Oakland Hills approves South Course renovation by Gil Hanse

[Howard Riefs]

Great news for OHCC.


http://https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/golf/2018/07/13/oakland-hills-north-course-getting-makeover-closing-2019-21/781990002/


http://https://www.freep.com/story/sports/golf/2018/07/13/oakland-hills-south-course/782155002/

[MCirba]

Wow...unexpected but very exciting.

[Matthew Rose]

I found this master plan on Hanse's website. I wonder if he's actually planning two greens on #7 or if they are just considering two options.

[Tommy Naccarato]

#7 will go back to its original location left.  The current green will be abandoned.  Very happy for the club!

[Jeff_Mingay]

Tommy,


Any idea what changed? I'd heard Gil's original plan wasn't approved. How much of the original proposal changed, if any?


Just curious.


As many of you know, Oakland Hills-South has remarkable potential ... great property, fantastic routing, amazing green surfaces. This will be very interesting project to watch come alive.

[Tommy Naccarato]

A few holes here and there, but more then anything, restoring the more whimsical and meadowy field-feel of the property.


Here is the current, first proposed, the revised proposed renderings:

[Andrew Carr]

Is this the official end of the era which started in preparation for the 1951 US Open?  I sure hope so.

[Tom Bacsanyi]

I think it would be totally cool and unique for an old line club such as OHCC to have a hole with alternate greens.  Probably won't happen, but would be incredibly intriguing if/when a big event comes back.  Anyway, the plan looks sweet!

[Brad Engel]

I can't recall what the USGA did with the setup at the Walker Cup or what they plan to do at the US Open in 2023, but the 2nd hole at Los Angeles Country Club's North Course has two greens. The times I've been out there, I've only played the lower left green that sits just over the barranca. The upper right green lengthens the hole noticeably and changes it from a draw hole to a fade hole.

I think it would be totally cool and unique for an old line club such as OHCC to have a hole with alternate greens.  Probably won't happen, but would be incredibly intriguing if/when a big event comes back.  Anyway, the plan looks sweet!

[Wayne_Kozun]

I think it would be totally cool and unique for an old line club such as OHCC to have a hole with alternate greens.  Probably won't happen, but would be incredibly intriguing if/when a big event comes back.  Anyway, the plan looks sweet!

What is the best course in the world that has alternate greens?  Cabot Cliffs?

[Daryl David]

Pacific Dunes.

[BCrosby]

PVGC

[Jon Heise]

A few holes here and there, but more then anything, restoring the more whimsical and meadowy field-feel of the property.


Here is the current, first proposed, the revised proposed renderings:

I do like the wording of "meadowy" here.  It will work brilliantly.

[Brad Engel]

Got a peak of the hole-by-hole plans for the upcoming work at Oakland Hills South and if I had to summarize, the majority of all the holes will see the following:

-Modifying the flow of fairways and their overall size to allow for more strategic options and playing angles from the tee and into the greens
-Expanding the existing green complexes to recover additional pin positions
-Rebuilding and reshaping bunkers
-Targeted tree removal

Below is the plan for the 4th hole that is indicative of the above.


Generated from my Apple iPhone using tools.rackonly.com
As mentioned previously, the exception is the 7th hole where they are planning to significantly move the green and introduce a creek.


Generated from my Apple iPhone using tools.rackonly.com

[Brent Carlson]

Has anyone seen any photos / updates as to how the renovation is going?  Social media has been quiet.  The plan looks great.  I can't wait to see how it turns out.

[Tom_Doak]

I had missed the post about adding a creek at the 7th.


If Tom Fazio had proposed adding a creek to Oakland Hills, I suspect the reaction would have been different!  Especially from Tommy N.

[PCCraig]

I had missed the post about adding a creek at the 7th.


If Tom Fazio had proposed adding a creek to Oakland Hills, I suspect the reaction would have been different!  Especially from Tommy N.

Yeah but Tom Fazio likely would of added a creek AND a waterfall   

[mark chalfant]

A diagonal creek was in play on the 7th for many decades before RTJ did some tweaking in the late 1960s in prep for the 1972 PGA at OHCC I played Oakland Hills dozens of times in the the early to mid 1960s and always enjoyed the slanting fairway with creek on the 380 yard 7th.


I believe this creek was part of Donald Ross's original design. Accordingly I believe Gil's current work on this fine hole is not an"addition" but primarily a restoration.

[Tom_Doak]

A diagonal creek was in play on the 7th for many decades before RTJ did some tweaking in the late 1960s in prep for the 1972 PGA at OHCC I played Oakland Hills dozens of times in the the early to mid 1960s and always enjoyed the slanting fairway with creek on the 380 yard 7th.


I believe this creek was part of Donald Ross's original design. Accordingly I believe Gil's current work on this fine hole is not an"addition" but primarily a restoration.

Mark:


Thanks for that background.  I did not know that.  The label on the plan says "build open creek" rather than "restore" so I assumed it was a new feature.  Maybe they are shifting its original position?

[Brent Carlson]

A diagonal creek was in play on the 7th for many decades before RTJ did some tweaking in the late 1960s in prep for the 1972 PGA at OHCC I played Oakland Hills dozens of times in the the early to mid 1960s and always enjoyed the slanting fairway with creek on the 380 yard 7th.


I believe this creek was part of Donald Ross's original design. Accordingly I believe Gil's current work on this fine hole is not an"addition" but primarily a restoration.

Mark:


Thanks for that background.  I did not know that.  The label on the plan says "build open creek" rather than "restore" so I assumed it was a new feature.  Maybe they are shifting its original position?

Tom:


Here's a Ross plan before the pond.  It shows a creek crossing 7 twice, with it filled in next to the green.

[Greg Holland]

I did a post about this hole years ago - asking if the original was better, but got very little discussion.  I know one of my books has the original routing but I can’t find it.  It was not in Wexlers books - where I looked first. 

[Greg Holland]

I just found it. Shackelford’s
The Golden Age of Golf Design has the original Ross routing map.

[Ryan Farrow]

I spent two months working here and it was an absolute blast. Some of the most fun I ever had working on a golf course. Challenging & fun, I'll leave it at that. In good hands with Gil and Jim and Kye....

[Brent Carlson]

I did a post about this hole years ago - asking if the original was better, but got very little discussion.  I know one of my books has the original routing but I can’t find it.  It was not in Wexlers books - where I looked first.

Greg,


Absolutely I think the original (restored) is better.  It requires more thought off the tee and into the green.  At the US Am guys were bombing it into the second fairway for a better angle.  After the restoration that's not going to happen.  It's the only hole at OH/S that involves a creek on approach, so it adds some diversity.  Plus I understand the green was originally moved due to safety from 8 tee, not to necessarily make it a better hole. 


What do you think?

[Jeff_Mingay]

Hey Ryan,


I've seen some photos of work in progress, and some stunning drone footage. It appears that this transformation of Oakland Hills-South is going to incredible. Nice work, I can't wait to see/play the finished product.