Santa Ana CC Re design?

[BJones]

I heard through the grapevine that RTJII is doing a re design of what I think is already a very good golf course.  Has anyone heard this?

[Robert Mercer Deruntz]

Ted Robinson vandalized the club a sometime in the 1980's.  There is wonderful ground movement, but what were small undulating greens were replaced by his usual green complexes that you see on every one of his courses.  Any work would probably be an improvement

[Adam Lawrence]

Jay Blasi is doing it. He's very excited about the possibilities - I was with him yesterday.

[Wayne Wiggins, Jr.]

Wow... talk about coincidence.  I knew nothing of this course, yet happened to be in the area earlier this week and happened to drive by it which piqued my curiosity.  Was about to post a similar question... i look forward to seeing how this thread grows.

[Jeff Fortson]

I'm exempt into the SCGA Mid-Amateur this year and it's being held at Santa Ana CC in early April.  I'd be happy to give a report on the course after the tournament.  I played it while I was in school at UC Irvine but that was over 20 years ago so I don't remember too much. 


Jeff F.

[Pat Burke]

Sounds like there are politics aplenty right now at Santa Ana
The vote to redo the course, was for a complete redesign.

Challenges to the vote right now have put a lot in flux.

Played a couple times recently.  Kikuyu fairways, poa greens that re pretty good, if a bit too wet sometimes.

No idea which direction things are going to go there, will be interesting to see

[Marty Bonnar]

I was chatting with a few very nice Gents from Santa Ana today. They were very enthusiastic about the new work. Any other word from the local cognoscenti?
Cheers,
F.

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Jay Blasi did the work:


http://www.golfcoursearchitecture.net/content/blasi-leads-rerouting-of-golf-course-at-santa-ana-country-club




http://www.ocregister.com/2016/08/10/santa-ana-country-club-course-receives-facelift/




http://www.ocregister.com/2016/08/12/architect-redesigned-santa-ana-country-club-into-a-new-old-school-look/

[Marty Bonnar]

Absolutely, Steve.
The guys were very complementary about Jay's work. They've managed to lose a stack of irrigation. (The figure they quoted for their water was mind-boggling). Furthermore, they've established huge areas of native vegetation. Not without some issues, but they're persevering...
They're most happy with the re-routing, which sounds like some masterly use of the existing terrain.


F.

[Adam Lawrence]

It's pretty fabulous. Cool holes, excellent greens, a much, much better practice facility. The short par four second is a real gem of a hole.


The establishment of the new native areas is taking a bit longer than some in the club would like, but that will be sorted soon enough. Very good work indeed by Blasi and a pretty good lesson for lots of clubs in strong markets whose courses are a bit dull -- you don't have to be stuck with it.

[Pat Burke]

Someone at our club, not far from Santa Ana told me they were doing another assessment?  Any truth to that?

[Mark Kiely]

For many years my office was very near the course, and from what I could see through the fence, it didn't appear to be anything special. I was surprised to later learn it had such a nice pedigree. The restoration/changes they made sound great.