Anyone play here? Comments? It's a short course:
Championship 72 6041 114 68.60
Middle 72 5683 108 67.20
Forward 73 5091 117 69.90
From
www.golfcoursenews.comGolf Course News Magazine » News »
Hurricane damage could delay Indian Hills repairs
By Brandy Swartz
10/29/2004
Source: The Stuart News/Port St. Lucie News (Stuart, Fla.)
Fort Pierce, Fla. - The sun shone on the dunes of Indian Hills Golf and Country Club on Monday, as workers filled sand traps, laid sod and poured concrete.
Planning a December reopening of the city-owned facility, officials said it's all downhill now -- with heavy damage from hurricanes Frances and Jeanne.
Damage included condemnation of maintenance buildings and cart storage. Storm aftermath work delayed sodding the greens until now.
The Indian Hills main building has been operational since 1941, which qualifies it as an historical site. But its storm damage might cause repairs to take longer to bring the structure up to code, said Mary Beth Birsky, course director. Meanwhile, a temporary clubhouse might be designated, she said.
"It's possible we could have the course playable in eight weeks," Birsky said.
The City Commission recently budgeted $115,000 for Indian Hills' operating expenses. Estimates for insurance and the Federal Emergency Management Agency are not finalized, so approval of an operating budget was needed to keep the project going, officials said.
The driving range and the golf shop are slated to open before Christmas, according to Ted Nagel, PGA head professional. The large bands of netting, which can be seen by passersby on U.S. 1, should be repaired by then as well, he said.
"We're actually laying the sod right now," Nagel said, noting that weather conditions will dictate actual reopening dates and times. He said the course' first nine holes will open in January and the back nine in February.
Well-known English golf course designer Herbert Strong designed the course in 1938. The city purchased it in 2002 and began renovations in May of 2004. The course was originally planned to reopen in October.
New course additions were designed by architect Ward Northrup and feature continuous concrete golf cart paths to allow golfers to step off the cart onto the tee. Short, wooden bridges were added for golfers to ride over retention ponds.
"I think its (cart path) is going to be a much-lauded feature," Nagel said.
"It will be a welcoming public facility. Our intention is that it will be a true municipal facility," Birsky said. The goals were public affordability and low operating costs, she and Nagel agreed.