GolfClubAtlas.com > Golf Course Architecture Discussion Group
Grove Park Inn
John_D._Bernhardt:
Paul, i was supposed to stay there last fall but the sept 11 unexpected week in canada impacted my plans. The hotel is full of arts and crafts architectural pieces and design. I am pleased to hear of a resoration to the course. Does anyone know whether the hotel reflects an east coast look or a more southern flavor.
golfarc:
Another superintendant turned designer? I wonder why clubs trust beginners with restorations. Probably because they can't afford the real thing. Nothing against K.S. but you have to wonder with people like Stephen Kay, Brian Silva, Ron Forse, why go with that little experience for such an important (matter of perspective) task.
Mashie1:
I believe that GPI was the original Asheville CC and was the first course designed by Ross in NC.
Mashie! 8)
Bill_McBride:
John D - never been to Grove Park Inn but from the pictures I've seen, it looks either real southern (wide porches with rocking chairs) or real eastern Adirondack style (wide porches with rocking chairs)! I'd probably guess more southern style.
Kris Spence:
Since I visit this web site from time to time, I thought I would throw in my two cents worth on this topic. Another superintendent turned designer?, not sure what you mean by that, I guess kinda like Ross did. Why did they hire me, I guess because they liked what they saw when they visited several of my other projects. For your information golf arc, anyone who can spend 50 million cash to restore their resort can afford anybody they want. Sorry guys and gals for the little rant there, when someone who knows nothing about me or my work takes a stab and doesn't even have the nerve to sign their name to it, it gets me going a bit.
Anyway, on the subject of the Grove Park Inn. This course has had an interesting history of redesign work done to the golf course, including several works by well known architects. None of the previous work was at all sensitive to the original Ross course and the place bore absolutely no resemblence to anything Ross had ever done there. The seventh hole was the only remaining hole from the original Ross design and it had been abandoned somewhat for a new green site all carry over a pond to the left of the original green. The seventh was faithfully restored to its original design and character and is one of the best one shot holes in the state. It plays just over 200 yards straight toward the Resort Hotel which is now visible to the player following considerable tree removal. Ross took a natural depressionthat originated well off the left side of the green and worked it into the putting surface brilliantly to create some internal contours that are subtle but very strategic.
To give you a brief summary of the project, all of the greens and surrounding bunkers were restored as closely as possible to the originals based on what limited information was available. I worked from many still photo's and an aerial from 1951 that showed the size, shape and angles of the greens and bunker postions etc. We also dug around in the dirt so to speak and found out what we could in regards to old features, bunker sands/faces etc. We found a few bulldozier tracks from Ross' machinery, I just hope none of the guys back then got hit when she threw her shoes.
We restored all but 5 or 6 of the fairway bunkers including native fine fescue and bluestem faces and flat sand bottoms. A tremendous amount of hand work was done by the Course Doctors on the bunkers that gives them the feel of having been built in the 20's with horses, mules , drag pans etc. They did a great job on this project. Also, approximately 15 to 18 acres of fescue areas were restored to recapture that classic feel and textures of the original design which considering the courses location in the middle of town will be a tremendous asset to the environmental aspects of the site.
All of the tees were reshaped and enlarged to handle the resort traffic and were squared up to the lines of play. Numerous tees were added where appropriate to capture additional length and to restore certain stategic ground contours etc into play.
The most noticeable change for those of you that have played the course previously will be the restored diagonal creek across the 3rd fairway and to the right of the green.
This creek was the primary strategic feature on the hole prior to having been excavated and turned into a pond. Actually, the hole will play alot like the 13th at Augusta with alittle more room on the green side and left.
As the article stated, the 4th fairway was reshaped a bit to better accomodate the tee shot and the tees moved left.
Another major part of the project was tree removal to open up the rough areas, permit recovery shots and restore many wonderfull long vistas around the site. The roughs had been completely plugged up with 1000's of ornamental and non native tree plantings which have been removed. We probably removed 750 trees and I would have like to have taken 500 more. We are continuing in this direction slowly as to not alarm the huggers.
This golf course really suprised me once we got started and the work progressed. This course had alot more potential that what I first thought possible due to the limitations of the site. Additional land was purchased by GPI soon after we began which allowed us to rework some awkward areas on the 15th, 16th, and 17th holes. I think you will find the course to your liking especially if you appreciate the traditional feel of a classic Ross course.
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