I visited Dunedin in the spring of 2021 at the request of Kevin Janiga, Greens Chairman. KJ was interested in my thoughts after seeing an article about my restorative work at Sara Bay in Sarasota. We rode the course with the 18 hole drawing and a set of notes from Hatch to the original owners in 1925. In a nutshell, the course has been neutered by the removal of 75 original bunkers and a couple attempts to resurface the greens by adding rootzone etc, the greens are about 50-60% of their original size. The good news is the original green surfaces and fill pads are intact buried under between 12 and 18" of added material. Excessive tree planting has choked down the width and created major issues with shade throughout. The place is tired and worn out, getting about 60,000 rounds a year at this point.
Following my visit, John Stiles with the Ross Society Foundation called and inquired if I knew of any municipal courses they might help with a Foundation Grant. I put him in touch with KJ and the DRS agreed to fund a Plan to start the process of trying to restore the course. I prepared a Restorative Plan and presented it to the club members, board and city officials a few weeks ago.
We are hopeful that restoration of the course can be accomplished within the next two years. The project, if approved would restore and reconstruct the Ross green complexes to their original dimensions, features and elevations along with greenside bunkers. We are looking to restore about 87 bunkers of 114 that originally existed. We will also reinstate bunker landforms in many original locations without sand and irregular mound hummocks shown on the Ross drawing. The project would install a new irrigation system, enlarge tees, add length, add forward tees, reduce tree encroachment and re-grass the entire golf course. Holes 15 and 17 will get significant drainage improvements as well.
I will try and post additional information and include some historic photos when I have more time. Dunedin was a very good golf course in its early days, very solid strategic design with some great creativity shown on and around the greens, its sad to see what has happened to it over the years.