In Suffolk, VA, Sleepy Hole golf course (originally a 1972 +/- Russell Breeden design) is an Ault & Clark remodeling finished in 2004. They totally re-built the greens and did some bunker re-work and enhancement(s), both of which it badly needed. The course's ownership has bounced around between the City of Portsmouth and the City of Suffolk (very political and very boring 25+ year old story). Now, I think there is a lease arrangement between a developer and the City of Suffolk.
In the Confidential Guide, Tom gave it a 4 which is probably about right. Had he played the course, which I do not think he did, I would be interested in his opinion of the 14th hole which is buried in the middle of the routing.
I live 2 minutes from the course, play there a lot and have a large number of mixed feelings about it. 10 minutes from my house is Riverfront Golf Course. It would be more than slighty unfair to compare the two courses, as Riverfront as I have stated on the web site will eventually be carefully studied by those researching Tom's work some time in the future. Riverfront is in a whole different league.
Did Ault-Clark or which of their associates were assigned the project make Sleepy Hole golf course a better course than it was? The answer to that is basically yes. Some fairway bunker removal / re-location has made several holes easier for the higher handicapper. Total reworking several green complexes has made the course play with a greater variety.
The weakness of the Ault-Clark work is the par 3, 12th hole situated as you drive in the front gate. I guess they were compelled to create some eye candy and did so by a pond, retaining wall looking a bit too too Myrtle Beachish. There was room and opportunity to create a long par 3 that would have contrasted the other par 3's which tend to be of similar distance on each of the 9's. On the back nine, they switched a long par 4 with what was originally a short par 5 for some reason strange to me.
The 18th hole at Sleepy Hole is the signature hole for course and one of the signature holes in the Tidewater area. It is a long par 4, with 2 forced carries that border the Nansemond River. Ault-Clark reworked the landing area, flattening it, making it fairer in my opinion, but they reworked the green in an opposite way to make it play much harder. A green side bunker is the bail out for the approach shot from 180-200 yards. The green now falls away toward the water and is a hard to hold even with a wedge.
The ultimate remodeling of this course, imho, would have been to solve the routing problem in the middle of the property which results in forced lay-up carry tee shot and 90 degree dogleg par 4 6th hole and a short not real interesting par 3 7th hole. That would have probably required the re-routing of half the course, that was perhaps outside the boundaries of the possible. The 5th and 17th holes need help also. The course needs more tree removal too.
I played there last Saturday and paid $35.00 (discount card aided) with a cart. It is an exceedingly easy course to walk and aside from some bunker maintenance in very good shape bordering on the fast and firm.