Course news

Renovated course to open in spring
Waterville Valley, N.H. – A half-million dollar renovation of the nine-hole Waterville Valley Golf Club has been completed. The course, which will open in the spring of 2006, includes three new holes, the redesign of three existing holes, an irrigation system, new pro shop and a new half-acre pond. The course has four par-4 holes.

While improving the 108-year-old course, designers worked hard to retain the character and tradition of the club. The columns at the entry to the club’s new pro shop are local timbers harvested on site, hand-peeled and resting on rocks taken from a stonewall that was removed during the renovation. The pro shop features a 24-foot-by-24-foot screened porch with views of nearby Mounts Tecumseh and Osceola, overlooking the new ninth green, which is nestled in the curve of a half-acre pond, which acts as a hazard, irrigation pond and safety feature.

The impetus for renovating the course, which generates about 16,000 rounds a year, came with a new residential development of adjacent land.

Monarch Dunes Golf Club is a links-style course in central California.

Monarch Dunes debuts out West
Nipomo, Calif. – Monarch Dunes Golf Club, the first 18-hole golf course constructed within The Woodlands – a master-planned community in California’s central coast – opened for public play Jan. 1. The par-71 championship design introduces links-style golf to central California’s wine country. Monarch Dunes is the handiwork of El Dorado Hills-based architect Damian V. Pascuzzo of Graves & Pascuzzo. PGA Tour professional Steve Pate also contributed to the project as a design consultant.

Long term, the development will comprise 45 golf holes – two premier 18-hole designs complemented by a nine-hole executive course – in addition to a clubhouse and driving range, 1,320 homes, a shopping center, business park and full-service resort.

During the first two months of operation, the course will accommodate 80 rounds per day.

Engh designs Blackstone course
Peoria, Ariz. – Sheer rock faces, undulating fairways and cavernous bunkers are among the natural features that define the golf course at Blackstone Country Club, which opened in November 2005. Architect James J. Engh created the private, 18-hole championship course.

The Engh team explored the valleys, arroyos and ridges of Blackstone and used Mother Nature’s dramatic features to achieve a course that’s playable yet challenging. Each hole offers its own distinctive attributes, such as lakes, serpentine bunkers, nearly hidden greens and rock walls.

Tucked between the ninth and 10th holes will be the Hacienda, a 30,000-square-foot clubhouse. Construction is under way and will be complete in later this year. Until then, a temporary clubhouse will be operated.

Equity social memberships and a limited number of golf memberships will be available.

Blackstone at Vistancia is a joint venture between Sunbelt Holdings and Shea Homes, both headquartered in Scottsdale.

Weed completes renovation jobs
Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. – Weed Golf Course Design recently finished renovation projects at the Pine Tree Golf Club and Brooksville Country Club. Pine Tree reopened to members in November 2005 following a select renovation to the 1962 Dick Wilson design. Bobby Weed and associate Scot Sherman molded the layout back to the flavor of the original course.

At Pine Tree, an upgrade to the irrigation system took place while all tees, fairways, greens and green surrounds were fumigated and regrassed. All bunkers were rebuilt to the original design.

Additionally, a two-year, phased renovation was initiated during the summer at Brooksville. The renovation began with the construction of three new holes around an abandoned quarry. Future revisions are in the planning stages.

Beverly to host senior amateur
Far Hills, N.J. – The Beverly Country Club in Chicago was selected by the U.S. Golf Association as the site of the 2008 USGA Senior Amateur Championship Sept. 20 through 25. The 2008 USGA Senior Amateur coincides with Beverly’s 100-year anniversary.

The Beverly Country Club will be hosting its second USGA championship. Previously, the club hosted the 1931 U.S. Amateur. Beverly was founded in 1908 and features tree-lined fairways and the bunkering characteristics of its architect, Donald Ross. Ron Prichard recently completed a revision of the course.

Beverly has hosted four Western Open Championships, three Women’s Western Open Championships and the 1943 Chicago Victory National Open Championship.

Prior to 2008, the USGA Senior Amateur will be played at Victoria National Golf Club in Newburgh, Ind., Sept. 16 through 21, 2006, and at Flint Hills National Golf Club in Andover, Kan., Sept. 1 through 6, 2007.

Southern Hills to host amateur
Far Hills, N.J. – Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Okla., was selected as the site of the 2010 U.S. Amateur Championship Aug. 23 through 29. Southern Hills has hosted eight previous USGA championships, including three U.S. Opens. Designed by Perry Maxwell, Southern Hills opened in 1936.
Prior to 2010, the U.S. Amateur will be played at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn., Aug. 21 through 27, 2006; The Olympic Club in San Francisco, Calif., Aug. 20 through 26, 2007; Pinehurst (N.C.) Resort and Country Club Aug. 18 through 24, 2008; and Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md., Aug. 24 through 30, 2009.

KemperSports manages Newport
Mustang Island, Texas – Developers of an 1,800-acre resort community on Texas’ Mustang Island selected KemperSports to oversee development and operations management of Newport Golf Club. The resort’s first 18-hole layout, an Arnold Palmer Signature Golf Course, is part of the first phase of construction within the coastal community of Newport Beach and Golf.

When completed, the planned upscale community will include residential villages, multiple hotels, a marina, tennis and beach clubs and two golf courses.
Newport Golf Club is scheduled to open in the summer of 2008.