Bates Golf Group Renovates Logan Country Club in Logan, Utah

In the world of business, much has been said about the impact of an “Angel Investor.”   Make no mistake, Golf is a business where the bottom line is just as important as any other business in the world. It either pencils out . . . or it doesn’t.

Logan Country Club, founded in 1932, is one of the oldest golf courses in the State of Utah and draws on a storied history spanning decades. Those decades of time can build an impressive aura of service to the community, but it can also suffer from the ravages of time, as course conditions and agronomic growth can adversely affect playability and the original vistas over the Wasatch National Forest and Mountains.  

The course took baby-steps in its infancy by opening only three member-built holes in 1932, growing to nine holes by 1936, but it was not until 1960 that it became a full 18-hole course. The next 40-plus years were the heyday of the club, hosting professional clinics and two State Amateurs. In the changing times of the early 2000s, it became apparent that the original clubhouse had outlived its usefulness, and a grand new clubhouse was built in 2008 with member assessment dollars. 

Gene Bates

Unfortunately, it was not just the clubhouse that had age limits – the course itself was desperately in need of a new full-course irrigation system, bunker renovations, green repairs, and a host of other costly but much-needed maintenance.  Here is where the business pencil was becoming a reality – the membership was tapped out from the clubhouse assessment, and the club was on the brink of solvency or falling into disrepair.  For some members, the old adage of  “If it was good enough for my grandfather, it’s good enough for me” was their way of avoiding the inevitable. Basically, a new assessment would mean the exodus of a large number of members and their dues, thereby ending the illustrious life of Logan Country Club.

The solution came from within… A new member, Dave Jenkins, smitten with the aura of all things golf, happened to be a successful local businessman and made the club an offer that was hard to refuse. He would not only purchase the golf club but would also fund, without assessment, the entire course rehabilitation. An incredible deal, but there was a catch… The membership would need to vote to relinquish their equity position of club ownership. Upon examination, it was not a hard decision. With the club facing looming financial troubles, equity ownership of nothing is nothing, so the sale of 99% of the club was approved, with the club owning 1% as per the club’s bylaws.

The Architect Search

Tom Davidson, Logan Country Club’s General Manager, is not only a locally grown golf industry professional, but he also knows a thing or two about golf. He was the General Manager for Idaho’s Circling Raven Golf course, which was designed by noted Golf Architect Gene Bates. Notably, Circling Raven is ranked in the Top 100 for Resort Courses. USA, the Top 20 for Casino Courses, USA, and #1 for Public Courses in Idaho.

Gene Bates is also one of Utah’s favored golf architectural sons, as he designed some of the top courses in Utah, such as Soldier Hollow, Canyons Golf Course, Talons Cove, Old Mill, The Ridge, Riverbend, and Green Springs. He knows Utah and Utah golf. 

Tom arranged an on-course meeting with Dave Jenkins, Gene Bates, and the course staff. From that moment, the die was cast. Gene and Dave immediately hit it off, and Gene loaned him multiple architectural books on golf design and agronomics, which started a three-month planning process. Gene did not think this was a classic blow-it-up-and-start-over project; this old queen just needed a little help and a bit of a clean-up, which turned out to be a lot of much-needed clean-up.

Gene spent weeks on the course, observing member play, building relationships, and employing the important tool of transparency to quell member gossip about what is going to happen to “Our Club.” He became so ingrained in club life, they even granted Gene’s wife, Faye, a temporary member status – Actually Gene’s secret weapon. Building evangelists is a key aspect of any project for an older, beloved course.

The game of golf has changed over the years. Gone are the days of bombs away and taking a wedge in from there. Strategy has become one of the great challenges of today’s game. Multiple tee boxes to accommodate golfers of various abilities, dedicated landing areas, and thoughtfully placed bunkers, where he increased the original 37 bunkers to 67 and added a total of 61 new tee boxes. He even found an additional 150 yards of overall length. The vast majority of these changes came from observation and candid conversations with members.

Two major changes made the course feel brand new. Gene swapped the nines, which completely changed the course’s character, making it feel newer and fresher.  That move also increased the speed of play, an always welcome outcome. The second major change was much more controversial: the removal of trees!  Utah is known for its incredible natural vistas. In 1932, when the course was first developed, the little course trees were a blessing. Ninety years later, those same trees had become a forest, from which the vistas were now unobservable. Gene climbed aboard his favored D-8 bulldozer and personally removed a total of 200 trees, mostly Russian Olive, Cedars, and Rose Bush, a blasphemous move according to most members, until they saw what they had been missing. Gorgeous views that changed the course’s character. Holes 7, 13, and 18 were the most affected by these changes, including moving the entire 18th green to open up an even more expansive view. 

For the most part, Gene did not redo the greens like so many remodel projects do. He interseeded the greens with more colorful grasses, and they putted more truly, which gave the greens a new feel to members. Another stroke of genius, coordinated with Wagner Golf Construction, was the decision NOT to close the course for the remodel; instead, they closed only 3 holes at a time – harkening back to the old days when the course started out as a 3-6-9 hole course. As three holes reopened, another three would close. It was exciting for members to get a taste of what was to come a little bit at a time.

The big reveal came in 2024 at the end of the remodel, when Logan Country Club was once again selected to host the State Amateur Championships. This tournament is the longest-running State Amateur in the country and is the pinnacle event for Utah State golf. Gene is no stranger to building courses worthy of hosting the Utah State Amateur, as this is his sixth Utah Amateur tournament held at one of his courses.

To prepare the course for the State’s top golfers, the tall fescue was grown up and in to increase the challenge. This was nearly a disaster for the members’ expectations, as they struggled mightily with the tough conditions and the different strategies needed to play the newly remodeled course. 

The tournament was actually a blessing in disguise, as most of the members volunteered to be on-course marshals. They had a front-row seat to see how the State’s best players handled the course, hole by hole, shot by shot. Suddenly, Gene’s master plan was exposed, and a greater appreciation for the course and strategy followed, especially after the tournament, when the tall fescue was cut back!

The Final Results

What started as a naysayer’s attitude among some members toward a rich guy takeover, morphed into heaps of praise for the entire project. While the changes were minimal compared to some remodels, the overall opinion is that it feels like a brand-new course, so much more playable and fun!

Del Lyons, past LCC President, who touts a 40-year membership at the club, had high praise, starting with the straight-up admission that it is flat-out better than before. He credits it to the way Gene came across; he was a Master of Communication, starting with winning the confidence of the members, then the contractors, and finally the owner. He removed the penalties that hurt the medium golfers, added challenge for the good golfers, and showed everyone how much he cared.

Dave Jenkins, the Angel owner, said it was all about trust. What started out as an out-of-state stranger coming to change our course, turned into a design and agronomics lesson. Yet, he always sought out and listened to your opinion. Before the project was over, everyone just wanted to be Gene’s friend. It was incredible to see and be part of a project like this.

Tom Davidson, Logan Country Club’s General Manager.  I have known Gene for years, and I already knew what he was capable of.  What surprised me was that he considers this one of his Legacy Projects. The man has international architectural accolades, yet he totally immersed himself in our club. It was a most enjoyable transformation. It also doesn’t hurt that we have gone from a Club in trouble to a Club with a waiting list. As a GM, I can appreciate that!

Gene Bates, the Robin Hood of Utah, comes to this State with his band of merry men, his infectious smile, and his manners to do good things for the people.  He consistently stacks up project after project, where the golf pundits have nothing but good things to say about him. He loves what he does ... And it shows.

Architect Returns to Nebraska to Complete Bold Reinvention of Old Dane

(DAKOTA CITY, Nebraska) — Architect Trevor Dormer will return to eastern Nebraska in early March to complete construction of the reimagined Old Dane golf course, owned by the Andersen family — the same family behind the acclaimed Landmand.

The Andersens have owned Old Dane since 2007. Originally built in 2002 as Ironhorse Golf Club, the course was reconstructed in 2010 under the direction of owner Will Andersen, transforming a tight 18-hole layout into a nine-hole loop across a pancake-flat prairie site with just five feet of elevation change.

After the opening of Landmand in 2022 — a course that quickly garnered national acclaim — Andersen began considering how to elevate Old Dane into a complementary destination experience for traveling golfers. He turned to Dormer, who became a partner in King Collins Dormer in 2024 after starting his career as a shaper and associate for Coore & Crenshaw. Dormer had previously shaped Landmand’s striking fourth green, impressing Andersen enough to earn his first lead architect role.

Construction on the new Old Dane began in late 2024. The redesigned course will expand to 12 holes, utilizing land that formerly served as the practice range. During the 2025 season, the property was fully shaped — a dramatic transformation that introduced nearly 30 feet of elevation change to land once considered featureless. Among the standout features is a volcano-style green at the par-3 11th hole.

Most of the course was grassed in 2025, though five holes remain without turf. That work is scheduled for completion this spring.

“I hope we will be entirely grassed by mid-June, though it obviously depends on the weather,” Dormer said. “I’m really pleased with how the course has turned out. There are a few greens still to finish, but all the shaping is done and irrigation is in. Only one hole doesn’t have greens mix installed. I may need to get back on the bulldozer if some of the sand has blown around.”

Dormer’s finish crew will arrive from a project in Nashville to complete the work. Beyond the course itself, the property will include an expansive putting course near the clubhouse, along with croquet and bocce ball courts — reinforcing the Andersens’ vision of Old Dane as a welcoming, community-centered golf destination.

While Old Dane may not match the scale or natural movement of Landmand, Andersen believes it will still surprise visitors.

“There are things out there that people will ask what we thought we were doing,” he said with a smile. “The opening hole is one of my favorites — a drivable par four with a subtle green and out of bounds all the way down the left.”

Preview play is tentatively planned for late in the 2026 season, with a formal grand opening expected in 2027.

About the Andersen Family and Landmand

Pronounced “Landman,” Landmand is the Danish word for “farmer.” Eighteen-year-old Karl Andersen emigrated from Denmark to the United States in the early 1920s, settling in eastern Nebraska. Over four generations, the Andersen family has grown into a major farming operation in the region.

The family developed Old Dane after acquiring the former Ironhorse course and later created Landmand as its second golf venture. Despite their expansion into golf, farming remains the backbone of the Andersen operation, and the family remains deeply committed to the eastern Nebraska community.

Pebble Beach Company, Gil Hanse Reveal Plans for The Links at Spanish Bay

(PEBBLE BEACH, CALIF.) – Pebble Beach Company and Hanse Golf Course Design (“HGCD”) today released their plans to transform The Links at Spanish Bay, one of four championship courses at Pebble Beach Resorts. After the last round is played on March 17, 2026, the comprehensive redesign will elevate the course’s quality of experience to rival its illustrious neighbors along Pebble Beach’s famed 17-Mile Drive.

Under the guidance of Gil Hanse, Jim Wagner, and the HGCD team, who have taken inspiration from the Monterey Peninsula’s other iconic courses, the 38-year-old Spanish Bay will be entirely reworked to take full advantage of its stunning coastal setting. The finished product will be more fun, playable, and strategic for all golfers, while also better suited to challenge today’s elite player. Some of the key changes will include:

Relocating several green sites, including the current 14th and 18th holes, creating room for an entirely new par-three that will replace the current 13th hole

Expanding putting greens by ~40% and completely resurfacing to provide smoother, more receptive targets and variety for hole locations

Replacing the rough in the green surrounds with low-cut turf to offer more recovery options

Widening fairways by ~30%, repositioning fairway bunkers, and adjusting contours to make the playing corridors more forgiving and strategic

Repositioning and redesigning tee complexes to open sight lines and options, reduce forced carries, and elicit excitement at each hole. In total, the forward tees will be ~500 yards shorter (4,705 total) and the championship tees ~375 yards longer (7,115 total) with the par changing from 72 to 71

Redesigning the cart path system to better blend into the landscape

The course’s year-round conditioning and sustainability will be improved with new drainage and irrigation systems, 12% less irrigated turf, and three more acres of environmental habitat area.  

“Working on a project like this is a golf course architect’s dream,” said Hanse, President and Lead Designer of HGCD. “The Spanish Bay site is one of the best we’ve seen for golf, one where all your senses are stimulated by the crashing Pacific surf, and we are excited by Pebble Beach Company’s commitment to creating another extraordinary golf experience on the Monterey Peninsula. This opportunity truly brings out the golf fan in me as much as the designer.”

Added David Stivers, CEO of the Pebble Beach Company, “We are highly confident in the HGCD team and their ability to transform Spanish Bay into a ‘must play’ course for any golfer visiting Pebble Beach. We have seen a brilliant vision emerge from the planning stages and look forward to watching it take shape over the coming year.”

The new Spanish Bay will be a crown jewel in Pebble Beach Resorts’ portfolio of world-renowned public courses, alongside Pebble Beach Golf Links, Spyglass Hill Golf Course, the Tiger Woods-designed 9-hole short-course, The Hay, and the historic Del Monte Golf Course. The new course will open to the public on April 17, 2027, just ahead of the 127th U.S. Open being played at Pebble Beach Golf Links for a seventh time. Bookings on the new course are currently available through Pebble Beach Resort Reservations.

Construction updates and documentary content will be shared throughout the process on Pebble Beach’s website and social channels. For general information about Pebble Beach Resorts, visit www.pebblebeach.com or follow Pebble Beach on Facebook and Instagram. 

Golf reservations can be made by visiting pebblebeach.com or calling 800-654-9300.

The Pandion Club: Inside the Heathland-Style Golf Course and Timeless Low-Country Clubhouse Coming to Estero, Fla.

On a rare, serene parcel in Estero—minutes from everything yet worlds apart—a new private club is taking shape. When it opens in late 2027 (pending approvals), The Pandion Club will offer something increasingly uncommon in American golf: a pure, walkable, golf-first experience rooted in classic design traditions and wrapped in timeless Southern architecture.

Set on the former site of Old Corkscrew Golf Club, Pandion is being shaped by world-renowned golf course architect Kyle Phillips and clubhouse architect Matthew Kragh, principal of MHK Architecture. Together, they are building more than a course and clubhouse—they’re crafting a cohesive, rhythmic home club.

A Heathland Heart in Southwest Florida

Kyle Phillips

Phillips, whose four-decade career has been largely defined by his work across Scotland, Ireland, and continental Europe, speaks about golf design with reverence for its origins. Those formative years abroad—walking ancient links and studying the strategic nuance of early architects—fundamentally shaped his philosophy.

At Pandion, that philosophy comes to life in an 18-hole, par-71 layout stretching up to approximately 7,220 yards from the back tees. It’s a heathland-inspired course—strategic, understated, and built for firm, fast conditions. Indigenous grasses, native wetlands, and preserved specimen trees are woven into the design, reinforcing a sense of place rather than overpowering it.

The influence of Golden Age greats is unmistakable. Phillips cites the artistry of Tom Simpson, particularly in green complexes that subtly extend into surrounding landforms, allowing balls to feed, gather, or repel depending on angle and approach. The strategic sensibilities of Harry Colt—soft yet thoughtful green contours, intelligent routing, and emphasis on positioning over power—also echo throughout the property.

“Positioning will matter more than pure distance,” Phillips explains. Multiple lines of play invite decision-making. A longer hitter may challenge a bunker for a better angle; another player may opt for a safer route. The reward is often determined not by how far you hit it—but by where.

The Ground Game Returns

Central to Pandion’s identity is its embrace of firm-and-fast conditions. Tight mowing areas and expansive greens—larger than typical American targets—encourage creativity. Putters and bump-and-runs become viable options from well off the surface. The ground game isn’t a novelty here; it’s fundamental.

The greens themselves reflect that ethos. Their scale allows for diverse pin positions, meaning everyday member play can feel fair and inviting, while championship setups can utilize edges, corners, and interior transitions for added challenge.

Just as important as strategy is rhythm. Pandion was designed for walking. Tees and greens are intentionally close, transitions are short, and the routing flows naturally across the landscape. “Walking creates a rhythm,” Phillips says. “Conversations between friends. Stories told between shots.” That cadence is baked into every turn of the property.

The routing also supports everyday flexibility. Returning nines and internal loops allow members to play three, five, eight, or a quick afternoon circuit. Thirteen returns near the clubhouse; fourteen offers a convenient stopping point. It’s a thoughtful nod to how modern members actually use their club.

An Architectural Heart, Not a Showpiece

If the course defines Pandion’s soul, the clubhouse defines its spirit.

Kragh, who grew up immersed in Midwestern club life before earning his graduate architecture degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology, approaches private club design as both architect and lifelong golfer. For him, Pandion represents something rare: a true home club, not a resort or spectacle.

Matthew Kragh

The one-story clubhouse draws from Low-Country precedents and Old Florida sensibility, blending refined Southern character with materials and proportions suited to Southwest Florida’s climate. Metal roofing, vaulted gathering spaces, natural textures, and deep overhangs create a structure that feels established rather than newly built.

Notably, there are no interior hallways. Circulation unfolds along covered porches, connecting the golf shop, locker rooms, and dining spaces while maintaining constant visual and physical contact with the course. Turf stretches to the building. Cart traffic is discreet. The architecture reinforces that golf—not real estate—is the centerpiece.

Arrival is carefully choreographed. As members wind through the landscape, the clubhouse reveals itself gradually, anchoring the experience with a centrally positioned golf shop—an homage to traditional clubs where golf operations serve as the heart.

Seamless Collaboration

Phillips and Kragh worked in tandem from the earliest planning stages, ensuring sightlines, routing, and structure function as one unified composition. The putting green, first and tenth tees, and clubhouse porch are intentionally interconnected. From the first step onto the property to the final drink overlooking the finishing holes, the experience is fluid.

Standing on the first tee, members won’t be confronted by forced drama. Instead, the opening hole is welcoming—hazards built subtly into the terrain rather than elevated for intimidation. It’s an invitation to settle in, to focus, to begin.

On the porch afterward, the feeling shifts to ease. Expansive covered spaces encourage lingering. Members can watch play unfold, share stories, and move seamlessly from round to relaxation.

A Club Meant to Be Learned

What distinguishes Pandion may not reveal itself in a single round. Phillips emphasizes subtlety—the kind that unfolds over time. Strategic angles become clearer. Preferred approaches shift with conditions. Internal loops invite spontaneous evening play.

The property itself reinforces that intimacy. There are no surrounding high-rises, no visual intrusions. Despite its proximity to Southwest Florida’s growth corridors, the site feels calm, mature, and retreat-like—a rare quality in the region.

In the end, both architects share the same hope: that members finish a round wanting a few more holes—or at least eager to return tomorrow.

Pandion is not designed as a one-time destination. It’s built to be lived in, walked daily, and appreciated more deeply with every step.

Chris Wilczynski, ASGCA, Welcomes Son to the Firm

Chris Wilczynski, ASGCA, owner and principal golf course architect of C.W. Golf Architecture, proudly announces the addition of his son, Joe Wilczynski, as Design Associate with the firm. The hiring marks a meaningful milestone, as Joe represents the third generation of Wilczynski family members to graduate from Michigan State University and continue the family’s proud tradition in the golf and turfgrass industry.

Joe, a recent graduate of Michigan State University, earned his degree in Turfgrass Management from the Department of Crop & Soil Sciences, with a minor in Business. He follows in the footsteps of his father, Chris, and grandfather, Michael Wilczynski, both MSU graduates. Michael, a respected turfgrass professional, established the family’s foundation in the industry — a tradition that continues today through Chris and now Joe.

“I’m incredibly proud to welcome Joe to the team,” said Chris Wilczynski, ASGCA. “Our family’s connection to Michigan State and to the game of golf runs deep. Having Joe join me in carrying that legacy forward is both exciting and meaningful — not only for me personally, but for the future of our company. With our growing portfolio of work, the timing couldn’t be better.”

Chris earned his Landscape Architecture degree from Michigan State University in 1994 and spent nearly 20 years with Arthur Hills/Steve Forrest & Associates, one of the nation’s premier golf course design firms, before founding C.W. Golf Architecture in 2010. Today, Chris also serves on the Executive Committee of the American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA) and is recognized for his innovative, fun, beautiful, and strategically engaging golf course design work.

“I’ve always been impressed by Joe’s natural artistic ability,” said Chris. “He has a great eye for design and detail, and when you combine that creativity with his technical education in turfgrass and soil sciences, it creates an exceptional foundation for success in the golf architecture profession. I believe that blend of art and science will serve us — and, most importantly, our clients — incredibly well.”

C.W. Golf Architecture is currently engaged in its sixth collaboration with national homebuilder Taylor Morrison, where the father-son duo is working in tandem to oversee the construction of Esplanade at St. Marys, a new golf course development in St. Marys, Georgia scheduled to open in 2026. In addition, the firm is wrapping up golf course renovation projects in Michigan and is actively planning three new golf course construction and two large-scale renovation projects slated for 2026.

“I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to begin my career alongside my dad,” said Joe Wilczynski. “Growing up, I was always fascinated by the game of golf and the creativity behind golf course design. Now, being part of the process and contributing to these projects firsthand is both inspiring and rewarding.”

With Joe joining the firm, C.W. Golf Architecture continues to build on a proud Spartan tradition, blending artistry, science and a shared family passion for shaping exceptional golf experiences.

Zinkand Golf Design Completes The Reversible at Ohio’s Medina CC

Club’s Former Nine-Hole Course Transformed Into Reversible Golf Course Featuring Two Nine-Hole Loops Playing in Opposite Directions

Zinkand Golf Design (ZGD) – led by golf course architect David Zinkand and his more than 25 years of experience designing, managing and shaping projects in the field – has completed The Reversible, a unique, new golf course at Ohio’s Medina Country Club.

As its name implies, The Reversible features two nine-hole loops that can be played in opposite directions – one clockwise (Purple) and the other counterclockwise (Green) – and occupies the footprint of the club’s former nine-hole course. Each par-31 routing begins with a downhill par-3 to one of two large double greens. They are followed by a compelling collection of par 3s and 4s draped across gently rolling terrain before returning back to par 3s with double greens for the finish.

The Reversible challenges skilled players with strategic bunkering and multiple routes to hole locations, demanding careful decisions both off the tee and approaching the green. At the same time, its ample width provides plenty of room for less experienced golfers to steer clear of trouble. Other course features include generous green surrounds and rugged bunkering with attractive fescue brows. Pure Eclipse bentgrass greens and fairways, combined with an emphasis on maximizing course set-up flexibility throughout the design / build process, will set the baseline for exceptional conditioning and thought-provoking play. Zinkand’s work also emphasized the golf course looking and feeling like its bucolic setting. This principle of “genius loci,” or sense of place, is a key pillar of his design philosophy.

“The land has just enough movement to make it ideal for reversible golf,” said Zinkand, a long-time associate for Coore & Crenshaw before beginning his own design business. “It allowed us to be bold and offer plenty of challenges for players who’re eager to embrace risk in pursuit of a big reward, while also possessing a subtlety that invites beginners to identify more conservative avenues to the hole.”

Work on The Reversible began in Summer 2024, with most of the earthwork completed by autumn. It is part of a Zinkand-led, multi-phase master plan at Medina, which is located about 35 miles south of downtown Cleveland. The opening of The Reversible follows a complete overhaul of the club’s practice facilities, including the addition of a state-of-the-art indoor / outdoor teaching academy. Construction of a new clubhouse is underway; once completed, attention will turn to a project that will transform Medina’s existing 18-hole course.

“Working with Dave is a pleasure, and he’s such a genius at what he does,” said Bill Cosgrove, the owner of Medina Country Club since 2022. “His vision for The Reversible grabbed me right from the start and our members can’t be any more excited about the golf course. Dave’s an incredible partner and we feel very fortunate to have him leading the multi-year transformation of the Medina golf experience.”

For more information about ZGD, visit zinkandgolfdesign.com or @zinkandgolfdesign (Instagram).

Pottawattomie Country Club Selects Raymond Hearn to Create Long Range Master Plan

Award-winning golf course architect Raymond Hearn, ASGCA, has been selected by historic Pottawattomie Country Club for a renovation and restoration of its classic 1909 golf course in Michigan City, Ind.

The original nine holes (current holes 10-18) were designed by the legendary Tom Bendelow, and in 1965, Indiana-based architect Bob Simmons designed the second nine (currently 1-9).

“What an honor and privilege it is to work with this great historic club,” Hearn, founder of Raymond Hearn Golf Course Designs, said. “Our goal is to create a comprehensive Master Plan that involves sympathetic restoration with some conventional restoration. The history, membership, terrain and course routing are all outstanding. We are currently involved with three outstanding Bendelow designed golf courses. The club is so unique with its membership drawing from three different states (IN, IL and MI). It is located minutes from Lake Michigan on a beautiful site. The Master Planning Committee is comprised of very passionate individuals that care deeply about their historic club. I look forward to working closely with them.”

Greens Committee Chair David Baldwin said Hearn was the unanimous selection of the club’s board from an original list of 10 notable architects.

“As soon as we began to work with Ray everyone saw why we chose his company for the project,” Baldwin said. “His work at Midlothian Country Club (1898) and Flossmoor Country Club (1899) in the Chicago area really impressed us. Ray shares the same passion and respect that we have for our unique Bendelow designed back nine and Simmons designed front nine. He talks of polishing up a real gem of a golf course.”

Baldwin, who like several members has Chicago roots, said Hearn will collaborate closely with the Master Planning Committee and key staff on design ideas, priorities, and phasing of projects, and he will also be offering opportunities for our entire membership to express their ideas.

“I liked the way Ray approached the club and our golf course,” he said. “I think some of us were concerned about having an architect come in and say they want to change things dramatically. It was clear from the start Ray wanted to preserve our history.”

Jamie Baldwin, who is not related to David Baldwin, is a third-generation member of the club from Michigan City and member of the Master Plan Committee. He said he is happy the board selected Hearn for the project.

“After hearing him talk I saw he realized we have a course with two nines from different eras, but nines that I think most of us feel complement each other,” Jamie Baldwin said. “I was also pleased he wanted our perspective on it. He watched four of us play, riding along, pointing out things he could see in the design that Bendelow created. He saw what we love about our golf course. He is also willing to listen and work with us so that we don’t have to shut down the course completely.”

Agustin Pizá Redefines Luxury Resort Golf With Groundbreaking 'Wellness Golf' Movement

From Chablé to St. Regis, Pizá’s visionary concept integrates wellness, nature, and inclusivity into the future of the game.

Agustin Pizá, internationally acclaimed golf course architect and Founder of Pizá Golf, is leading a global movement with his award-winning “Wellness Golf” concept. Designed to blend art, nature, and human well-being, Wellness Golf transforms the traditional game into a holistic experience of relaxation, connection, and play. Much like the spa revolution redefined the luxury resort experience, Pizá envisions Wellness Golf as the new cornerstone of destination hospitality.

First unveiled at the lush Chablé Resort in Mexico and more recently commissioned at The Residences at The St. Regis Papagayo Resort in Costa Rica, Wellness Golf is designed to meet guests where they are. The courses are sculpted landscapes where golfers might meditate under the trees, walk barefoot on grass to connect with the earth, or play a sociable round that finishes in under 90 minutes. Guests can choose their pace and level of challenge, from the avid player seeking distinct shot values to the beginner experiencing golf for the very first time.

“Wellness Golf represents a new way of experiencing the game,” said Agustin Pizá. “It is inclusive, social, and restorative. Golfers and non-golfers alike can enjoy it, whether through meditation, playing barefoot to connect with nature, or sharing a fun round with family or colleagues. At its core, it is about well-being in dialogue with the land.”

Visually, these courses are striking works of art. Compact footprints are reimagined as grass sculptures, with sweeping tee angles, multiple greens, and playful pin placements that invite variety and discovery. From above, they resemble living canvases, designed with what Pizá calls “the fifth façade,” ensuring the course is as stunning from the sky as it is from the ground. The result is a space that is as photogenic as it is playable, a modern interpretation of golf as both lifestyle and luxury.

By merging aesthetics with inclusivity, Wellness Golf delivers something far beyond recreation. It creates a sense of serenity for spa-goers, a playful adventure for families, and a unique team-building activity for corporate groups. Above all, it introduces golf as a wellness ritual, a chance to slow down, connect, and recharge while immersed in nature.

As luxury resorts continue to elevate their wellness offerings, Pizá Golf stands at the forefront of innovation. With more projects in development and growing demand from destinations across the globe, Agustin Pizá is shaping not just golf architecture, but the future of experiential travel itself.

Design Boot Camp Set for March 2026 at Pinehurst

Golf Course Architects to Offer Instruction and Unique Experiences for Design Aficionados

After the overwhelming success of the inaugural event, the American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA) Foundation will host its second Design Boot Camp at the world-famous Pinehurst Resort, March 9-13, 2026.

The five-day session—a fundraising initiative of the Foundation—will provide aspiring golf course designers and architecture buffs the opportunity to work up close and personal with nine renowned architects on a special site.

The curriculum will take participants from the classroom, where they will learn the foundations and principles of golf course design, out to Pinehurst Sandmines, adjacent to Pinehurst No. 10, for hands-on field work.

In the field, the participants will have the opportunity to study the site, route a layout, and design holes that fit the unique Sandmines property. The program also includes rounds of golf on Pinehurst No. 2 and The Cradle with the instructors, who can provide design insights as they play, as well as social activities and opportunities to learn about the business from the instructors, all past presidents of ASGCA who have collectively designed hundreds of courses around the world:

- Jan Bel Jan, ASGCA
- Jeff Blume, ASGCA
- Jeff Brauer, ASGCA
- Bruce Charlton, ASGCA
- Steve Forrest, ASGCA
- Mike Hurdzan, ASGCA
- Tom Marzolf, ASGCA
- Damian Pascuzzo, ASGCA

As an added experience, Bill Coore, ASGCA, of Coore & Crenshaw Golf Course Architects, will lead participants on a site tour of Pinehurst No. 11. Currently unde construction at Sandmines, Pinehurst No. 11 is scheduled to open in fall 2027.

Through a combination of being on the ground at one of the most venerated addresses in golf and interaction with some of the leading architects in the world, Design Boot Camp is a rare opportunity for anyone who loves drawing golf holes and wants to learn what it takes to advance to the next step in their architecture journey. Inaugural Boot Camp attendee Rob Shults shared how it felt to step into the shoes of a practicing architect.

“We experienced what it is like to be a golf course architect and gained an appreciation for golf architecture that can only be done face to face with professionals,” said Shults, who co-founded Honours Golf and is the managing partner at RLS Ventures. “This was the ultimate golf trip for anyone who loves golf and appreciates the nuances of the game.”

The cost is $20,000 per person, with $15,000 qualifying for a charitable tax deduction to the ASGCA Foundation (501c3 EIN: 23-7385866), which supports projects and organizations that enhance public and municipal courses, such as Clearview Golf Club in East Canton, Ohio, in addition to funding programs that inspire, develop, and assist the next generation of industry leaders.

The enrollment fee covers all Design Boot Camp materials and supplies; lodging at the historic Holly Inn, centrally located in the Village of Pinehurst; food and beverages; golf; caddies; gratuities; special gifts; and mementos. Participation is limited to 16 enrollees.

Additional golf and activities may be booked at the participants’ expense.

For more information, visit Design Boot Camp 2026. To enroll or ask specific questions, send an email to bootcamp@hunter-pr.com or call (908) 963-6013.

Curley-Wagner Golf Design Completes Major Upgrades to The Plantation Golf Club

Nearly 30 years after he teamed up with Fred Couples on its design, Brian Curley of Curley-Wagner Golf Design has completed upgrades to The Plantation Golf Club in Indio, Calif., where major bunker renovations wrapped up last week ahead of schedule.

Designed by Curley, with input from Couples, the bunker plan revolved around subtle adjustments to modernize aesthetics, enhance strategic play, and address the demands of the modern game.

“Over the years, the course has gone through minor and major adjustments, including land acquisition, to ensure a core golf experience with no surrounding housing, a rarity in the Coachella Valley,” Curley said. “With this new work, Fred and I believe the course is at its peak quality and is well positioned as one of the finest pure golf experiences in the country.”

The bunkers: Enhanced playability, strategy and aesthetics

Throughout the project, which began June 15, Curley worked closely with LaBar Golf Renovations to shape bunkers that reflect today’s architectural tastes, while retaining the integrity of the club’s original design as well as a challenge suitable to the members. Drainage in all the bunkering has been upgraded, along with the addition of Billy Bunker liners. Some bunkers have also been repositioned to better defend against today’s equipment.

The most significant course change has come on the par-4 14th hole, which has been modified to revive its original strategic challenge and aesthetics. Those changes include removing palm trees to provide a better view of the fairway, green and distant mountains, along with the addition of two carry bunkers on the left side of the fairway. Curley and Couples both feel that those modifications enhance the hole’s playability and visual appeal.

The Plantation Club work comes amid a busy time for Curley, whose firm, Curley-Wagner Design, has projects in various stages of completion in Southern California, Nevada, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia and The Philippines.

Aurora CC Selects Architect to Create Master Plan

Award-winning golf course architect Raymond Hearn, ASGCA, has been selected by historic Aurora (Ill.) Country Club for a renovation and restoration of its classic 1914 golf course.

“What an honor and privilege it is to work with this historic club,” Hearn, founder of Raymond Hearn Golf Course Designs, said. “Our goal is to create a comprehensive Master Plan that involves sympathetic restoration.”

Sympathetic restoration refers to a process where a course is renovated to restore its original design and character, focusing on the course’s history and respecting the architect’s original design intent, while also synchronizing with the modern-day game and maintenance practices to improve strategy, shot value, playability and sustainability.

“It’s a careful balance between honoring the past and adapting to the present,” Hearn said.

The original 9-hole course design was by legendary architect Tom Bendelow in 1914. Bendelow expanded the design to 18 holes in 1915 with a possible collaboration from William Langford according to several published sources. In 1935, the club consulted with legendary golf course architect A.W. Tillinghast for some select course improvements.

“We could not be happier to be awarded this prestigious assignment as I know the club had significant interest from a wide array of golf course architects,” Hearn said. “We are walking in the footsteps of golf course architectural legends.”

Hearn said Aurora Country Club has a vibrant membership with outstanding board and committee members.

“I will be working closely with the club’s Master Planning Committee, which includes PGA head professional Curtis Malm and veteran golf course superintendent John Gurke, CGCS,” he said. “We will be communicating with them in each phase. After the master planning is approved, my next assignment will be assisting the club in project construction phasing implementation that the club feels comfortable with.”

Hearn said he equates the club’s course to a classic work of art that is ready to reclaim its place among the region’s best.

“I want the sympathetic restoration work to increase shot value, strategy, playability and beauty for all levels of golfing ability at the club not just the single digit handicap golfer,” he said. “I will obviously pay tribute and homage to the legendary architects involved with this design in my sympathetic restoration.”

Tom Cross, Master Plan Committee chairman, said Aurora Country Club has always been committed to providing its members with an exceptional golf experience and that this master planning initiative reflects the ongoing dedication to that tradition of excellence.

“We’re taking a thoughtful, long-term approach to ensure our course continues to be among the finest in the region for generations to come,” he said. “Our partnership with Ray Hearn, whose award-winning, restoration work speaks for itself, demonstrates our commitment to investing in world class expertise as we plan for Aurora’s future. This process will be entirely member driven, ensuring that any enhancements align with our club’s values and our membership’s vision.”

Gurke said Raymond Hearn Golf Course Designs was a tremendous choice by the club for the master plan and project.

 “I’m thrilled to be working with Ray on this Master Plan for Aurora Country Club,” he said. “Over my 35 years here I’ve immersed myself in the history and significance of this golf course with architects the likes of Bendelow, Langford and Tillinghast behind its Golden Age design. Ray is a renowned veteran designer who brings great passion, knowledge, and respect for our club’s past, and will tap into those qualities to lead Aurora Country Club and its members into the future.”

Raymond Hearn ( www.rhgd.com ) has developed a national reputation for creating long range master plans for historic and modern day courses such as the Crestmont CC (Donald Ross 1921) in West Orange, NJ; Moon Brook CC (Willie Park Jr. 1919) in Jamestown, NY; Washtenaw GC (Bert Way 1899) in Ypsilanti, MI;  Midlothian CC (Hebert Tweedie 1898) in Midlothian, IL; Metedeconk National GC (RTJ Sr. and Roger Rulewich 1987) in Jackson, NJ; Lincolnshire Fields CC (Larry Packard 1976) in Champaign, IL; White Lake GC (Tom Bendelow 1916) in Whitehall, MI; Flossmoor CC (Hebert Tweedie 1899) in Flossmoor, IL; Inverness CC (Doug Fraser 1925) in Chelsea, MI; Club de Golf de Panama (Jay Riviera 1922) Panama City, Panama;  Savannah CC formerly Wilmington Island Golf (Donald Ross in 1927) Savannah, GA and various Master Planning for several Boyne Resort golf courses in Michigan, Montana and Maine.

Gurke said the master plan committee members did their due diligence and have experienced the work Hearn has completed on other Golden Age golf courses.

“He has great passion for what he does, but also for what those before him created at these great courses,” he said. “I love his sympathetic restoration ideas.”

World-Class Course Architect Agustin Pizá Breaks Down 5 Iconic Golf Courses

Pizá is featured in a Random Golf Club Film Short where he shares insight into some of golf’s most iconic golf courses and holes

(SAN DIEGO, CA) – Pizá Golf, internationally recognized as a world-class architecture and golf course design firm, is proud to announce that company founder Agustin (Augie) Pizá leads a Random Golf Club Film short on his TOP five golf holes. He uses his golf course architecture acumen to dissect holes and why they are included on the discerning list.

Pizá’s five favourite golf holes span the globe starting with the home of golf – The Old Course at Saint Andrews, Scotland, and across the pond to Tobacco Road in North Carolina. Pizá uncovers what makes each golf course and golf hole special or stand out. He also includes one golf hole he personally designed and why it is so extraordinary.

 

“You will see first-hand that I am VERY passionate about golf course architecture and the golfing experience,” said Pizá. “I start this special Random Golf Club Film piece, produced by Erik Anders, with The Old Course at St. Andrews. Old Tom Morris and time created a very strategic golf course, but playing the course is an emotional experience, like the atmosphere at Notre Dame. Sacred.”

Erik Anders Lang is part personality, part entrepreneur, part retailer, and 100% storyteller. As the CEO/Founder of Random Golf Club, Erik has become one of golf’s most recognizable figures.

 

Creating top tier content in exotic locations around the world is specifically what he is known for - to the extent that he has been dubbed the Bourdain of Golf.

For more information on Pizá Golf, please visit the company website: www.pizagolf.com.

Agustin Pizá, Brandel Chamblee Named Top 5 Visionaries

Pizá and Chamblee credit the innovative Butterfly Golf concept for this recognition

(SAN DIEGO, CA) – Pizá Golf, internationally recognized for their innovative award-winning multipurpose golf course concepts, is proud to announce today that the duo has been included in Golf Inc.’s 2023 Visionaries list.

Pizá and Chamblee claimed the fifth position in Golf Inc.’s exclusive and limited list of golf business professionals who are identified as visionaries. Those individuals that have helped the industry move forward through their visions.

“It is an absolute honor to be named Top-Five 2023 Visionary of the Year by Golf Inc. Magazine with my friend and partner, Brandel Chamblee. Together we are working to positively impact the golf world with our sustainable golf concepts like Butterfly Golf and small footprint projects like Wellness Golf® and Multipurpose Golf,” commented Agustin Pizá. “Being able to share this platform with golf business professionals who we admire is extraordinary; Don Rea, John Pugliese, Mike Zisman, and Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. What a privilege! Let us keep our minds open and dare to be different.”

“Grateful to be included in this group along with Augie in Golf Inc’s Visionaries of 2023. It’s our hope that the project we are doing in Desertica, Mexico will influence the golf world with its four distinct six-hole golf loops and to be the first course built for women since Marion Hollins’ Woman’s National,” said Chamblee. “Augie’s concept is ingenious. The four-six-hole loops were designed to meet the ever-changing demands on time and to create a golf experience for different skill levels.”

The accolades for the four-six-hole loops coined, Butterfly Golf, contributed to this prestigious Golf Inc. recognition. According to Sam Thomas, Sustainable Golf – Developments Director at GEO Foundation for Sustainable Golf. “Once we had walked through the concept of Butterfly Golf a few times with the Pizá Golf team, it became more and more evident to us the multiple benefits there were to be had. This was more with less in a way that we had not seen in a golf development before.” 

Pizá Golf Partners with the GEO Foundation for Sustainable Golf

The GEO Foundation for Sustainable Golf (GEO) will work with Pizá Golf to create one of the world’s most inspiring places to visit and play golf

(SAN DIEGO, CA) – Pizá Golf, internationally recognized for their innovative award-winning multipurpose golf course concepts, has joined forces with GEO to develop the company’s Desértica project at Cuatro Ciénegas, Mexico. Situated close to the UNESCO biosphere reserve the golf course concept coined Butterfly Golf will demonstrate innovative thinking to create a golf course that not only respects its very special natural surroundings, but also will inspire and instigate a wind of positive change in the region – and in time across the globe.

“We are very excited about this idea and seeing it put into play at the very special location of Cuatro Ciénegas. Once we’d walked through the concept of Butterfly Golf a few times with the Pizá Golf team, it became more and more evident to us the multiple benefits there were to be had. This was more with less in a way that we had not seen in a golf development before.” Sam Thomas, Sustainable Golf – Developments Director at GEO Foundation for Sustainable Golf.

“A sustainable and responsible project begins by creating a dialogue, in harmony with nature. We are excited to have our client commit to the project on all levels. It’s a sensitive place which deserves multiple layers of expertise. Having GEO on our side of the world gives us peace of mind from design implementation all the way to the execution and perpetual maintenance. We take our work very seriously when it comes to respecting nature with innovative architecture.” Agustin (Augie) Pizá - Founder Pizá Golf.

Butterfly Golf at Desértica in Cuatro Cienegas was inspired by the Butterfly Effect concept which refers to the innovative layout but also to the Chaos Theory where one small change in a system can result in a large difference. This special development is in the rustic desert and mountains of Mexico, within a master planned community and resort, co-designed with Sardo Madaleno Architects.

The layout resembles the wings of a butterfly from above with four diverse quadrangles. Within these sections are six-hole golf loops creatively positioned within the rural landscape and surround an inventive multi-purpose short golf course. This 24-hole layout provides a great degree of flexibility in the course set up, playing options, maintenance practices and diversity in a selected 18-holes layout on any given day.

According to Brandel Chamblee, partner of Pizá Chamblee Design, a signature line of projects within Pizá Golf, “Augie’s concept is ingenious. The four-six-hole loops were designed to meet the ever-changing demands on time and to create a golf experience for different skill levels. A new or beginning golfer as well as an avid golfer will enjoy the layout. Six holes is the new nine and 12 holes is the new 18. I am thrilled he invited me to participate on this special project.”

Pizá Golf’s Butterfly Golf projects are also in development in Europe. For more information on Pizá Golf, visit the company website at www.pizagolf.com.

Pizá Golf Announces The Pit was Played in VR at the 150th Open at St Andrews

Pizá Golf’s innovative Pit concept was enjoyed on GOLF+ located at the Golf Zone

(SAN DIEGO, CA) – Pizá Golf, internationally recognized for their innovative award-winning multipurpose golf course concepts, proudly announces the Pit project from their private collection was played in Virtual Reality (VR) on GOLF+ by over 5,000 patrons of the 150 Open Championship at St. Andrews.

The Pit on GOLF+ was included in an entertainment venue located onsite at St. Andrews. Spectators were encouraged to enjoy golf in a variety of ways, through golf simulators, competitions in putting and chipping and to play the Pit in VR. “The number of participants who played the Pit is staggering. It excites me to think that so many people had fun playing the Pit and some of these players that do not play golf and were introduced to the game of golf, and to multipurpose golf,” said Agustin Pizá, Founder of Pizá Golf.

The central bunker, coined the Pit, is key to the entire composition on the project. It is designed for short game play or practice from 80-yards in. “Hitting out of this bunker in VR is unreal. You feel the overall height and difficulty of getting out. It is FUN and quite an experience,” said Pizá.

“It was exhilarating to walk into the Golf Zone and watch people playing the Pit on GOLF+. Through the magic of VR people are playing an exclusive multipurpose golf course that is only available to its owners,” added Pizá. “I must extend my gratitude to our client who allowed us to collaborate with GOLF+.”

CEO Ryan Engle and Pizá partnered to develop the Pit in a VR application. “We had so much fun working with Pizá Golf on this project. To see pictures of the Pit is one thing but to experience it in VR really brings the space to life in a way that mimics reality. Augie has such a creative mind and has pushed the envelope in key areas like sustainability, and we’re so happy to have used the GOLF+ platform to bring access to The Pit to hundreds of thousands of homes around the world,” said Engle.

“The Pit in GOLF+ is a notable example of innovative design with innovative technology and we’re excited for our next project together,” added Engle.

To play the Pit in VR, visit the Golf+ page at Oculus. It can be found inside the “Clubhouse” within the application.

https://www.oculus.com/experiences/quest/2412327085529357?ranking_trace=156478678090224_2412327085529357_SKYLINEWEB_274907549851488%3D%3DGAr0MQOICubeDHCcy

Dormie Network Announces David McLay Kidd as Architect for New Course, GrayBull, in Nebraska Sandhills

(LINCOLN, NEB.) — Officials at Dormie Network, a national network of private destination golf clubs, today announced that famed course architect David McLay Kidd will lead the design and construction of its all-new world-class 18-hole private golf course, Graybull, in the Nebraska Sandhills. McLay Kidd, known for his design projects that include Bandon Dunes, Mammoth Dunes at Sand Valley, Nanea Golf Club, and The Castle Course at St. Andrews Links, brings the creative brilliance and proven credentials to realize Dormie Network’s intimate, pure golf experience in a curated, relaxing, and accommodating environment. 

In the spring of 2021, as Dormie Network ownership built on the thought of creating an all-new club, they enlisted McLay Kidd to help them find and select the appropriate piece of land. Together they looked at plots south of the Platte River in Western Nebraska, but found the soil was too heavy with clay.

As McLay Kidd looked across the river, he pointed and said, “That’s where we need to be.” 

“Being a direct influence on land selection is rare in the industry, which makes it even more exciting to build,” said McLay Kidd. “Golfers want to go to a place and actually experience the place, and golf is the excuse for doing so. This land is special – there’s nothing but you and mother nature in its rawest, simplest, most beautiful form.” 

Each Dormie Network club offers a standard of first-class facilities and pristine course conditions to create a true stay- and-play destination. GrayBull will be Dormie Network’s seventh course and first facility built from the ground up, with a planned open date of 2024. 

“David’s body of works speaks for itself,” Mark Ruhga, Chief Operating Officer, said. “Adding his work to our portfolio of clubs fits perfectly with the traditions of our network. Dormie Network facilities are created for business or leisure with the most immersive, highly curated experience in private destination golf and entertainment. David’s design philosophy and vision will bring that and more to GrayBull.” 

Born and raised in Scotland and son of a golf course superintendent, course architect McLay Kidd has been immersed in the sport his entire life. McLay Kidd and his DMK Design Team’s philosophy is to unearth courses rather than impose their views upon them. 

“It has been my experience that the best-laid plans in ink often go to waste in the dirt,” he said. “Our philosophy as golf designers subtly shifts, always adjusting to our current thinking and continued understanding of the game and what makes it popular,” McLay Kidd said. “However, the foundation of our philosophy remains focused on creating a course to be as natural, seamless, and as sustainable as possible. Dormie Network really knows what they’re doing, and I believe we’ll build something pretty impressive together.”

In addition to the impeccable playing experience through McLay Kidd’s design, amenities will include a full-service clubhouse, a practice facility, lit putting green, brand-agnostic custom fittings, and 60 beds onsite across 15 cottages for members to make the most of the evening entertainment available at network tournaments and private events. 

Learn more at dormienetwork.com/graybull. 

Tom Weiskopf-Designed Black Desert Resort Golf Course to Open Fall 2022

(Scottsdale, Ariz.) – The new Tom Weiskopf-designed Black Desert Resort Golf Course will open this fall in Ivins, Utah, a suburb of St. George. Set amid ancient black lava fields, the 18-hole resort/daily-fee facility is currently in the final phase of construction, with grassing underway. Troon, the leader in providing golf and club-related leisure and hospitality services, will manage the golf operations, golf course agronomy, food and beverage, and marketing for the golf facility, the centerpiece of the 600-acre resort community. Tee times for daily-fee guests will begin to be made available by mid-summer 2022.

Weiskopf, the designer/co-designer of 70-plus courses around the world, and architect Phil Smith have designed the par-72 Black Desert Resort Golf Course with playability in mind, with most fairways 70 to 100 yards wide. The property’s distinct black lava rock, called basalt, originated as lava that intermittently flowed from small local volcanoes approximately 2.3 million to 20,000 years ago. No stranger to working in an ancient lava landscape, Weiskopf also designed the award-winning Ke‘olu Golf Course at Hualalai Resort on the island of Hawaii, which is set in the dramatic lava fields of Ka’upulehu. 

“Black Desert Resort is located at the convergence of three unique landscapes – jet-black lava beds, towering red rock cliffs of Zion National Park, and Utah’s beautiful Mohave Desert,” said Jared Lucero, Reef Capital CEO. “The emerald fairways and greens laced among the lava fields are set against the red rock backdrop, making for an awe-inspiring golf setting.”

In true Weiskopf-style, Black Desert will feature two drivable par 4 holes (5th hole and 14th hole) bringing both strategy and the risk/reward element into play. 

“This 19-hole course at Black Desert is a rewarding course. Truly a spectacular place with many photographs taken. Great backdrops with the red mountains that remind me of Sedona (Arizona),” said Weiskopf.

In addition to the 18-hole, Weiskopf-designed golf course, guests of Black Desert will enjoy a 36-hole illuminated putting course for day or night play. The resort’s 19th-Hole, an amphitheater-style lakeside gathering place terraced into the black lava, will be the ultimate venue for winding down after a day of golf.

Reef Capital Partners is developing Black Desert Resort. Upon buildout, the property will offer 150 hotel rooms; 1,050 residences; miles of nearby trails; a wellness spa; and 46,160 square feet of retail and restaurant space. The property will also feature 32 single-family estate lots and approximately 214,000 square feet of commercial space, with the amenities of the resort center available for full-time residents. The golf course will serve as the home course for the Dixie State University golf teams.

Top-rated courses designed by Weiskopf include Double Eagle Golf Club in Galena, Ohio, the original Forest Dunes Golf Course in Roscommon, Mich., Loch Lomond Golf Club in Scotland, and both Troon North Golf Club and Troon Country Club in Scottsdale, Ariz.

For more information on Black Desert Resort, visit www.BlackDesertResort.com.

For additional news and information, visit www.Troon.com.

Talamore Golf Resort: Touch of the Old Country

Talamore Golf Resort in Southern Pines, N.C., is one of the first golf courses in the country to install EcoBunkers, providing a cutting-edge approach to maintaining the resort’s distinctive sod wall bunkers. The new additions give Talamore guests the feel of playing an Open Championship venue in the British Isles.

(SOUTHERN PINES, N.C.) — Talamore Golf Resort in Southern Pines, N.C., has taken a cutting-edge approach to enhancing its distinctive sod wall bunkers. The popular resort — which features Talamore designed by Rees Jones and Mid South Club designed by Arnold Palmer — has become one of the first golf courses in the country to install EcoBunkers, providing the strongest and most efficient method of constructing stacked sod walls using synthetic grass tiles.

Ten sod wall bunkers at Talamore on holes 2, 5, 9, 15, and 17 are now lined with tiles that are layered and precision angled. While some of the bunkers stand as tall as 7 feet, they will not require as much maintenance. “As a bonus, they’re beautiful like the bunkers you see over in the British Isles during the Open Championship,” said Talamore GM Matt Hausser. “Plus, they’ll last for decades.”

“It’s something different, especially here around Pinehurst that golfers don’t see when they’re in town,” Hausser said. “It’s a different look. It’s clean. It’s a very neat experience. Some people might think they’re a little daunting, but I think it’s going to be something cool that golfers will talk about. It’s one of those things where you hit into a couple of the big ones and you get out or you get up and down. It gives them something else to talk about afterwards.”

In more than a quarter century since the Talamore Resort first debuted — offering llamas as caddies — the popular Sandhills golf getaway has remained on the cutting edge of resort innovation. Talamore was named the “Course of the Year” by the Village of Pinehurst Area Chapter of the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) after a major restoration was performed on the golf course in 2016. In Golf Advisor’s annual Golfers’ Choice rankings of the best golf courses in the United States, Talamore was named the No. 1 public golf course in North Carolina and No. 22 in the “Top 25 U.S. golf courses for course conditions.”

The addition of the EcoBunkers at Talamore is part of an on-going, multi-million-dollar resort enhancement that also includes the addition of a Toptracer Range at Talamore and a large new practice putting green.

The origins of the EcoBunker edging system date back to late 2006 at Radyr Golf Club in Cardiff, South Wales, a golf course that was designed by the legendary architect Harry S Colt. Club member Richard Allen, a civil engineer and golf course design enthusiast, discovered that the extensive bunker work was being performed primarily because the bunker edges were vulnerable to erosion. In addition, the ongoing repair costs were becoming unacceptable to the club’s treasurer.

Bunkers generally occupy less than 3% of the total area of a golf course, but often require as much as 25% or more of a superintendent’s available resources to maintain. This is especially true with revetted edge or sod-wall bunkers. it is not unusual for golf courses to spend tens and sometimes hundreds of thousands of dollars on bunker maintenance.

Allen undertook extensive research to find an alternative method for constructing bunker edges, but found to his surprise that there were no viable products available in the marketplace. The only option appeared to be uncovering a new system to address the market gap.

The solution presented itself to Allen in an unexpected manner. One dark night, he returned to his car at the club and turned on the headlights ready to drive home. The beam shone directly onto the ends of some rolls of waste artificial grass carpet — commonly known as Astroturf — that had been temporarily stored in the club parking lot.

Allen noticed that the reflection off the rolls closely resembled the look of revetted bunker edges, a common Scottish golf feature. Through his engineering work, Allen was familiar with the hard-wearing nature of artificial grass.

“Over the next few weeks, I did some research,” he said. “I knew that there was a lot of this waste Astroturf being dumped at great cost into landfill. I found out that the material was not bio-degradable, making it highly resilient and durable. I sketched a few designs, then considered my next action.” His resulting invention was ultimately granted patent protection.

The system used at Talamore, as well as numerous clubs throughout 40 countries around the world, is a wall constructed on multiple layers of stacked artificial grass tiles. The EcoBunker edge design provides a permanently safe resilient edge, significantly reduces sand contamination from bunker sides, prevents damage and eliminates the time-consuming greenkeeping practice of bunker edging.

The tiles come in two sizes, narrower fascia tiles, and wider anchor tiles. The anchor tiles provide a structural link between the fascia and the cement modified soil backfill behind. Unlike the original gravity wall option, structural stability is provided through a combination of the synthetic tiles and the cement modified soil behind.

In 2014, Allen formed EcoBunker Ltd to promote and distribute a range of innovative, sustainable and low maintenance solutions for the golf and landscaping sectors. In the time since, the company has experienced strong growth. “It’s often said that necessity is the mother of invention,” Allen said. “The construction method I’ve now branded as EcoBunker is no different, stemming from a need to reduce the onerous burden of golf bunker maintenance.”

News about the EcoBunker system soon reached the U.S. and the Welsh-based company recognized that there was a demand for Scottish style bunkers, particularly in southeastern states such as Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas. The semi tropical climates in these areas are more extreme, and the heavy rain and high winds associated with hurricanes and tornados can cause significant stresses on bunker walls.

Responding to this, Allen came up with his second invention, the EcoBunker Advanced system, which uses specialist civil engineered soil stabilization techniques to deliver added strength to the synthetic tile walls. To date, no EcoBunkers have been damaged anywhere in the U.S., despite being hit by the massive hurricanes Matthew (2016) and Irma (2017).

This is the technique used at Talamore Golf Resort, where the technology was expertly demonstrated by EcoBunker’s U.S.-based business manager, Jay Morgan. “When engineered and implemented with our proven construction methodology, EcoBunker systems will mitigate these maintenance challenges with a life expectancy of at least 20 years,” Morgan said. “The system is warrantied for 20 years.”

“We looked at ones they have done in South Carolina and down in Florida,” Hausser said. “That’s why we ended up going with the EcoBunker. The bunkers are stronger than the sea wall. Hurricanes have hit them and hasn’t moved anything.”

Globally renowned golf course architect Donald Steel calls EcoBunker “pioneers in the field.” Another of today’s greatest architects, Tom Doak, says, “One of the benefits is that, from an architect’s perspective, I can ’lock-in’ my design with EcoBunker.” Other golf legends such as Pete Dye, Nicklaus Design, Greg Norman, Nick Faldo, Bobby Weed, Butch Harmon and Bruce Devlin have incorporated EcoBunker into their designs.

The intent of the Talamore Golf Resort project was to rebuild select sod wall bunkers that were problematic from a maintenance standpoint. The extra work required a disproportionate allocation of maintenance resources, which could be better spent on other projects.

Prior to construction of each EcoBunker, meetings were held with Talamore golf course superintendent David Walsh and his assistant, Scott St. Louis, to discuss their desired outcome with regard to surface water management. Particular attention was paid to sculpting the tops and sides of EcoBunker to redirect and manage sheet flow.

Hausser said the project engineer recorded all the measurements from overseas using Google Earth. “He asked us to send pictures of one of our staff members standing in the bunker,” Hausser said. “So, we did that and then he did the measurements from overseas and he was almost spot on.”

When the resort owner of the golf course and Hausser visited the first bunker on No. 17 reconstructed with EcoBunker, they said they were captivated with the structural integrity and clean aesthetics. Hausser called EcoBunker “transformative”.

And what will the resort’s many golfers think when they first experience the new EcoBunkers?

“They’re going to notice that they want to miss them,” Hausser said.

The installation of the stylish new EcoBunkers is one of numerous projects being completed at Talamore Golf Resort. A Toptracer Range with 10 hitting stalls will open this spring, when Talamore guests will be able to experience interactive golf entertainment powered by the same technology that viewers enjoy during televised PGA Tour events to track the shots of the game’s best players. Guests can compete against friends, play a virtual round at some of the world’s top courses and receive instant shot feedback on interactive game screens. The technology uses high speed cameras, coupled with sophisticated computer algorithms, to provide instantaneous ball tracking information to guests using the range.

In addition, the Talamore practice range has been upgraded and a new, 15,000-square-foot putting course is being installed between the driving range and the 10th tee boxes that is expected to open in the fall. Guests can warm up or practice on the putting course while waiting for Toptracer, or simply settling some bets after their round.

Widely considered one of the Southeast’s most guest-friendly getaways, Talamore Golf Resort continues to evolve and improve. For an innovative, quality stay-and-play experience and value around “The Home of American Golf,” Talamore Golf Resort sets the pace and keeps getting better. The resort’s long-term roster of alumni says it all – many guests have been staying and playing at Talamore for decades. “We have so much repeat business, so for them to keep coming back and finding something else here,” Hausser said. “It’s just nice to give people something more to enjoy.”

For information call (800) 552-6292 or visit www.TalamoreGolfResort.com.

National Publication Names Agustin Pizá as One of the Nine Most Innovative People in Golf

Golf Inc. attributes Pizá and his inclusion in this special issue to his ability to try something different, to INNOVATE

(SAN DIEGO, CA) – Pizá Golf, internationally known as a world-class architecture and golf course design firm, announces its founder Agustin (Augie) Pizá has been recognized by Golf Inc. as one of the Nine Most Innovative People in Golf. Golf Inc. is the world’s only magazine for golf course developers, owners, and management company executives.

According to Golf Inc., “If he were an auto manufacturer, Pizá would be recognized for “concept cars” – vehicles that showcase imagination and hint of future possibilities. He’d be the Elon Musk before the Tesla rolled off the assembly line.”

“Wow, to be referred to in the same vein as Elon Musk, is a great honour. However, I do believe that our focus on the future and its possibilities is similar but just in different fields,” said Pizá. “I congratulate everyone included in the Nine Most Innovative People in Golf issue.”

Prior to Pizá being included in the Nine Most Innovative People in Golf, he was included in the prestigious Golf Inc. Power 2020 issue. Within this highly sought-after issue, Pizá was featured as one of Golf’s up and Coming Superstars, written by JJ Keegan.

According to Keegan, “Agustin Pizá sees the Earth the way Monet and Van Gogh saw a canvas. His brush strokes are inspired by a vision that embraces the spirit of the land, emphasizing aesthetics, character, and strategy.”

“I want to thank Golf Inc. and their staff for their ongoing support. To be recognized by their distinctive team two years in a row is extraordinary. This acknowledgement inspires me to keep pushing creative boundaries,” added Pizá.

Please find a direct link to Golf Inc.’s Nine Most Innovative People in Golf issue: https://bluetoad.com/publication/?m=52882&i=734930&p=18&pre=1&ver=html5

For more information on Pizá Golf, visit the company website: www.pizagolf.com.