Here is the update on 1757 Golf Club. Billy Casper Golf began managing the property for the new lessee (An affiliate of BCG) in May 2009. The prior developer went bankrupt and all existing improvements to the property were turned over to the Landlord Group which includes Lerner Corp. (Owners of Washington Nationals). At that time there were 11 holes completed as well as a 74 station lighted driving range with 54 turf stations and 20 grass stations. There was also a 17,500 sq ft clubhouse, a two story learning center with 6 hitting bays and a one story club fitting building with 2 hitting bays. Our lease requires the completion of the 18-hole course as well as the maintenance building and cart storage facility. We are also adding another 60 station grass range tee, a 5,000 sq ft putting green by the first tee and a 17,000 sq ft putting green behind the learning center.
We opened a 10-hole loop in May 2009 and went to work on building the remaining holes. David Heatwole the original architect was retained to complete the course. The original developer had planned 27 holes including 16 on the north side of Waxpool road and 11 on the south side. Since Lerner only controlled the land north of Waxpool we need to design all 18 holes on the land originally designated for 16 holes. The result is a par 70 golf course with a course rating of 71.8 and slope of 141. We reviewed numerous routing options with Heatwole and the best option was to finish with the par 3 18th hole. The hole plays back towards the clubhouse and patio adding pressure to an already difficult shot...can you say #17 at TPC Sawgrass?? There will certainly be a plenty of balls hit into the water. I played the new holes on Monday and actually birdied #18! The course opens to the public on Thursday May 6. You will experience a country club for a day at 1757 since the course and finishes were originally designed to be private. The course features bent grass from tee to green and you can definitely see the Nicklaus influence in Heatwole's design.