Members at this PGA Tour golf course are being asked to pony up $16.1M for renovations

The courses were designed by legendary architect Donald Ross and opened in 1916.

Detroit Golf Club’s courses, site of the Rocket Mortgage Classic on the PGA Tour since 2019, were designed by legendary architect Donald Ross and opened in 1916.

The Rocket Mortgage Classic is played on a combination course of the club’s two layouts, the North and the South. The tournament layout starts on No. 8 of the North Course, then plays No. 9 of the North. Players then tackle what is normally No. 1 of the South Course before teeing off on what is normally No. 2 of the North and playing the next five holes in order.

An upcoming vote at the club will determine whether a full renovation will be put into motion, according to a story in the Detroit News. The estimated cost, according to reporting by the News, is expected to be $16.1 million and would be paid for largely through a one-time assessment for members.

Here’s more from the News:

The club also would allocate $2.2 million from Rocket Mortgage Classic funds for the project.

Voting by members begins March 6, and closes March 16. An approval rate of more than 60% is being required by the prospective lenders working with Detroit Golf Club.

The proposed renovations — which, most notably to fans, include the removal of the large pond at the par-5 14th hole, a signature hole, to help with drainage — coincide with the 125th anniversary of Detroit Golf Club.

The master plan of the proposed renovations at The Detroit Golf Club, which was originally designed by Donald J. Ross.

“As we approach Detroit Golf Club’s 125th year, we are celebrating the past but also looking toward the future,” Michael Pricer, DGC president, said in a statement to The News, which inquired about the project. “The proposed golf course project has been initiated by our membership to continue an exceptional golf course experience for many generations to come.”

The combined layout typically plays to 7,370 yards with a par of 72 for the tournament.

Rickie Fowler buried a 12-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole to win a battle with Adam Hadwin and Collin Morikawa in Detroit and end a four-year victory drought at the 2023 playing of the event. Other winners since inception include Tony Finau, Cameron Davis, Bryson DeChambeau and Nate Lashley.

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Former Rhode Island club (designed by Donald Ross) now slated to become a supermarket and 800 apartments

In 2018, Golfweek reported the club was preparing itself for a sale. A group led by Brad Faxon bought it.

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. – New renderings of a planned development of the former Metacomet Golf, a historic Donald Ross design, show a supermarket-anchored suburban shopping center flanked by more than 800 apartments.

Developer Marshall Properties purchased the golf course in 2019 and two years later won city approval to build on the 140-acre property off Veterans Memorial Parkway over fierce resistance from neighborhood residents.

Back in November 2018, Golfweek reported on the prospects of Metacomet Golf Club – which had amassed significant debt, primarily in the form of back taxes – as it prepared itself for a sale. Three suitors emerged, with the membership eventually settling on a group that included PGA Tour great Brad Faxon. The reported sale price was $2.2 million.

The plans submitted to the city Waterfront Commission show that the whole development would be branded “The Met.” The shopping plaza, with 163,000 square feet of commercial space over several buildings, would be at the front of the complex, closest to the parkway, the East Bay Bike Path and the Providence River.

A mix of retail stores and apartment buildings

Most customers would enter the complex through a new roundabout built where Veterans Memorial Parkway meets Lyon Avenue. The main access road leads to an unnamed supermarket and an internal roundabout feeding cars to smaller shops and the apartment buildings.

The commercial buildings include restaurants and a drive-through bank. Some of the shops front a walkway that leads to what looks like an amphitheater.

Nine apartment buildings would occupy the northeast half of the development and include 844 rental units, according to a market study submitted to the Waterfront Commission. There would also be 22 duplexes and 24 townhouses.

The study says Marshall intends to rent 10% of the units to residents who make 80% of the Area Median Income.

The apartment buildings range from three to five stories with hotel-style double-loaded corridor layouts. Some feature basement parking garages to supplement the surface parking lots around them. There are 1½ dedicated spaces per unit.

At least three of the buildings are advertised as “senior living.”

Why did neighbors oppose the development?

The first work on the Metacomet site began last year to reduce the 18-hole golf course to nine holes.

The contentious fight over a city zoning change to make way for the development focused on whether the golf course should be developed at all, and, if so, how much open space should remain.

When fully built, the Metacomet development will generate $5.3 million in annual tax revenue to East Providence, 4Ward Planning estimates, $4.9 million when the cost of providing municipal services is deducted. (4Ward did not attempt to estimate the additional educational costs of the new residences.)

Marshall Properties presented the renderings and a video about the development to the East Providence Waterfront District Commission last month.

Waterfront Commission Chairman William Fazioli said Thursday that the developer did not say which parts of the complex would be built first, or if it would happen in phases.

He said the commission will probably begin its review in February.

Lianne Marshall, owner of Marshall Properties, did not return a phone call Thursday. The developer has said little to the media since parting company with a public relations firm after the permitting process.

Metacomet
Metacomet

The renderings show the shops and parking lots overlooking the Frederick Law Olmsted-designed Veterans Memorial Parkway and shimmering Providence River, with downtown Providence in the background.

Candy Seel of Keep Metacomet Green, the resident group that fought the development, said Thursday that in meetings Marshall has described a two-phase development, with the shopping center built first and homes later.

“As to whether Keep Metacomet Green thinks that these renderings look better or worse than we expected, 60+ acres of dense commercial and residential development bordering the historic parkway and the surrounding neighborhoods filled with family residences, an elementary school and a public park is completely out-of-scale no matter how the pieces are put together,” Seel wrote in an email.

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Where to play golf around Pinehurst: Golfweek’s Best 2023 public-access courses

Thanks to Golfweek’s Best rankings, we break out the top public-access courses around Pinehurst, North Carolina.

Looking to play one of the top golf regions in the world, with great courses stacked alongside great courses? Look no further than Pinehurst, North Carolina.

From classic dream layouts to modern works of art, there are a dozen courses within a half-hour’s drive of Pinehurst that rank among the top 20 public-access courses in North Carolina.

For this exercise, we used Google Maps and punched in each course as of a Saturday morning to determine drive times. And included with this list is a general map of where to find all these courses. Each one on the list below is represented with a number on the map – keep scrolling to see the numbers.

And keep in mind, the numbers represent how the courses are ranked, and it can become a bit confusing as the courses at the famed Pinehurst Resort are named numerically. For example, Pinehurst No. 2 ranks No. 1 on this list, and it appears accordingly as No. 1 on the map.

Included with each course is its position in North Carolina on the Golfweek’s Best public-access list. For any course that appears on our other popular rankings lists, those positions are included as well.

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A little background: The hundreds of members of our course-ratings panel continually evaluate courses and rate them on 10 criteria on a points basis of 1 through 10. They also file a single, overall rating on each course. Those overall ratings are averaged to produce all our Golfweek’s Best course rankings.

The courses on this list allow public access in some fashion, be it standard daily green fees, through a resort or casino, by staying at an affiliated hotel or purchasing a golf vacation package. If there’s a will, there’s a tee time – no membership required, although Pinewild Country Club is a special case on this list with an editor’s note below.

Pinehurst map
(Google Earth/Golfweek)

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Early look: Previewing what players, fans should expect from the 2024 U.S. Open at Pinehurst

“We really hope for a firm and fast U.S. Open come June.”

PINEHURST, N.C. — They say there’s never a bad day at Pinehurst, especially if you’re walking around course No. 2, the famed masterpiece of renowned architect Donald Ross.

The gem in the sandhills of North Carolina will play host to its fourth U.S. Open next summer (1999, 2005, 2014), and the folks at the United States Golf Association recently held an early preview for its flagship championship.

“We are comfortable that Pinehurst will provide the test of golf that has always provided,” said course setup lead Jeff Hall. “If Martin Kaymer hadn’t entered in 2014 we’d have had a really competitive championship, but he played brilliantly.”

“We’re not trying to play defense with the players,” he added. “This golf course, when it’s firm and fast, you can have some scary wedge shots. Even if it was shorter, there’s still some pretty scary wedge shots here.”

From fairways and tricky greens to new grass and hospitality venues, here’s what players and fans should expect to see when they step on the property for the 2024 U.S. Open, June 13-16, at Pinehurst No. 2.

No. 2 will look and play as it was designed

When Pinehurst worked with Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw to restore the course in 2010 and 2011, the team removed 35 acres of Bermuda rough and replaced it with nearly 250,000 wire grass plants so the course would look and play the way Ross originally intended. To get it as close as possible, images from 1948-1962 were used.

Pinehurst No. 2
Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina (Courtesy of Pinehurst Resort)

No. 2 is a unique test of golf for a U.S. Open due to its sandy areas in lieu of ankle-deep rough. If players miss the short green grass, they’ll have to deal with the elements. Fairway widths are 34-45 yards at No. 2, which differs from, say, Winged Foot or The Country Club where 24-32 yards is the norm. The diabolical turtleback putting greens make fairway placement all the more important.

“Thinking back to 2014, this was a really difficult U.S. Open to play,” said former Tour pro and current USGA Senior Director of Player Relations Scott Langley. “I say that as a guy who finished in 63rd place, wasn’t as difficult for Martin Kaymer. The thing that’s difficult about Pinehurst No. 2 is the putting greens and surrounds. The greens are very difficult to hit, so you’re often faced with a variety of shots around the greens to recover.”

When you think of a missed green at a U.S. Open, tall, lush rough comes to mind. At Pinehurst, you can play any number of clubs to get up and down to save par. Bump-and-run with an iron. A perfectly nipped wedge. Maybe a hybrid instead of a putter. The course allows for a certain level of creativity that most championship venues lack. It introduces uncertainty for players, which is when things get interesting.

“It provides a mental challenge as much as a physical one,” added Langley. “No matter what club you end up choosing or what shot you decide to play, you always have a little bit of doubt in your mind if it’s the right one because of the presence of so many options.”

As if golf wasn’t hard enough already. But that’s why it’s the U.S. Open, known as the toughest test in golf.

Key corner of the course

If you’ve been to No. 2, you’ll know the area on the front nine that features No. 3 green, No. 4 tee, No. 5 green and No. 6 tee. Come next summer, the section of the course will be a fan-favorite to watch a lot of golf, especially if No. 3 is drivable.

The short par-4 3rd hole is gettable no matter where the tee is, but the challenge increases with the sloping fairway of the par-4 4th. Players will get a breather with the par-5 5th before they’re faced with arguably the toughest test of the front nine, the tricky par-3 6th hole.

Pinehurst No. 2
The fifth hole on Pinehurst No. 2. (Photo: Tracy Wilcox/Golfweek)

In 2014, Martin Kaymer played No. 3 and No. 5 at 6 under par and finished the championship at 9 under. He drove the green on No. 3 on both days the tee was up and two-putted for birdie. He played No. 5 at 4 under thanks to a pair of birdies and an eagle.

“You could hear some roars in this part of the world,” Hall predicted.

When it comes to set up and yardage tee to green, the course will be very similar to what fans and players saw in 2014. The real difference is the surface of the putting greens. The 2014 championship and all the previous championships (as far as the USGA knows) were played on bentgrass. The 2024 championship will be played on Bermuda grass.

The change from Creeping Bentgrass to Ultradwarf Bermuda grass provides a different perspective for the tournament crew when preparing for a U.S. Open.

“It gives us a lot more flexibility because the temperatures are ramping up, nighttime, daytime, sunlight, everything that works against the cool season grasses that time of year are in our favor for the Ultradwarf Bermuda grass,” said Pinehurst superintendent John Jeffreys.

“It allows us more options for managing firmness,” added Darin Bevard, Senior Director of Championship Agronomy. “I just hope that Mother Nature cooperates in June that we’re having this conversation about firmness and not about fixing wash outs and bunkers. We really hope for a firm and fast U.S. Open come June.”

Outside the ropes

The course is a masterpiece inside the ropes, but the USGA believes the same to be true outside the ropes. The resort is an ideal venue logistically, and the staff has a proven plan for what works and what doesn’t.

In order to improve on past successes, the USGA is keying in on two aspects: getting fans closer to the action and elevating the overall fan experience. The answer is different product offerings from the gallery ticket all the way up to the most premium hospitality stand.

A grandstand left of the 18 green with the clubhouse in the background has been a staple for U.S. Opens at Pinehurst. Next year, the grandstand will be integrated with a premium hospitality experience called the 1895 Club, the highest-end experience on-site. The club comes with valet parking, shuttles, and the best food and beverage offerings with the 18th green as entertainment.

“That’s certainly going to be something we’re excited about and something that’s going to feel and look very different,” said Leighton Schwob, the USGA’s Senior Director of Operations.

Pinehurst is going through a full renovation of the lower floor of the resort building, which is where a lot of player facilities will be. A tunnel from the locker room up to the first tee for players is also being built and should be completed by the end of the year. The resort’s driving range will be more of a fan area next summer, as the USGA anticipates more than 250,000 fans will be in attendance for the week.

The course will shut down near Memorial Day, but facilities will be built beginning in March. So don’t fret, there’s still plenty of time to go play before the pros.

In pictures: See how this Donald Ross-designed municipal golf course has come back to life in North Carolina

The consensus during a 2022 tour detailed “steadily degrading conditions” over the last several years.

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — The 16th hole was the worst one.

That was the consensus during a 2022 tour of the Asheville Municipal Golf Course, which documented what the city called “steadily degrading conditions” over the last several years. At that point, the course had only spent a few weeks under a new management agreement with Commonwealth Golf Partners, which took over the course on Oct. 1, 2022. It had spent the 10 years prior with former operator Pope Golf.

Now, almost exactly a year later, Mike Bennett, one of the operators with Commonwealth, said that the same hole has gone from the worst condition to one of the best.

The 18-hole golf course, affectionately known as “Muni,” was designed by Hall of Fame golf architect Donald Ross and opened for play in 1927. It remains the last “affordable” public fee course in Asheville and is home to Skyview Golf Tournament, the longest-running professional tournament in the country owned and operated by Black residents, which held its 63rd annual tournament in July.

“We like to say (the 16th hole) went from last to first,” Bennett said of the year’s transition.

It needed the full gambit of improvements — guided in part by a $25,000 master plan, prepared by golf architect Kris Spence, a “roadmap” for restoring the relevant Donald Ross features of the course, maintaining the integrity of a historic design.

A framed copy of the 2023 master plan hangs in the Muni’s clubhouse, which just saw its own interior upgrades. On Oct. 18, Bennett traced some of the map’s faint outlines, delineating the course’s current condition, bolder lines indicating the original edges of the design; abandoned bunkers to be restored or shifted, some buried now at the edge of the tree line or faded to faint impressions in the grass.

$3.5 million in renovations, herd of goats

It’s just one piece of the ongoing $3.5 million in planned course renovations. The city has secured $2.9 million in funding to dedicate to upgrades and repairs. About $850,000 has been spent, said Chris Corl, the city’s director of Community and Regional Entertainment Facilities, with a bulk of the funds reserved for incoming stormwater remediation projects, which carry a hefty price.

The stormwater project will be bid out in the next two weeks, with construction beginning in late November or December. It should address the sinkholes scarring areas of the course, and overhaul holes 10 and 11, which Bennett described as still “pretty rough.”

The 16th green was a prime example of the issues that plagued the 122-acre course in East Asheville. It was patchy in places. The sod was fraying to dirt at its edges. A makeshift path had formed where golf carts were cheating up the fairway and nuances of the original Donald Ross design blurred after years of shifting mowing patterns.

But a more recent visit to the course finds wooden posts discouraging forays from the asphalt cart path. A small staircase ascends to the green, and the newly laid bent grass — salvaged from a nearby local course — is resodded and whole.

It was in “terrible condition,” Lonnie Gilliam said of Hole 16. He plays at the Muni almost five days a week and has been golfing there since the 1960s. “Now it’s perfect … pristine is the word I describe it as.”

Before the Commonwealth takeover, Gilliam said conditions were “horrific.” There’s a term in golf, “dog track,” he said, slang for a poorly maintained course. “It had gotten to that level.”

“It is amazing what has happened since the changeover in management. Everything I have to say is positive about the conditions, what they’re doing, how they’ve done due diligence on just about everything that golfers complained about when they had their first meeting (with them),” he said.

In the months since Commonwealth’s contract with the city began, a partnership between Bennett and Peter Dejak, Corl said the “continued, ongoing” maintenance and efforts from new management is noticeable, from clearly defined fairways; rebuilt and sodded greens, tee boxes and fairways; bunker restoration; repaired cart paths and more. The removal of 111 trees, and pruning of more than 80 others, means improved sightlines and more sunlight for grass growth.

A herd of goats was brought in to eat away at underbrush and invasive species.

Golf fees, revenue increased

There’s a new fleet of golf carts on lease, plus a new rate structure, which saw increases across the board, but maintained discounts for city residents.

Rates vary on a number of factors — including resident status, time of day, weekday or weekend, and play with cart — but Corl said average facility revenue per round in 2022 was $23.16, up to $28.67 in 2023.

Considering the most expensive round (Saturday, for the full 18 holes), it was $45 for everyone in 2022. Now it’s $45 for residents, $65 for non-residents.

In past years, the course averaged 41,600 starts a year. This year, Corl said, they’re estimating 48,000 starts, but expect to grow to about 53,000 in 2024.

Rather than a traditional lease agreement, like the one the city had with Pope Golf, the licensing and management agreement shares loss and profit between Commonwealth and the city.

“We’re only a year into it, but it’s gone better than I could have ever expected,” Bennett said.

According to Bennett, revenue is up 24% for January through September when compared to last year.

“I think all of the locals who have been playing here for years are excited just to see growth and change, and good things happening,” said Pat Warren, the course’s general manager.

They haven’t seen anything like it, he said, in the last 20 years.

‘Money is being spent properly’

Paul Bonesteel has been playing at the Muni since 1997. He’s there about twice a week.

Bonesteel is the president of “Friends of Asheville Muni,” a new nonprofit and fundraising partner, and is the documentary filmmaker and director behind “Muni,” a “love letter to the game of golf,” which was released in 2020 and featured on Golf Channel and PBS.

On a weekday in October, he had plans to play nine holes. On foot, carrying his own bag, it will run him about $15. Another $15 if he decided to rent a cart.

“It’s just fantastic to have a golf course in the city limits of Asheville that’s convenient, that’s accessible, and I mean that both physically and economically, to people who live here,” he said.

But it’s more than affordability that keeps Bonesteel coming back. “It’s still the vibe,” he said. Everyone’s out there, from “scratch golfers to people just starting.” There’s plenty of people who are on the course almost every day, and users who have dedicated decades of play to the Muni, one of the oldest in Western North Carolina, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Gilliam described a sense of “fellowship,” particularly for those who play almost daily, and have for decades. The Skyview tournament was long a “highlight” and gathering place for African American families, he said. At this most recent tournament, some players were “shocked” by the “tremendous” improvements, and were already making plans to return the next year.

In the last year, Bonesteel said the work has been noticeable, both “quality” and “efficient,” even with some of the most impactful stormwater improvements yet to come.

“People I play with and the folks that I talk to out there … see that the money is being spent properly. That really makes people feel good,” he said. “Looking at the original plans, and having that level of concern for the historical quality as well as the environmental quality, it’s noticeable and impressive.”

There’s always more to be done, Bonesteel added, and the course is “far from finished,” but there are open lines of communication between course users, management and the city that haven’t been there for years.

“I’ve never seen it so transparent,” he said. The old sense used to be, “someone is making a lot of money here and it’s not the golf course.”

“That’s gone now,” Bonesteel said. “People feel like they are getting what they paid for.”

City of Asheville v. Pope Golf

In the days after Commonwealth took over course operations, in October 2022, the city filed a lawsuit against Pope Golf, alleging deteriorating course conditions, destruction of property and $340,830 in outstanding lease payments to the city.

A year later, the litigation drags on. At its center are the significant stormwater drainage issues, which Pope said in September 2022 is the reason behind not only the course conditions but his termination of lease payments.

Pope Golf submitted an answer to the complaint in December, which denies almost all allegations and calls for the court to dismiss the complaint. The document reiterates Pope’s belief that issues, including the drainage problems, were within control of the city, and outside control of Pope Golf.

An order for a mediated settlement conference was filed with the court in March, with a deadline for completion of mediation of July 15. If the case is not settled out of court, the order names a tentative trial date of Nov. 13.

City Attorney Brad Branham said the parties are in the process of “moving the trial date to accommodate schedules.”

It has not yet been set, he told the Citizen Times in an Oct. 18 email, but will likely be in May of next year. A mediator has been selected, but no dates have been set. This will need to occur prior to trial.

Tree plantings and pollinators

While the news of planned tree removal was cause for some community distress, after action from area environmentalists and neighbors, plus conversations with the city and operators, the number of downed trees was reduced from 157 to 111. More than 80 others were pruned.

This number was already a decrease from initial U.S. Golf Association tree evaluation and report, which suggested 500-plus trees for removal. Removal was necessary for essential renovations to the course, improvements to golf play and longevity of existing trees, the city said.

As part of the process, and to ensure no net loss of total long-term tree canopy, Corl said they initiated a neighborhood tree replanting program, in partnership with area nonprofit Asheville GreenWorks, which offered trees at no cost to surrounding property owners, and assistance in planting.

Corl said deliveries started that week and that 55 trees would be replanted through the program.

The course is also working with GreenWorks on a new tree nursery program and has identified three sites throughout the course where the nonprofit will be able to cultivate trees on the property.

“Instead of planting permanent trees on the property, which in time will grow large and cause similar problems which caused for the removal of trees over the winter, the nursery program will result in trees being removed from the course when they reach proper planting size for their permanent homes,” according to the Muni website.

In total, it’s estimated that the sites will house over 200 trees to be made available to area nonprofits and government agencies for low or no cost.

“It’s definitely pretty unique for a golf course, and it makes sense,” Bennett said. “Most courses have spots like this that could be utilized.”

Friends of the Asheville Muni recently wrapped an over $4,000 fundraiser to bring pollinator plantings to the course, Bonesteel said. November volunteer days will be held for planting, bringing about two acres of pollinators to the property.

The new day-to-day

While outcomes of the capital project overhauls may be among the most noticeable changes, Bennett said it’s the day-to-day operations they are most invested in, “creating the ability to maintain the golf course like it’s supposed to be.”

That means new agronomy practices that are going to help “long term,” Bennett said, and tools, machinery and staffing that will “pay dividends for years.”

In the calendar year, Corl said they reduced water used from 12.5 million gallons used to 5.5 million, even before the larger planned stormwater projects, by eliminating leaks and installing a localized course weather station and water sensors inside all 18 greens.

“Visually, it looks stunning. It looks so much more like a real golf course and a traditional Donald Ross,” Bennett said. “It’s much more playable and more of how it was intended to be played.”

Muni by the numbers:

1927: Year built
122: Acres
18: Holes
$3.5 million: Capital project budget
111: Trees removed
10: Rebuilt bunkers
4 hours, 6 minutes: Average time to play 18-hole round
41,600: Starts a year
Source: City of Asheville

Sarah Honosky is the city government reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network.

This cherished Florida muni designed by Donald Ross is set to reopen soon after renovation

The re-opening marks the start of a new era for the municipal golf course.

SARASOTA, Florida — Residents and visitors to this haven will soon be able to play golf at the upgraded Bobby Jones Golf Club.

Richard Mandell, the architect for the renovation of the golf complex, said the 18-hole course and driving range are expected to open in early November. The Bobby Jones Nature Park will also open then, while a 9-hole short course will open later.

The re-opening marks the start of a new era for the municipal golf course. City leaders wrestled for years over the fate of the course, originally constructed by legendary course designer Donald Ross in the 1920s.

They ultimately decided to reduce the number of holes in the golf complex from 45 to 27 and turn some of the property into a park. They also voted to permanently conserve the property, ensuring that it will never be subdivided or developed.

The nature park will be open to members of the public and will include trails that can be walked or biked.

Mandell, the project’s architect, and the construction crew are restoring the 18-hole course designed by Donald Ross. They’re also building a nine-hole, adjustable, par 3 course.

Mandell said they’re in “the grow-in stage.” The grass for the course has been planted, and now it’s growing. It needs to be mature enough for people to play golf on it.

Mandell said the construction team will also rake the sand in the bunkers and remove weeds from the course.

“We’re pretty much done,” he said, “and as long as the weather cooperates, I know it’ll be grown in in early November, and it’ll look great and it’ll play great.”

A triple-wide modular building will serve as a temporary clubhouse while the new, permanent clubhouse is built. A private management company, Indigo Sports, will handle the daily operations of the golf complex.

Mandell said the course has exceeded his expectations.

“I hope that the locals love it and feel back at home,” he said. He also hopes that it’ll be a regular destination for people on winter vacations and that it gets national recognition.

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Check the yardage book: East Lake for the 2023 Tour Championship

StrackaLine offers a hole-by-hole course guide for East Lake Golf Club.

East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta – site of the PGA Tour’s 2023 Tour Championship and the finale in the FedEx Cup Playoffs – originally was designed by Tom Bendelow and opened in 1908. Donald Ross redesigned the layout in 1913, and Rees Jones worked on the course in 1994.

Architect Andrew Green will begin another renovation, with a goal of returning many of the Ross features to East Lake, soon after the last putt drops in the Tour Championship.

East Lake ranks No. 5 on Golfweek’s Best 2023 list of top private clubs in Georgia, and it’s No. 92 on the list of top classic courses built before 1960 in the U.S.

The course will play to 7,346 yards and a par of 70 for the Tour Championship. Nos. 1 and 14 normally play as par 5s for members, but they will be listed as par 4s for the Tour Championship with only Nos. 6 and 18 playing as par 5s.

Thanks to yardage books provided by StrackaLine – the maker of detailed yardage books for thousands of courses around the world – we can see exactly the challenges the players face this week.

Check the yardage book: Sedgefield Country Club for PGA Tour’s 2023 Wyndham Championship

StrackaLine offers a hole-by-hole course guide to the PGA Tour’s Wyndham Championship in North Carolina.

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Sedgefield Country Club – site of the 2023 Wyndham Championship on the PGA Tour – opened in 1926 in Greensboro, North Carolina, with a design by legendary architect Donald Ross.

The private layout, which features relatively small and undulating greens, was extensively restored in 2007 by Kris Spence. The Tour event returned in 2008.

Sedgefield will play to 7,131 yards with a par of 70 for the Wyndham Championship, which is the final event of the Tour’s regular season and the last chance for players to earn entry into the 70-player FedEx Cup Playoffs.

Thanks to yardage books provided by StrackaLine – the maker of detailed yardage books for thousands of courses around the world – we can see exactly the challenges the players face this week in North Carolina.

Check the yardage book: Detroit Golf Club for the PGA Tour’s 2023 Rocket Mortgage Classic

StrackaLine offers a hole-by-hole course guide for the Rocket Mortgage Classic.

Detroit Golf Club’s courses, site of the 2023 Rocket Mortgage Classic on the PGA Tour, were designed by legendary architect Donald Ross and opened in 1916.

The Rocket Mortgage Classic is played on a combination course of the club’s two layouts, the North and the South. The tournament layout starts on No. 8 of the North Course, then plays No. 9 of the North. Players then tackle what is normally No. 1 of the South Course before teeing off on what is normally No. 2 of the North and playing the next five holes in order.

For the hole maps shown below, the front nine includes a hole number in a red circle, indicating that hole’s position for the Rocket Mortgage Classic.

The back nine is the same as usual for the North, playing in order from No. 10 through 18.

The combined layout will play to 7,370 yards with a par of 72 for this week’s tournament.

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Thanks to yardage books provided by StrackaLine – the maker of detailed yardage books for thousands of courses around the world – we can see exactly the challenges the pros face this week at TPC River Highlands.

Watch: Stunning flyovers of the back nine at Oak Hill show a great closing stretch for 2023 PGA Championship

The back nine will provide plenty of challenges for players and outstanding looks for audiences.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — With the restoration of Oak Hill’s East Course back to more closely emulate the original Donald Ross design, even fans who are familiar with the storied course will notice some subtle differences.

The back nine will provide plenty of challenges for players and outstanding looks for audiences.

Oak Hill’s East will play to 7,394 yards with a par of 70 for this week’s major championship.

The East ranks No. 12 in New York on Golfweek’s Best list of private courses in each state. It also comes in at No. 42 on Golfweek’s Best ranking of all classic courses in the United States.

Here’s a look at the back nine of the course, which will be in the international spotlight this week:

MORE: See the front nine at Oak Hill as you’ve never seen it