make the course more reminiscent of its original provenance while also updating its infrastructure.
This included installation of a new drainage system with more than 550 basins and several miles of drainage pipe, as well as a new irrigation system, which addressed the club’s inadequate drainage, failing greens and poor turf conditions.
The course was reshaped to resemble the original 1922 Seth Raynor design while adding such features as new USGA greens, bunker lining and high-end bunker sand, more than 15 acres of fairway and close-cut areas, all-new cart paths to reduce wear on the grassed areas, enhanced approaches, expanded ponds with new overflow structures and bulkhead walls, and repositioned tees to refashion the holes into a more recognizable example of its original design.
The course now plays faster than before, and maintenance is easier because of fewer washouts in the bunkers, the sand capped fairways and the enhanced approaches. The new grass has reduced water consumption and nutrient needs.
Just a few years ago, the club was struggling to fill its membership. After the renovation, it has a waiting list of more than 200 people. Tee times are now hard to get, and the only complaint the members have is that there are too many golfers.
What the judges said:
“The $10 million renovation price tag maximized resources with complete restoration of greens, bunkers, irrigation, drainage, cart paths and repositioning of several tees, which enhanced aesthetics and playability.” — John Buser
SECOND PLACE
Richland Country Club
Nashville, Tennessee
Owner: Richland Country Club
Architect: Bergin Golf Designs
Contractor: C.R. Sanders Golf Course Construction
Cost: $6.6 million
The initial goal of Richland Country Club’s renovation was to improve drainage and grass quality. But as planning progressed, members added other desires, such as bunker replacement, green modification, the addition of forward tees and enhancing the water features.
The renovation team identified and remedied almost 200 drainage problems, and all playing surfaces were evaluated for new grassing. A number of mounded areas around the course were removed, and the construction crew found shot rock when they began excavation. The rock was used to improve and enhance water features.
To improve playability and course flow, multiple holes were re-worked or had their order changed.
Previously, the first three holes were very demanding, and golfers struggled with poor starts to their rounds. The routing created congestion problems around the 10th, 17th and 18th holes.
To solve this awkward flow issue, the original 10th and 18th holes were redesigned to play in the opposite direction. The trio of holes that originally started the course are now the 10th, 11th and 12th.
The rebuilt or modified putting surfaces and green complexes have increased the playable area on the greens. Added drainage has resulted in improved turf quality, and the grass choices have produced high quality playing surfaces.
“Our experience was nothing short of incredible,” said Martel Meyer, Richland’s CEO. “Our architect, contractor and our in-house team, under the guidance of the board, all worked in unison and created a fantastic end result. The members are unanimous in its success, and our reputation has been further enhanced because of it. Working with Bill Bergin and Sanders Construction was an absolute delight.”
What the judges said:
“The club maximized its $6.6 million renovation to get the most impact from its resources. They enhanced the flow of operation and logistics by rerouting multiple holes and greatly enhanced drainage and turf quality throughout.” — John Buser
THIRD PLACE
Bonita Bay Club
Naples, Florida
Owner: Bonita Bay Club
Architect: Fazio Golf Course Designers
Contractors: Glase Golf and Nutt Irrigation
Cost: $15 million
The members of Bonita Bay led the charge, demanding improvements to its Cypress Course. The project had three main goals: Replace the course’s aging infrastructure, achieve drier playing conditions through improved drainage, and improve the strategy through design.
As the project progressed, more goals emerged: Make it playable for all member skill levels while lengthening the longest tees to preserve its reputation as a championship venue, keep it a preferred venue for regional and state events, rebuild the greens to handle both daily and championship hole locations, and improve course conditions through better drainage.
The contractor dug six new lakes and expanded four existing lakes, with the resulting 200,000 cubic yards of earth spread across the property. This raised the course by 12 to 18 inches. It also widened most of the fairways and increased the amount of land between the tree line and the wetlands. Also, 465 new catch basins were added to keep water off playable areas.
Both shorter and longer tees were added to every hole, and though the routing did not change, more than 15 acres of trees were cleared, along with vegetation between holes, to make it easier to keep track of the ball.
The club enhanced protection of the adjacent wetlands by adding buffers along the perimeters. This has created a home for many species of animals and plants.
“With firm and fast conditions and low-cut, shaved down turf surrounding many of the greens, Cypress is a unique round of golf reminiscent of the sand belt region of Australia,” said Tom Marzolf, senior design associate at Fazio Design.
HONORABLE MENTION
Atlanta Athletic Club
Johns Creek, Georgia
Owner: Atlanta Athletic Club
Architect: Tripp Davis & Associates
Contractor: Landscapes Unlimited
Cost: Not disclosed
Atlanta Athletic Club’s main focus was to improve the property’s infrastructure and change the course from being relatively wet to being exceptionally well-draining. The other goals were to make better use of the river to accentuate the terrain and to introduce changes that would allow variations in course setup to accommodate players of various skill levels.
Some trees and understory vegetation were removed to give the course a more open feel and to enhance views across the property and along the river. Enhancements included a new irrigation system; improved drainage; new greens, tees and bunkers; mostly new cart paths; and a re-grassing of the entire course.
The overall result is higher quality playing conditions and more efficient maintenance.
“We are pleased to have Tripp Davis’s extensive and strategic renovation of Atlanta Athletic Club’s Riverside Course recognized,” said board member John Stakel, who served as chair of the renovation committee. “Since its debut last November, the transformed layout has received overwhelmingly positive comments from members, their guests and golf influentials.”
HONORABLE MENTION
Lake Merced Golf Club
Daly City, California
Owner: Member-owned
Architect: Hanse Golf Course Design
Contractor: Heritage Links
Cost: $15 million
Lake Merced’s golf course opened in 1923 and was rerouted in 1962 to accommodate an encroaching freeway. The main goal of the recent renovation was to restore the landscape as closely as possible to the way it was prior to the advent of heavy machinery.
The renovation included rebuilding all 18 greens, as well as adding a 36,000-square-foot Himalaya-style putting course, new short-game practice areas, a turf research nursery and 150,000 square feet of refurbished bunkering. The tee complexes for all 18 holes were restored and expanded, and the practice facility was moved from one end of the property to the other. A two-wire irrigation system was installed using flexible, high density polyethylene pipe.
The team mimicked Alister MacKenzie’s original bunker design with classic cloud formations, sitting down into the green or floating above the grade, and restored the original dramatic gradation.
HONORABLE MENTION
Harrison Lake Country Club
Columbus, Indiana
Owner: Bob Haddad
Architect: Tim Liddy & Associates
Contractor: Wadsworth Golf Course Construction Co.
Cost: Not disclosed
Prior to renovation, golfers complained about the inconsistency of the greens and how difficult it was to play out of the rough.
To solve the first issue, the team constructed new USGA greens with Pure Distinction bentgrass to achieve a smooth and consistent surface. For the second, it widened all fairways and installed easy-to-maintain turf fescue in the rough areas.
The renovation included installation of Better Billy Bunkers for better playability and ease of maintenance, tree removal to let in more sunlight and air movement and create some long vistas across the course, new drainage to accommodate heavy rains and reduce turf issues caused by poor drainage, a new irrigation system, and additional tee boxes to improve pace of play and provide yardage for players of all skill levels.
The range was also relocated to be closer to the clubhouse, where is was a four to five minute cart ride away.
Overall, the club wanted to provide a fun, engaging, challenging and beautiful golf courses for its members with the full renovation.
And even before the course re-opened for six weeks last fall, the club said it was seeing new interest and excitement from newly added and existing members.