Has anyone talked to people who have played the course since Thursday?
The IJ did a story, I'm not going to call it a review because he mentions nothing about the holes or course. A few interesting tidbits.
http://www.marinij.com//ci_7582572?IADID=Search-www.marinij.com-www.marinij.comWith only a few minor touches left to finish, the management team at Peacock Gap Country Club and Spa showed off its spit-shined new product Wednesday, just in time for Thursday's public grand opening.
The semi-private 18-hole golf course, designed by William F. Bell in 1959, has undergone a major transformation after closing in April while Phoenix-based golf architect Forrest Richardson worked his magic on the 6,261-yard course nestled in a San Rafael meadow on the shores of San Pablo Bay.
Purchased in 2005 for nearly $10 million, Golf Solutions president George Lee has offered a new premier membership to regular and new members for a one-time $30,000 initiation fee and is hoping the renovation - rebuilding all new tee areas, building new greens, renovating bunkers and the installation of a state-of-the-art irrigation and drainage systems - will help entice individuals to join.
"We're pretty much booked solid through Sunday," Peacock Gap Director of Golf Ed Peplinski said Wednesday.
Earlier this month, several dozen members walked out of an open meeting in the clubhouse when the new membership rates were revealed.
Golf Solutions intends to include several family amenities, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, spa and fitness
The owners are awaiting approval by the city of San Rafael and have another meeting scheduled for Dec. 4. Peplinski said he is hosting another open house Dec. 8 for interested individuals. He hopes to have a grand opening in the spring and bring in PGA Tour pros Billy Casper, Johnny Miller and Raymond Floyd, who holds the course record with a 63.
On Wednesday, retired salesman Jeff Zeman of Mill Valley was working on his putting and said he can't wait to get a round in at Peacock.
"I'm absolutely thrilled at what I see out here," said Zeman, a regular at Peacock for the last 15 years. "I'll probably be out here a couple of times a week. And the green fees don't bother me at all."
Zeman, a 13.5 handicap, said during the time Peacock Gap was closed he shifted his golf plans to San Geronimo and came away with a renewed interest in San Geronimo, another Marin public course that's walkable.
Green fees at Peacock have nearly doubled since the renovation. A new practice area and driving range has been operational for most of the renovation time.
"I think the owners have taken a different approach to the renovation and I think we've been successful in returning it to the classic that it once was," said Richardson, a 48-year-old architect who has more than a dozen new course designs and renovations under his belt.
"Our work here was to take the original design of Billy Bell and to bring it back to the grandeur and excitement that once graced the course in its heyday."
Richardson, who established Richardson & Associates in 1988, said he first toured Peacock Gap by foot about four years ago during the winter. He was due at the Oakland Airport for a flight later in the day and showed up with his slacks wet up to his shins and his shoes caked in mud.
"That was the old Peacock," Richardson said.
Richardson said the maintenance staff can adjust and monitor the irrigation system from the keypad of a walkie-talkie. The system can also monitor dampness and determine when irrigation is needed or not. It can also utilize weather data.
Five holes are brand new: the 385-yard, par-4 fifth; the 176-yard, par-3 sixth; the short-ish (297 yards) par-4 seventh; and the 485-yard, par-5 eighth. The old par-5 ninth hole has also been changed to a 352-yard par 4. The only hole changed on the back is the 329-yard, par-4 17th.
The Northern California Golf Association recently re-rated Peacock Gap. The rating and slope for the black tees is 70.0/122 for men and 73.4/130 for women. Before the reconstruction, the slope for the black tees was 70.2/123 for men and 76.0/135 for women.
The next phase of renovation is set for the 33,000-square foot clubhouse and the building of a new spa and fitness area. The entire plan is projected to be finished some time in early 2009.