the latest on Dormie Club

[jim_lewis]

http://www.thepilot.com/news/2011/mar/01/dormie-club-opens-outside-play/

[JC Jones]

Is this place public or private?  I deserve to know.

[Greg Chambers]

Early in the article they state that it's a walking golf course.  Then later they give us a rate including cart.  Is this a walking or riding course?  

[Ron Csigo]

Is this place public or private?  I deserve to know.

Please shut up!

[JC Jones]

Is this place public or private?  I deserve to know.

Please shut up!

Don't get mad at me because your wife won't let you go on any more golf trips.  Enjoy Disneyworld again!

[jeffwarne]

"Old school features such as wind tunnels and driveable par 4's"
Can't speak for wind tunnels, but isn't the driveable par 4 more of a modern design concept?
A "drive and pitch " hole would be more of an old school concept, and modern equipment has turned many of these into the driveable par 4 category

What's a wind tunnel?

[Bill_McBride]

Is this place public or private?  I deserve to know.

Please shut up!

Don't get mad at me because your wife won't let you go on any more golf trips.  Enjoy Disneyworld again!

Ron bailed on the Bandon KP but I think he bounced back with a round in London's heathland.  Life is good.

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

So what is the update on the Dormie club?

[Howard Riefs]

Looks like the course will be open for outside play through the end of 2012. Definite must for a round when headed to Pinehurst.

http://www.golfcoursearchitecture.net/Article/Outside-play-at-Dormie-thru-2012/2099/Default.aspx

[Jeff Dawson]

Interesting news...... They have contracted Lester George to do work at Dormie. They are also redoing the tenth hole with a local contractor without the assistance of Coore Crenshaw.

[JC Jones]

Why does the C&C designed 10th hole need re-doing?  I understand there is a marsh running through it.  Is there a drainage/engineering problem?

[Rory Connaughton]

JC I have the same question.  I played there in October and recall 10 as a decent hole.

[Jaeger Kovich]

Wasnt the biggest fan of the Principals Nose bunker, felt a little out of place, but the rest of the hole worked pretty well I thought. Par-5 around the natural wetland... I'm guessing the par-3 course is off the books for now?

[Ed Oden]

Why does the C&C designed 10th hole need re-doing?  I understand there is a marsh running through it.  Is there a drainage/engineering problem?

While I don't know for sure, I suspect the work on #10 is nothing more than reinstating the original C&C design as described by Craig Disher here...

http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,46172.msg1041737.html#msg1041737

If so, then it is likely a good thing, even if the work is not actually being done by C&C.  When I saw it in late October, the wetlands that the DNR had required the club to reestablish before they changed their mind had already been cut back down.  My guess is that the work contemplated now is mostly just sodding to return this area to fairway as C&C envisioned.  In my view, that fairway area must be reclaimed in order to provide an alternative route for those unable to carry the cross hazard with their second shots.

[JC Jones]

Ed,

Thanks for the info and the link to the other thread.

I also appreciate you looking out for the little man and advocating for an alternative route.  Those of us that have seen your game know there isn't a hazard out there you can't carry.

[Greg Holland]

As to 10, I have a vague recollection that there was a plan for an alternate fairway, but it wasn't allowed due to wetlands issues.  Are they going to add it now?

[Ed Oden]

For what it's worth, here is what #10 looked like in late October...



You can see the area on the right which had already been cut down.  I believe the club is merely reclaiming that area as fairway, which I understand was the original intent.  Without that area as fairway, the route around the wetlands is too narrow to be a practical option.

[jonathan_becker]

Wow.  Thanks, Ed.  Here's a shot from 2 weeks ago.

[Craig Disher]

In Ed's photo the cut area in the depression on the right is the area (originally fairway) that the DNR designated as wetlands and forced the club to "restore" it. (it's debatable whether this area was ever wetlands). I believe all of it - half the width of the fairway - will be filled in and re-sodded. As of now the fairway area on the right is so narrow it's only useful as a walking path. Jonathan's photo shows that the scrub on the left - the original wetland hazard - was cut back since Ed visited.

The principal's nose will affect everyone except for those who've played a long and perfect drive. From the back tee the hole is 650 yards; the principal's nose is 160 yards from the green and its placement seems to have been well-tested. It's much less of a problem from where Ed's photo was taken than from the left where a downhill lie can come into play. For the shorties among us I'm looking forward to the return of the old fairway. A par-6 becomes an interesting par 5.

[Bill_McBride]

In Ed's photo the cut area on the right is the area that the DNR designated as wetlands and forced the club to dig up the fairway (it's debatable whether this area was ever wetlands). I believe all of it - half the width of the fairway - will be filled in and re-sodded. As of now the fairway area on the right is so narrow it's only useful as a walking path. Jonathan's photo shows that the scrub on the left - the original wetland hazard - was cut back since Ed visited.

The principal's nose will affect everyone except for those who've played a long and perfect drive. From the back tee the hole is 650 yards; the principal's nose is 160 yards from the green and its placement seems to have been well-tested. It's much less of a problem from where Ed's photo was taken than from the left where a downhill lie can come into play. For the shorties among us I'm looking forward to the return of the old fairway. A par-6 becomes an interesting par 5.

Craig, if I recall correctly, #10 actually played as a par 7 that day.  And I bogied it.

[Jeff Dawson]

I thought the interesting part was not that they are finally fixing the tenth hole but that they are not using C&C to do the work and more importantly they have contracted with Lester George to do work on the property instead of C&C

[Lester George]

Gentlemen,

Just to set the record straight and avoid any confusion I have been engaged by the Owners of Dormie Club to design a "World Class Practice Facility" on 70 acres already set aside for that purpose. 

I will not, nor have I been asked to consult on the existing golf course.  Out of respect for my friend Bill Coore (who knows of my involvement), and the Owners, I will focus my complete attention to the 70 acres I was hired to design.  I can not speak to the 10th hole but I suspect Craig Disher has the facts straight because he is a member.   

I hope this will clear up any speculation inuendo or misinformation.

Lester

[JC Jones]

Thanks, Lester.

How are things progressing at Contentment?

[Lester George]

JC,

Not much to report on Contentment.  We have recieved the commments back from the agencies and they were pretty good.  Our follow-up meeting is being scheduled and we should have our permits soon.Lester

[Scott Weersing]

Early in the article they state that it's a walking golf course.  Then later they give us a rate including cart.  Is this a walking or riding course?  

This article is more of a press release than a writer's opinion of the course. I think it was written to encourage golfers who like to ride to come play the course. I doubt they can get enough members by the end of the year to not have public play.

While it is a C and C design, I am not sure how it will rate if you compare it against their other courses. Is it as good as Bandon Trails? Or is it more like Sugarloaf Mountain in Florida. Here are their designs: http://www.coorecrenshaw.com/portfolio.html