Olympic Hills Golf Club, Eden Prairie, MN - Ron Prichard Reconstruction

[PCCraig]

I'm not sure this has been posted before here on GCA, but I thought this was interesting news. Ron Prichard who locally renovated Minikahda and completed a master plan for Minneapolis GC, is completely rebuilding Olympic Hills Golf Club in Eden Prairie, MN. I believe work started last fall and will continue through 2014 with the course reopening in 2015.

This was all I could find about the renovation on the web, from a TurfNet job posting:
The course is located in the Eden Prairie MN, just southwest of Minneapolis. The course was originally designed by Charlie Maddox. Currently the course is undergoing a multi-million dollar renovation lead by architect Ron Prichard. The scope of the renovation includes construction of 20 new USGA greens, all new teeing surfaces, regrassing fairways and rough, installation of a herringbone irrigation system using HDPE pipe and installation of drainage system. The goal of the renovation is to have a classically designed golf course that is capable of hosting national events.

[Matthew Sander]

Pat,

Had you seen it before the rebuild? If so, what were your thoughts? What was the prevailing perception of the old version?

[PCCraig]

Matt,

I have not played the course before.

There is a pretty extensive tour of the "old" course on the website:

http://www.olympichills.com/Golf/Course-Layout.aspx

From what I know, it was supposed to be a decently tough golf course and there are a bunch of good golfers (quite a few ex-NHL'ers). The area the course is in used to be in the country, but it is now in a very mature suburb.

It's owned by an apparently deep pocketed family with a bunch of business interests in the Twin Cities, including a number of car dealerships.

I had heard of the pending renovation last summer, but thought that it might be worth noting as the course will likely be effectively a "new" course designed by Ron Prichard, who does interesting work.

[Jason Topp]

The current version is pretty terrible.  It is divided by an east-west road.  The land to the south is quite good but (I believe) a chunk of the original land was converted to housing. 

The land to the north of the road is largely flat and very marshy. A couple of the holes are very strange.  The current routing is goofy in that you cross the road twice. 

You can do an aerial tour of the current course here:  http://course.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/course/course/olympichillsgc/aerial.htm#


I am sure the course will be greatly improved.  If Prichard can create something truly amazing, I would be very impressed with his skills.

[Jeff Shelman]

My feelings on the place are slightly softer than Jason's, but not much.

It is a course that is long on tough and short on fun.

It isn't horrible, but it's not on my must-play list either.

[Morgan Clawson]

 This is an example of a course that could have 9 very good holes. As Jason says, the land north of the road is very poor. It's flat marshy land, and many of the holes are narrow.  I'm sure those holes could be improved, but there's not much to work with there.  The land south of the road has some nice rolling hills.

"Capable of hosting national events" is wishful thinking.

[John Crowley]

Ron does excellent work. This will be a real challenge. Making a silk purse on that piece of land is a tall order.

[Tom Fagerli]

Is my memory fading or did Olympic Hills originally open as a men's only club? That is what pops into my mind, anyway. I know whatever club I am thinking of changed membership policy many years back. Anyone remember?

[Dan Kelly]

Is my memory fading or did Olympic Hills originally open as a men's only club? That is what pops into my mind, anyway. I know whatever club I am thinking of changed membership policy many years back. Anyone remember?

Your memory might be fading, but it is accurate in this case.

Olympic Hills was formed in the late 1960s as a golf club for men only. My father, who was not much of a golfer (mostly outings with clients and an occasional vacation round with me), was entering his 50s and decided to spend more time away from the office. He was a charter member of Olympic Hills.

The course opened, I believe, in 1971. My father never got to play a round there. He was killed in a car accident in December 1970.

I have played Olympic Hills just once. I had no urge to return. Jeff Shelman is exactly right when he says it is long on tough and short on fun.

It is not now, apparently, short on funds. Several Olympic Hills members told me last summer that the owner, Rudy "Dan" Luther, Jr., is willing to spend a LOT of money on the course to make it ... the best around, I think they said. (The Donald Trump effect?) They told me that Ron Prichard is bringing in an enormous quantity of sand to ameliorate the lousy land the course is on.

I now have the urge to return, to see if Prichard's a wizard.

[Tom_Doak]

My friend and former associate Tom Mead is the project manager for the project.  He was brought on board to try to sort out the construction budget, after the original estimates were off the charts.

[Daryl David]

One thing OH has is a core group of golf focused members.  Lots of regular games with good players mixed with a good family atmosphere. If Ron uses Mr. Luther's money well and delivers a great course, the membership will finally get the track it deserves.

[Jason Topp]

One thing OH has is a core group of golf focused members.  Lots of regular games with good players mixed with a good family atmosphere. If Ron uses Mr. Luther's money well and delivers a great course, the membership will finally get the track it deserves.

Definitely true on that point.  They have more than their share of good players. 

[PCCraig]

Here is an article about the reconstruction, with photos. The new "look" is certainly visually striking.

http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/print-edition/2015/04/03/renovated-olympic-hills-likely-on-par-with-list.html?page=all

[BHoover]

It will be interesting to see Pritchard's work. Seems like he's committed to providing playable, firm conditions. But I'm not sure I'd go out of my way to play a course that first and foremost is described as one of the state's "toughest" courses.

[Tommy Williamsen]

But I'm not sure I'd go out of my way to play a course that first and foremost is described as one of the state's "toughest" courses.

Why would difficulty or "toughness" keep you from playing the course?

[BHoover]

But I'm not sure I'd go out of my way to play a course that first and foremost is described as one of the state's "toughest" courses.

Why would difficulty or "toughness" keep you from playing the course?

It's not that it would keep me from playing there, but it's not what would make me go out of my way to play there. I'd be more inclined to play a course that describes itself as "fun" or "interesting" more so than just "difficult". But I'd still play there.

[Jeff_Mingay]

That bold fill pad with the rugged bank at the new 12th hole is gorgeous. I'm thinking Ron maybe learned that at Minikahda 

[Patrick Hodgdon]

A few more photos from last October:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10154837600715624.1073741895.340355820623&type=3

[Dan Kelly]

Here is an article about the reconstruction, with photos. The new "look" is certainly visually striking.

http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/print-edition/2015/04/03/renovated-olympic-hills-likely-on-par-with-list.html?page=all

"The List" -- courses "ranked" by Slope -- has to be one of the most foolish rankings, ever.

[Rick Shefchik]

Yes -- Dellwood pops back into the top 5, after falling out of Golf Digest's list of best Minnesota courses back in, oh, 1978 or so.

The methods for comparing golf courses have come a long way in 40-plus years. I hope the Twin Cities Business Journal uses more accurate metrics when it analyzes corporations. 

[Dan Kelly]

Yes -- Dellwood pops back into the top 5, after falling out of Golf Digest's list of best Minnesota courses back in, oh, 1978 or so.

The methods for comparing golf courses have come a long way in 40-plus years. I hope the Twin Cities Business Journal uses more accurate metrics when it analyzes corporations. 

A matter of minuscule importance, but here it is:

That stuff is from the Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal.

Twin Cities Business (f/k/a Twin Cities Business Journal) is a different publication.

Think there's any brand confusion there?

But I just checked, and TCB offers an equally stupid listing:

"Golf Courses - Top 25
Ranked by slope rating | List information taken from the 2013 Business Information Guide"

In case you were wondering, Minikahda comes in at No. 25 -- two spots behind Burl Oaks.

LOL.

[PCCraig]

A few more photos from last October:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10154837600715624.1073741895.340355820623&type=3

I actually think the "new" course looks really interesting.

[Morgan Clawson]

The 3 holes pictured were 3 of the better, and most photogenic holes on the course before the restoration.  And all 3 are on the best piece of the land.  The key will be improving the holes that are adjacent to the wetlands.

[Jeff Shelman]

I'm playing here for the first time since the renovation on Thursday. I'm very interested in seeing what Ron did here.

I will certainly report back.

[Jeff Shelman]

I played here this afternoon for the first time in about 20 years.

I was reasonably impressed. I will admit that my expectations were low, but there was a bunch of cool stuff.

A few thoughts:
- The amount of tree removal is pretty staggering. It seems like 500 is a starting point.
- There are acres of fine fescue throughout the golf course. The number I heard was north of 30 acres. It is coming in nicely at this point -- whispy enough to find your ball, but a half-shot penalty or so.
- The greens definitely have a lot of undulation and defined areas in them, there is a good bit of dramatic internal contour. One of the guys I played with thought they were borderline over the top, but he is a regular on a classic Raynor with slope, but no significant internal contour
- The holes south of the clubhouse remain the best on the property, but the holes on the other side of the road are improved. The awkward dogleg par 5 is much improved and it makes much more sense. Overall, drainage is 1000 times better. There are wetlands over there, but it certainly isn't a swamp.
- The routing has changed a little bit from the original. The nines have kind of been flipped, but the 2nd and 11th holes have kind of switched
- Many more fairway bunkers in good spots. You need to pick the right lines, etc.
- Course remains difficult. We played from 6700 and with way more holes playing uphill than downhill, it played long. That said, you can bounce/roll it on about 14 of the greens.
- Perhaps the best thing that can be said is that I would like to play it again and soon. I'd like to know where the misses are on some of the pins, etc.