My apologies if this has been posted already. Only thing that concerns me is the impression the article gives that the primary reason to restore the course is to regain a magazine ranking.
"Broadmoor set for a restoration
By Phil Richards
phil.richards@indystar.com
July 31, 2003
Tom Doak's assignment at Broadmoor Country Club is to restore the venerable Donald Ross-designed golf course to its old glory. The hope is that he also will restore its ratings.
Broadmoor ranked No. 79 when GolfWeek magazine in 1997 first published its listing of America's top 100 Classic Courses, those built prior to 1960. The Westside club was No. 89 a year later, and out of the rankings in 1999.
"We think there's no question we'll make it back on that list," said Ted Sturges, a member of Broadmoor's greens committee, and an early advocate of bringing in Doak, a golf course architect with a reputation for artful restorations. "I think it might even make Golf Digest's top 100 list."
Broadmoor is one year into a three-year program. A state-of-the-art, triple-row irrigation system has been installed and some trees have been removed. What remains is restoration of the fairways and greens to Ross' 1922 specifications, some bunker work and further tree removal.
Through the years, Broadmoor's mowing patterns changed and playing areas changed with them. Fairways became narrower and trees grew, lots of them, sometimes around fairway bunkers. Some of Ross' best hole locations were lost as corners and lobes of greens went from bent grass to bluegrass.
"Really, the membership has done a great job with the course," said Broadmoor superintendent Sam MacKenzie. "This is the first time they've ever brought in an architect and it isn't to change the course; it's to return it to what it was."
Doak was in Tasmania, where he is building a golf course, and couldn't be reached for comment."