[Mark Greer]

Jim Justice will restore the Greenbrier Course back to the original Raynor design.  In 1977 or so, The Greenbrier hired Nicklaus to re-design a classic Raynor layout to prepare it for the Ryder Cup.  The routing was basically the same as the original with the exception of reversing 10, 11, and 12.  But the template holes were basically ruined in my opinion.  It would be wonderful if Lester George, who I'm sure has already been summoned to repair the damage to The Old White Course, would also be consulted on restoring another great course on the property-the Greenbrier Course.  But given that Justice has hired the Honorary Starters to build a new course, I suspect he'll hire Nicklaus to restore his restoration.  And that would be a missed opportunity. 

[Bill_McBride]

I haven't been there but have heard nothing but raves about Lester's work on the Old White. 

[Wade Whitehead]

Mark:

The Greenbrier course, which sits on a higher piece of property than the Old White (or Meadows  (or Snead)) wasn't hit nearly as hard by the flood.  The first and eighteenth holes were affected, but I'm not sure the holes across the highway were ever under water.

Amazingly, the hotel reopened this week.  I have no idea when the golf courses will be playable, but I won't be surprised if they don't open again until next season.  People across the area are absolutely devastated; as of last week, they still hadn't located everyone who went missing.

WW

[Howard Riefs]

People across the area are absolutely devastated; as of last week, they still hadn't located everyone who went missing.

WW

This article by SI's Michael Bamberger helps paint the picture...


http://www.golf.com/golf-plus/greenbrier-flood-tale-terror-loss-and-hanging

[Mark Greer]

Mark:

The Greenbrier course, which sits on a higher piece of property than the Old White (or Meadows  (or Snead)) wasn't hit nearly as hard by the flood.  The first and eighteenth holes were affected, but I'm not sure the holes across the highway were ever under water.

Amazingly, the hotel reopened this week.  I have no idea when the golf courses will be playable, but I won't be surprised if they don't open again until next season.  People across the area are absolutely devastated; as of last week, they still hadn't located everyone who went missing.

WW

Wade, how did 10, 11, and 12 fare?  They are adjacent to Howard's Creek.  I think 13 green and 14 tee are pretty close too.

[Wade Whitehead]

Mark:

Good question.  I understand from someone who's seen the site that the holes across the highway really weren't hit hard at all.

Could be just relative talk, though, since parts of the other golf courses were under a river.

WW

[Wade Whitehead]

[Anthony_Nysse]

I understand that Keith Foster is doing the renovation work.

[Jaeger Kovich]

I understand that Keith Foster is doing the renovation work.

Correct, and McDonald/Sons is doing the construction.

[Howard Riefs]

Mickelson named a 'Tour Ambassador' for the Greenbrier and design advisor for the Greenbrier Course, which is being renovated after suffering damage from the flood in June.




http://www.greenbrier.com/HomePage-Sub-Pages/About-The-Greenbrier/Press-Room/2016/Press-Release-Ryder-Cup-Champion-Phil-Mickelson-Jo


http://www.golfchannel.com/news/golf-central-blog/mickelson-named-greenbriers-tour-ambassador/?cid=twitter-gc-a-mickelson-named-greenbriers-tour-ambassador-101016

[Tom_Doak]

Mickelson named a 'Tour Ambassador' for the Greenbrier and design advisor for the Greenbrier Course, which is being renovated after suffering damage from the flood in June.




http://www.greenbrier.com/HomePage-Sub-Pages/About-The-Greenbrier/Press-Room/2016/Press-Release-Ryder-Cup-Champion-Phil-Mickelson-Jo


http://www.golfchannel.com/news/golf-central-blog/mickelson-named-greenbriers-tour-ambassador/?cid=twitter-gc-a-mickelson-named-greenbriers-tour-ambassador-101016

Phil is signing on with a casino resort?

[JESII]

Hubris...

[Forrest Richardson]

I would not hold your breath for Lester to do any more work at The Greenbrier, at least not under the current ownership. Lester did great work there, but there was no reciprocal goodwill when it came to obligations by the ownership to Lester. These are the stories of golf architecture that rarely get told. They are usually swept under the rug and people are left fending for their own account of what took place. I will not say more — truthfully, I do not know too much more — other than to remind us all that designing golf courses is as much business as art. Fortunately the two mix well, especially when honesty and ethics are embraced by both parties.

[Jeff_Brauer]

Sometimes, contractors suffer even a bigger shortage in....ah.....good will....as well. 

[Anthony_Nysse]

Pic of Foster's #18 restored.

[James Brown]

Pic of Foster's #18 restored.

Wow, not sure I have seen another green with that kind of interior contour.

[William_G]

can be a difficult 2 putt no doubt

[Dave McCollum]

Called a "thumbprint" green?

[Matt Frey, PGA]

This is a little disconcerting:

"Eight of the original holes will be modified, a news release said, while 10 new holes, “set in a magnificent old-growth forest that is sliced by streams and features some elevation changes of more than 100 feet” will be constructed."

Full article here: http://www.golfdigest.com/story/phil-mickelson-begins-work-on-renovating-restoring-flood-damaged-greenbrier-course?mbid=social_twitter

Original press release here: http://www.greenbrier.com/HomePage-Sub-Pages/About-The-Greenbrier/Press-Room/2016/Press-Release-Phil-Mickelson-Design-Begins-Work-at

[Mike Sweeney]

This is a little disconcerting:

Was confused about The Greenbrier vs Old White...

[Matthew Essig]

This is a little disconcerting:

"Eight of the original holes will be modified, a news release said, while 10 new holes, “set in a magnificent old-growth forest that is sliced by streams and features some elevation changes of more than 100 feet” will be constructed."

Very disconcerting; however...

“I’ve always been a big fan of Seth Raynor’s work,” said Mickelson, who recently was named The Greenbrier Resort’s PGA TOUR Ambassador. “My goal is to stay true to his design concepts while updating the course to challenge and excite generations to come. By restoring the Greenbrier to its full glory, we’ll help the town and region recover from the devastating flood damage.”


*Crosses fingers*

[Don Mahaffey]

The Greenbrier course was redesigned by Jake Nicklaus in late 70s.
Old White is being "restored" by Keith Foster and while I'm no Rayner expert like so many here claim to be, Foster's work looked pretty pure to me.
The Greenbrier course is being rerouted to free up land for development.

[Carl Nichols]

I played the Greenbrier course a couple of years ago and don't recall anything that looked Raynor-esque, or that worthy of keeping.


Old White (post-Lester's work), on the other hand, was terrific.  Is the plan for Keith Foster to basically fix the flood damage, or something more?

[John_Cullum]

.... but there was no reciprocal goodwill when it came to obligations by the ownership to Lester. These are the stories of golf architecture that rarely get told. They are usually swept under the rug and people are left fending for their own account of what took place.

I'm curious. Other than timely paying of the architect's bill, what obligation does the owner have,or should have?

[Howard Riefs]

Washingtonian magazine article on how the flood transformed the Greenbrier and the local community:


https://www.washingtonian.com/2017/05/07/billionaire-flood-tragedy-transformed-greenbrier-resort-blue-collar-town-depended/

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