New Courses in NC?

[Greg Holland]

Any news on projects or potential new projects in NC, the Sand Hills in particular?

I saw on the Crenshaw site the following:  "Other courses in contract discussions for the company are projects in Pinehurst, the Bahamas and in southern Ireland."

[Rob_Waldron]

Forest Creek opened their 2nd Tom Fazio course The North Course early this past year. The North is a bit sterner than the original South Course.

John Fought did a wonderful job with the renovation of Pine Needles which re-opened during the past year.

Pinehurst put the new #9 Course on the back burner for the time being. I think Nicklaus was designing the course.

[Brian_Gracely]

When I spoke with Ben Crensahw a few weeks ago, he said the land had not yet been acquired for any project in the NC Sandhills. He then gave us a quick putting lesson and we shared a drink (oops...I just had a Tom Paul moment)

Richard Mandell has completed the restoration work at Raleigh CC.    

Kris Spense is in the process of completely re-designing Bentwinds CC, right here in the lovely town of Holly Springs.  

[Greg Holland]

Sedgefield CC here in Greensboro is voting soon on a restoration by Kris Spence.

[Jason Tetterton]

Fords Colony development / golf near Rocky Mount is coming.  I've heard about it and seen an advertisement in the N&O.  I don't have any specifics.  It's from the same group as Ford's Colony in Williamsburg.

[Adam_Messix]

There are two new projects going on that are nearing completion, both by Tom Fazio.  Bright's Creek is located between Hendersonville and Spartanburg, SC that may be partially open in the Fall. The other project is Moutaintop Golf & Lake Club in Cashiers that will open in May, 2006.  I have toured the Mountaintop construction site and it is going to be spectacular.

[Cory Lewis]

I interviewed for a job at Bright's Creek about a month ago, if they have the first 18 open next spring I'll be surprised, the plan is to build three courses, all Fazio, first one will probably open 18 holes in the fall of 2006.

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Wilmington, N.C. – Golf architect and restoration specialist Kris Spence has been selected by the membership of Cape Fear Country Club to restore the club’s Donald Ross-designed golf course.


Kris Spencewill restore the Donald Ross-designed Cape Fear Country Club in Wilmington, N.C.
The history of Cape Fear dates back to 1896, making it one of the state’s oldest country clubs. In 1922, Ross redesigned the golf course, and tweaked it again in 1946, two years before his death. It is Spence’s intention to reclaim the classic Ross design that has been lost over the years.

Spence is one of the top restorers of Donald Ross courses, having rejuvenated Ross layouts in North Carolina such as: Grove Park Inn in Asheville, Mimosa Hills in Morganton, Greensboro Country Club and Roaring Gap Club in Roaring Gap. He’s also working a current project at Carolina Golf & Country Club in Charlotte.

Spence is excited about Cape Fear, especially since he’ll be using the original detailed plans drawn up by Ross, which are not always available. In addition to the design work, Spence’s company, Spence Golf Inc., will handle the construction portion of the project.

“We consider it a special honor to be put in charge of such sacred golfing ground,” says Spence. “Cape Fear Country Club sits on a great piece of land with a variety of topographic characteristics that Mr. Ross recognized would be ideal for golf. We’re going to restore the look, feel, playability and strategy intended by Mr. Ross while updating the course for modern play.”

The project begins Nov. 1 and is expected to be completed by mid July 2006. The $2.7 million project includes the revamping of greens, tee boxes, bunkers, cart paths and the irrigation system. Spence also will make drainage improvements.

The project will undo many changes put in place during a 1986 renovation project that eliminated most of the Ross traits.

“We are going to reinstate it as a Ross course and that has an extra special meaning to me,” Spence says. “In essence, we’re bringing back a course that disappeared over time.”

from golfcoursenews.com

[Daryl "Turboe" Boe]

You also have the recently opened Jack Nicklaus course at The Palisades development south of Charlotte. (I believe just called Palisades GC).  It is down on Lake Wylie basicly on the NC/SC border.

[Michael Whitaker]

The Cliffs at Walnut Cove near Asheville opened in April (designed by Nicklaus & Co). Here is a link to the website: http://www.cliffscommunities.com/golf/cliffs/page/49/section/38

[Daryl "Turboe" Boe]

The Cliffs at Walnut Cove near Asheville opened in April (designed by Nicklaus & Co). Here is a link to the website: http://www.cliffscommunities.com/golf/cliffs/page/49/section/38

Forgot about that Mike since I was thinking of that as being last year.

[Tommy Williamsen]

I played Walnut Grove last week when I was in South Carolina. I enjoyed it a great deal.  It was routed very well for being on suchhilly ground.  The conditoion was impeccable.  Everything was sodded.  It is a fun driving course as Nicklaus gives you options off the tee.  There is some controversy about the grteens complexes.  I liked them.  The greens were relatively small and bunkered well.  All in all it was one of Nicklaus' better efforts.

[Daryl "Turboe" Boe]

In addition to the aformentioned Forest Creek and Pine Needles renovation in Pinehurst, you also had the renovation at Pinehurst No.6.

Also there was a pretty major renovation at Lexington GC between Charlotte and Greensboro, which is an affordable muni.   They did a decent job of maximizing a very cramped peice of property on a controlled small buget.

[Daryl "Turboe" Boe]

I played Walnut Grove last week when I was in South Carolina. I enjoyed it a great deal.

Tommy did you sneak down to Musgrove without telling me???  I am probably playing in the one day Member Guest on Wed you arent coming back down are you?   How was the conditioning by the way?  I bet it is firm and fast with the fact that we havent had any rain in about 3 weeks.

[Tommy Williamsen]

Musgrove was in the best shape I have seen it all year. The fairways are fast and firm the greens are speedy but softer than normal.  If Will is not the best super in the country he is close to the best.

[Daryl "Turboe" Boe]

If Will is not the best super in the country he is close to the
best.

No arguement here.  Especially if we really knew what kind of budget he probably works with.

I believe he goes down and helps out on the groundscrew at The Masters each year.  I have heard that anyway.

[Lawrence Largent]

Any guys playing in the Musgrove Invitational in Nov. If so maybe we can get together.

Lawrence

[Daryl "Turboe" Boe]

Any guys playing in the Musgrove Invitational in Nov. If so maybe we can get together.

Lawrence

I hadnt planned on it, I assume you are.   Where are you from Lawrence?   Who are you playing with?

I just dont know that far in advance if I am even going to be around.  What are the exact dates like 11-12 of Nov?

[Steve_ Shaffer]

from golftransactions.com


The Pines in Elizabeth City Nears Completion of Major Renovation


Elizabeth City, NC -September 21, 2005 - The Pines in Elizabeth City, formerly Pine Lakes Country Club, is nearing the completion of an extensive renovation. Currently in the grow-in phase, the course is anticipated to open in late December.

The renovated course was designed by award-winning golf course architect Tom Clark of Ault, Clark and Associates. Having worked throughout the world on over 350 courses, his more acclaimed courses in the area include The Woods Course at Kingsmill Resort, Cypress Landing in New Bern, The Dominion Club in Richmond and the recent renovations of Bide-A-Wee in Portsmouth, Sleepy Hole in Suffolk, and Cedar Point in Suffolk.

The Pines renovation includes a complete makeover of all 18 holes. All greens have been rebuilt to USGA specifications and boast A1/A4 bent grass, while the tees and fairways feature a new hybrid of Bermuda grass, which is more heat resistant. All sand bunkers are new and have been lined to protect from erosion and discoloration. The practice facilities have also been completely renovated and feature target greens, fairways, chipping areas and a putting green. Other enhancements to the course include significant drainage improvements, automated irrigations systems, five additional ponds and a complete network of concrete paths and curbs.

[John Shimp]

Revisiting this thread.

Has anyone been to the new Fazio courses in the NC mountains?

Brights Creek is one that has had a course opened for several months now.  It is near Hendersonville and was done by the folks that developed Forest Creek in Pinehurst. There will be at least one more Fazio course.

Mountaintop in Cashiers is the other one.  Very near Wade Hampton.  Another Discovery Land (kukio, estancia, etc) development where all courses are Fazio.

There are only a few NC mountain developments going on and Fazio seems to be doing most of the highend ones.  Some Nicklaus (Cliffs), a Palmer, and a Kite(?) at a Ginn development in Boone.

I wish a Coore, Hanse, Doak, etc would get one of these projects...

[Scott_Burroughs]

I wish a Coore, Hanse, Doak, etc would get one of these projects...

It's not C&C, but C&C's 'Boys' Axland and Proctor (Wild Horse)
have a course design about to open about 10 miles from the
western tip of NC in Blue Ridge, GA (thread from 5 days ago):

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forums2/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=24658


Also, C&C are under contract to do a course in the Pinehurst area:

"2007 projects under contract for Coore & Crenshaw include Palmetto Bluff in South Carolina and an unnamed project in Pinehurst, North Carolina"

http://www.bencrenshaw.com/MainNews.htm

[Greg Holland]

Some of you might have heard, The Cardinal here in Greensboro is closed for renovation/restoration.  Kris Spence is doing the work, and the owners indicated the integrity of the Pete Dye (Bill Coore) routing would remain -- just the tees, bunkers and greens are being redone and some drainage issues are being fixed.

Also, Spence will start a restoration of Sedgefield CC (D.Ross) this winter.  The drawings look great!

[mikes1160]

Chapel Ridge, a Fred Couples/Bob Moore effort, opened a couple months ago in Chapel Hill. And Fazio's Hasentree course is due to open next year just north of Raleigh...

[Doug Ralston]

We were exploring for public courses in Western NC just the other night. Noticed several had LOWERED their greens fees. Have noticed quite a bit of that trend around here [Cincy], as well as closing of a few 'low end' publics.

Yet there are high end course, private and public, still springing up. What do you think this potends?

[Kris Spence]

Greg,

My construction company Spence Golf Inc is handling the construction at the Cardinal, Pete Dye / Tim Liddy are providing the design.  They are redesigning all green complexes along with new fairway bunkering, the new course will  provide more variety on and around the greens as well as  stronger definition and strategy.  The project also includes new irrigation, additional tees on select holes, extensive drainage but does not significantly alter the original routing.

Sedgefield CC (Ross 26) and Forsyth CC (Ross 20) in Winston Salem get under way Nov 1st with major projects.  We are going to be very busy this fall, please feel free to stop by either project or the Cardinal.