Exciting Times at White Bear Yacht Club - 2024 Course Project

[PCCraig]

I wanted to share an update with the group of the exciting progress being made at White Bear Yacht Club.


In 2022 our Superintendent of 50+ years (Mr. John Steiner) retired. After a nationwide search we were lucky enough to recruit Jared Kalina from Ballyneal Golf Club to be our new Superintendent.


Jared & his team have hit the ground running with continued tree management, restoring mowing lines, and working to significantly firm up the turf.


Two items that were identified as requiring more immediate attention were our 50+ year old irrigation system as well as the need for significant upgrades to our drainage. Last year the membership passed the largest planned investment in the golf course's history. Not only including irrigation & drainage, but also additional funds to restore a number of lost architectural features based on a Master Plan by Jim Urbina.


Work started in July and is just now wrapping up. I thought I would share some photos that illustrate some of the more dramatic changes made over the past few years.


#2



The 2nd hole in 2017



The updated 2nd hole from behind. Note the tree work completed on both sides of the hole, fairway mowing line expansion, cart path removal, and the expansion of the putting surface.


A closer view of the restored rear portion of the putting surface


The restored back bunker on #2, with short grass expansion.

#3


The 3rd hole in 2017


The same view today. Note the expanded putting surface. Also note the ongoing tree removal on #4 on the inside of the dogleg.

#6


The 6th green in 2017


All bunkers were rebuilt and restored. The putting surface was expanded in all directions, but in particular in front (closer to the front bunkers) and in the rear.

#9


The 9th green in 2017


Urbina's Master Plan included the removal of the green side bunker. It was replaced by a significant kicker slope.

#10


The tee shot on the 10th in 2017


This photo illustrates well the tree work completed in this section of the course, as well as restored fairway width. The green on the 10th was expanded and bunkers rebuilt in 2022.

#11


The 11th hole in 2017


The restored 11th, including rebuilt & restored bunkering.


This photo illustrates the significant expansion of the putting surface, in particular to the right side. That area was previously all rough.

#13


From behind the 13th green in 2017


The putting surface was fully restored, significantly in the front by roughly 10 paces, as well as in the rear. It is now a "3-club" green. Note that the left side of the green now gently wraps around the fall off, allowing for some very interesting pin locations.

#15


The 15th green in 2017


In 2021, significant tree work was completed behind the green to improve turf conditions. It also allows the player to appreciate the significant amount of land movement previously hidden by a forest.

#16



The 16th tee shot in 2017


The tee shot today. Urbina restored the beautiful cross bunkering 150 yards off the tee.

#17



The par-3 17th in 2017


Due primarily to poor turf conditions, trees that were planted in the 1960's were removed behind the green. Uncovering the dramatic land feature.

#18


The 18th green site in 2017


The restored 18th green. Urbina used aerial photos from the 1930's to fully restore the putting surface and the surrounding bunker scheme.


In place of the artificial pond, beautifully shaped bunkers now sit. Note the expanded putting surface which now stretches to the surrounding hazards.

Tree Management


Tree work continues. This specimen oak tree was previously completely hidden behind maple and ash trees. This tree is now rightfully highlighted and the player can now better appreciate WBYC's land movement.


From behind the 9th green, from The Golf House



I hope you enjoyed this "sneak peek" of the work that has been completed to date at WBYC.

[Morgan Clawson]

Pat - Great report.  Congratulations!

[Jude Thompson]

Pat, exciting stuff indeed. Anxious to make a return visit to play/see all the changes myself. Thank you for the photo updates, everything looks fantastic!

[Mark Mammel]

Pat- Thanks for the terrific update on WBYC. For fellow GCA readers, I'm the club historian and have had the pleasure of working with Pat on what we call the Architecture Control Committee- the Greens Committee at many other places- mandated by our board to oversea any changes to the golf course, which may only be carried out with approval of a consulting architect and board approval. That consulting architect has been Jim Urbina for a couple of decades. We were slow starters for this project, beginning in 1995 when Jim and Tom Doak redid our 8th green. That wasn't actual restoration, and the reasons why are another long story. Suffice it to say a group of us determined that we should try to restore the golf course, which we all loved even in its days after years of tree planting and changes here and there at the whim of various golf chairs. I think a first step was recognizing that our actual architect was William Watson, not Donald Ross (as the club had claimed for decades). The actual impact Ross had on the course itself is unknown, and has been discussed in these pages previously. But we had no doubt that Tom Vardon, our pro from 1916-1937, likely had a major impact in bunkering and of course maintenance during his tenure as the course matured. Vardon designed many courses in North Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin while at WBYC. Jim and our team decided we needed some kind of link to that period, which preceded the time when golf chairs could essentially run wild as they saw fit. Abe Appert, our recent golf chair for the last 4 years and ACC chair, was a key in locating the aerials from decades past that Jim used. We decided on an aerial from 1937 as the key document, as Watson had retired at 70 in 1930, Ross had moved on (and never claimed WBYC as his work), and Vardon had retired and died in 1938. The final push to get this project done was the inescapable need for a complete new irrigation system. The timing was perfect- our super of 50 years, John Steiner, had decided to retire a couple of years ago, and Jared Kalina was hired and anxious to take this project on. As Pat shows, the changes really allow the design and landforms to shine. Can't wait for next season when it is all open for play.

[Mark Mammel]

I want to add thanks and kudos to Jonathan Reisetter as well, the main shaper working with Jim on this project. He also did some great research on the course. His bunker work is terrific.

[PCCraig]

I want to add thanks and kudos to Jonathan Reisetter as well, the main shaper working with Jim on this project. He also did some great research on the course. His bunker work is terrific.

Jonathan has been invaluable to this project. His ability to shape is world-class...watching him work on holes like 14 and the surrounds on 18 is a sight to behold. But his love for the course at White Bear is considerable and it shows in the work he's contributed to the club's master plan. We're lucky to have such a world class architectural mind living essentially in-town and able to help with the project.

[Jason Topp]

Congratulations guys!  WBYC has been beloved both locally and nationally for the last 10-15 years but my reactions to the course have varied on my visits from thinking it is the best in the state to, at times, thinking it is overrated.  Thinking about it now, my negatve reactions generally came on hot humid days where the extensive tree cover and valleys led to an oppressive feeling of stifling heat.  These changes show off the land movement and ensure air circulation that is not ony good for growing grass but also makes for a much more pleasant walk. 


It is not easy to make significant changes to an already beloved course.  I suspect this work will ensure WBYC's status for decades to come.

[Brett Wiesley]

Looking amazing!!!  You no doubt have the best in Jared Kalina.  Please treat him well, and keep him away from the trees.  He will have the course in best ever shape in just a few seasons. 

[PCCraig]

Looking amazing!!!  You no doubt have the best in Jared Kalina.  Please treat him well, and keep him away from the trees.  He will have the course in best ever shape in just a few seasons.

x1000


Totally agree.

[Will Thrasher]

Really enjoyed going through this - exciting times indeed and very thoughtful changes. If only every club thought through courses projects this way!

[PCCraig]

Congratulations guys!  WBYC has been beloved both locally and nationally for the last 10-15 years but my reactions to the course have varied on my visits from thinking it is the best in the state to, at times, thinking it is overrated.  Thinking about it now, my negatve reactions generally came on hot humid days where the extensive tree cover and valleys led to an oppressive feeling of stifling heat.  These changes show off the land movement and ensure air circulation that is not ony good for growing grass but also makes for a much more pleasant walk. 


It is not easy to make significant changes to an already beloved course.  I suspect this work will ensure WBYC's status for decades to come.

Thanks for the kind words, Jason.


Like many clubs, WBYC planted a ton of trees from the 50's-80's.


A few enlightened members (Dr. Mammel included) made a good effort to remove a bunch of the obvious offenders (evergreens, willows) starting in the 1990's.


In 2019, the course effectively lost 3-4 greens and many were damaged due to ice sitting on the heavily poa greens for more than 45 days. In an effort to mitigate that happening again the club took out 500+ trees, primarily around putting surfaces. It has certainly helped the condition of the surfaces as has Jared's work the last two seasons (hand watering, less water, etc.).


Effort was also taken to restore the "oak savanna" look which is natural to the area and consistent with how the course looked before WWII. There is still a ways to go to get to that point, but we're on the right track.


Removal of undesirable trees has allowed the course's greatest asset, it's land movement, to really shine. The view now from 17 tee back toward the 1st hole now reveals 4 holes worth of humping, bumping, & heaving fairways. You can also now see parts of White Bear Lake from as far as 12 tee now.


Our 4th hole is a 550-yard par-5 that until two seasons ago many players hit a long iron off the tee as the right side was so choked with trees. The Club has started peeling that corner back, exposing a dramatic natural ravine-like ridge. Jared & his team also dramatically widened the fairway (in some places by 40+ yards) which has taken the hole from a bit of a clunker to being a fun hole consistent with others. Hopefully the clearing will continue in that area and the hole's "oak savanna" is further revealed.