Jeff Mingay's American Invasion

[Jeff_Mingay]

Thanks Pat. You make a couple really good points.

Overlake is notoriously wet, particularly throughout the low-lying back nine. A letter from Mr. Macan to the club, dated from the early 1950s before the course was constructed, strongly suggests that drainage is going to be the biggest issue for the course. It still is. But, as Pat points out, Scott and his staff have made remarkable strides in this area over the past five years, improving drainage and instigating a heavy and frequent top-dress program. In fact, during the summer, I'd like to see another course in the Pacific Northwest that plays as firm as Overlake (particularly the greens).

Green surface expansion and relative adjustment to fairway patterns is a huge component of the golf course improvement plan, too. All of the greens have been expanded/restored; and, as Pat points out, some adjustment to fairways patterns has been made. There's more to come, after we sort out some of the bunker and tree issues. Everywhere I consult there's a group of people who argue that expanding/restoring the green surfaces is going to make the course "easier". This couldn't be further from the truth. Expanding the greens provides opportunity to cut holes closer to greenside hazards - including bunkers and slopes - and empashizes the importance of playing strategic angles. I wouldn't say it makes a course "easier" or "harder", just more interesting... and often more uniquely attractive.  

Here's another tee shot view of the 12th green, taken a few weeks ago (with a flagstick in the green), to compare with the before shot Scott's posted above. If I'm not mistaken, the hole "officially" re-opens for play today.  

[Bill_McBride]

Overlake is notoriously wet, particularly throughout the low-lying back nine. A letter from Mr. Macan to the club, dated from the early 1950s before the course was constructed, strongly suggests that drainage is going to be the biggest issue for the course. It still is. But, as Pat points out, Scott and his staff have made remarkable strides in this area over the past five years, improving drainage and instigating a heavy and frequent top-dress program. In fact, during the summer, I'd like to see another course in the Pacific Northwest that plays as firm as Overlake (particularly the greens).

Interestingly, Columbia-Edgewater in Portland, a 1925 Macan gem, has a very extensive top dressing program and the club prides itself on winter playability.

It's all relative though.  Many of the members play their winter golf in Palm Springs and Arizona. 

[Jeff_Mingay]

It's all relative though.  Many of the members play their winter golf in Palm Springs and Arizona.  

Sounds like Overlake, Bill

[Peter_Herreid]

This really is quite exciting.  As a Bellevue resident the past 17 years, I can say that the bulk of the time that Overlake G & CC comes up in general conversation is regarding the social status of so many of its members, given its location in Medina!  Some of the parties, soirees, fundraisers, etc held there are legendary.  It would be very cool if that kind of talk could include the same type of "awe" about the course itself.

Photos look great so far--any word on the time frames for the rest of the potential work?

[Richard Choi]

For those of you not aware, Overlake CC is about a stone's throw away from Bill Gate's mansion/compound/small country.

[Pat Howard]

The hole officially opened today, and with decent membership turnout, all things considered. We got rained on pretty heavy all day. But a good time was had by everyone who was there!

Between holding the umbrella and measuring the member's K.P. shots, I got to take a closer look at the new hole. A couple things really popped out.

First, how much subtle contour there is on the new grass area right of the green. It's easy to pass over it visually and focus on the cool new mounding back right of the green. But along with the new bunkering, this area is what I think really defines the new hole! It will be a lot of fun this summer, when it firms up, figuring out ways to putt/chip it close from this new area.

And secondly, how well the new bunkers came out. I hadn't realized how plain those old bunkers were until I saw the picture in Scott's first post. They really have some character now and they look great, the shaping is a huge improvement! Also, I think they'll do well with the foot traffic due to the way they're designed. The low, left edges on the greenside bunkers are perfect for entrance and the natural grass bridge between them will make an easy entrance/exit point to the green for our members using carts. The new fairway bunker is also smartly designed with the lower front entrance point.

[Jeff_Mingay]

Good news on the official re-opening of the hole, Pat... despite the rain. I was hoping to be there, but that didn't work out unfortunately.

I particularly appreciate your compliment on the short grass area right of the green. Needless to say, there was some initial opposition to this idea. Some people simply thought that taking out the bunker there would make the hole "easier". I strongly feel the opposite is true. Recovery play from the new short grass area, which is going to be a popular place for tee shots to end up, is going to be much more interesting, perhaps more challenge, and certainly more diverse. All good things.

I have some very interesting ideas for the course. But, as I've said earlier, the success of this project is attributable to a great team in place. This bodes well moving forward. I can't wait to get at the rest of the course (hopefully beginning this fall). I sincerely believe that Overlake will have one of the very best golf courses in the Pacific Northwest when we're done.

[Scott Stambaugh]

Neat story: Inglewood Golf Club in Seattle, just up the road from Overlake, was also designed by Vernon Macan (during the 1920s). Whereas there are only a few historic photos of the Overlake course (that don't really show much), Inglewood has a number of excellent historic images of its course hanging in the clubhouse, there. I studied the Inglewood photos (and others featuring original Macan bunkers) while putting together my plan for Overlake.

There's a historic photo of the tee shot at Inglewood's (old) 1st hole where you can see the coolest looking bunker off the tee, sitting at a 90-angle to the fairway and featuring a nose similar to the one we've built in this bunker - which also sits at a 90-degree angle to the fairway - at Overlake's 12th hole. That "dent", where the nose dips down at left, and the turf ends up near the same level of the sand is directly inspired by that old Macan fairway bunker at Inglewood (NLE).

Inglewood does have some fantastic historic photos hanging in the clubhouse.  Here is a picture of the Inglewood bunker Jeff references that was the inspiration for the 'short' bunker at Overlake #12-

[Cory Brown]

It was a pleasure to work with Jeff Mingay and George Waters on this project.  Jeff's knowledge of classic architecture is truly impressive.  Other people who deserve credit for the completion of this project are George Travis who did the shaping on the tee and all of the drainage work, and Chris Thornton our other Assistant Golf Course Superintendent who was on site every day and his atttention to detail helped to make the hole as good as it is.

[Jeff_Mingay]

It was a pleasure to work with Jeff Mingay and George Waters on this project.  Jeff's knowledge of classic architecture is truly impressive.  Other people who deserve credit for the completion of this project are George Travis who did the shaping on the tee and all of the drainage work, and Chris Thornton our other Assistant Golf Course Superintendent who was on site every day and his atttention to detail helped to make the hole as good as it is.

Cory,

Good call, mentioning George Travis and C.T. Those guys are key members of the "team" I've mentioned in a previous post.

And, Cory's own talents, passion and knowlege - as 1st assistant at Overlake - really compliment Scott Stambaugh as well.

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