LONG RANGE IMPROVEMENT PLAN REPORT

Transcription

1 PORTSMOUTH COUNTRY CLUB Greenland, New Hampshire LONG RANGE IMPROVEMENT PLAN REPORT August 9, 2007 FORBES GOLF DESIGN, LLC Golf Course Planning, Design & Restoration Post Office Box 1522 Derry, New Hampshire Telephone (603)

2 Table of Contents Introduction & History Overview Hole-by-hole Analysis st Hole nd Hole rd Hole th Hole th Hole th Hole th Hole th Hole th Hole th Hole th Hole th Hole th Hole th Hole th Hole th Hole th Hole th Hole Practice Putting Green Short Game Practice Area Practice Range Appendix A Long Range Planning Committee Appendix B Robert Trent Jones, Golf Course Architect Appendix C Original Robert Trent Jones Master Plan Appendix D Construction Photos Appendix E Current & Proposed Scorecards Appendix F

3 Introduction & History Portsmouth Country Club originated in 1901 when a group of local businessmen formed the club for the promotion of the games of golf and tennis, and other outdoor recreations. Alex Findlay, a well-known golf professional and course designer, was commissioned to create a nine-hole course for the club on pasture land leased from Charles Hayes on the far west side of town (now the Pease Golf Club). By late May, the 2,200 yard course was ready for play. The clubhouse was opened on September 2 nd allowing the members to cap their inaugural season with a grand Labor Day celebration. The course was lengthened to 2,900 yards in 1910; and, in 1929, the club hired Wayne Stiles, a golf course architect from Boston, to expand the course to eighteen holes. To accommodate the expansion, the club purchased an additional 90 acres of adjacent property. Rather than simply creating a new nine-hole loop, Stiles instead incorporated new holes into both the front and back nines. When the new holes were opened in 1931, the course measured 5,664 yards and played to a par of 70. The front nine was 3,127 yards long, which was very strong for the day; but the back nine measured only 2,537 yards. Following the 1955 season, Portsmouth Country Club was forced to relocate as the United States Government confiscated the club property to create Pease Air Force Base. Fortunately, the nearby Abenaqui Country Club allowed Portsmouth members to utilize their facilities throughout the 1956 and 57 golfing seasons while they were without a golf course of their own. With the money received from the government for the Pease property, the club purchased 240-acres from the Stoddard family along the shore of Great Bay in Greenland. Located less than a mile away from their former home, the Stoddard Farm was a remarkable property. Set on a peninsula jutting into the eastern shore of Great Bay, the site consisted primarily of gently rolling meadows punctuated by stately hardwood trees. Even before they secured the property, the members of Portsmouth Country Club had retained Robert Trent Jones to create their new golf course. At the time, Jones was rapidly becoming the preeminent golf course architect in the world. Following World War II he completed the Peachtree Golf Club and made major modifications to Augusta National in Georgia, both in close collaboration with Bobby Jones. He also remodeled Oakland Hills in Michigan for the 1951 U. S. Open, which the eventual winner, Ben Hogan, dubbed a monster. These successes coupled with feature magazine articles in The New Yorker, Life and Time quickly elevated Jones status to the top of his profession. 2

4 Construction on the new course began in 1956 and when completed in 1957 the course measured 7,200 yards and played to a par of 72. Not only did the course feature Jones trademark runway tees, strategic flashed bunkering and large greens offering multiple hole locations, but it also made wonderful use of the shoreline on both the front and back nines. Robert Trent Jones passed away in 2000 having designed, or redesigned, over 400 golf courses in 44 states and 26 countries around the world. And Portsmouth Country Club will forever stand as the great architect s only work in the Granite State. Over the past fifty years, there have been minor modifications made to the golf course. Tees have been added or altered. Several bunkers have been added, a few removed, and others reshaped. Two greens have been rebuilt; and many trees have been planted. Interestingly the course actually plays 200 yards shorter now, from the back tees, than it did when it first opened. Thankfully, it also plays 1,000 yards shorter than it originally did from the forward tees. Nevertheless, Jones s design influence is still clearly evident at Portsmouth. The golf hole corridors he created are exceptional, the bunkering is bold and strategic, and the greensites fit very naturally into the surrounding landscape. These splendid features should be preserved and used as a guide for any future work undertaken by the club. In December 2006, Forbes Golf Design LLC was retained to generate a Long Range Improvement Plan for Portsmouth Country Club. It is our privilege to present this report to the members of Portsmouth, which summarizes our recommendations for the golf course. Sincerely, Ross Forbes, Forbes Golf Design, LLC 3

5 Overview At the request of the Long Range Planning Committee we were directed to assess the golf course at Portsmouth Country Club and make suggestions as to its possible improvement. The original architect, Robert Trent Jones, did a fine job designing your golf course; and thus it was clearly stated at the outset of the project that we would not alter, in any way, the charming character of the course. The first order of business was to generate a list of Goals & Objectives for the (LRIP). This list, shown on the right, ensured that everyone was on the same page as we progressed forward with the plan. With the Goals & Objectives in place, we then began to study the course in greater detail. We looked to see how the course had aged over the past decades, and assess whether these observable changes were positively or negatively impacting play. Fortunately we had Jones original master plan to reference as well as aerial photographs while the course was under construction. These materials, plus the memories of golfers who played the course in the 1950s, 60s and 70s, proved to be valuable resources in determining how and when various features of the course came into existence. We then studied the playability, maintenance, safety and aesthetics of Goals & Objectives Following are the Goals & Objectives of the Long Range Improvement Plan for Portsmouth Country Club: 1. Enhance the overall playing characteristics of the golf course for players of all ability levels. 2. Maintain and, wherever possible, enhance the natural beauty and character of the course. 3. Retain and enhance the Robert Trent Jones influence throughout the course. 4. Provide the safest possible playing environment. 5. Explore options to improve tee complex locations. 6. Rebuild tees that are unlevel, undersized or worn out. 7. Rebuild bunkers that are wearing out, performing poorly or out of character for Portsmouth to provide consistency throughout the course. 8. Expand greens that have shrunk over time to their original size and shape. 9. Explore ways to improve problem putting greens. 10. Explore opportunities to improve practice facilities including the short game practice areas and the putting green. 11. Explore ways to improve the agronomic conditions throughout the golf course. 12. Improve drainage throughout the golf course. 13. Attempt to minimize the influence of seasonal tides on the golf course. 14. Evaluate the cart paths circulation throughout the golf course for effectiveness in controlling traffic and reducing turf wear. 15. Explore opportunities to improve the clubhouse area, maintenance area, cart storage, staging area and parking facilities. 16. Evaluate the need for additional trees to enhance aesthetics or safety. 17. Evaluate the suitability of existing trees that negatively impact play, aesthetics, views or maintenance. Emphasize specimen trees. 4

6 every hole and determined whether cost effective improvements could be made. After several meetings with the committee, during which various improvements and costs were discussed, we reached a consensus for the final LRIP. During our evaluation we noticed several recurring features on nearly every hole that became focal points of the LRIP. These items included: tee quality, bunker quality, drainage concerns and tree issues. Following is an overview of the main features of the golf course at Portsmouth Country Club. Greens: The greens at Portsmouth are typically among the best in the region. Greg Dubois has done a splendid job maintaining the greens, under some difficult agronomic conditions. Shortly after construction was completed in 1957, the 2 nd, 6 th and 10 th greens were rebuilt due to inferior rootzone material. A construction company out of Sunapee completed this work without oversight from Jones office and thus may have slightly altered the original design. Due to poor drainage on and around the putting surface, the 10 th green was again rebuilt in The green was elevated and the front right bunker was removed to achieve better surface drainage. Also, the turf was changed to velvet bentgrass, which still predominates on this green. In 1969 an alternate green was added to the 18 th hole to help reduce wear on the original putting surface. Once several large trees on the south side of the original green were removed, the turf health improved to the point where the alternate green was no longer needed. It now serves as a short game practice area or an extra hole if needed. The 2 nd green was rebuilt in The green was elevated and made steeper to ensure better surface drainage; but it has struggled agronmically since it was established. Aggressive tree removal around the green has helped improve the turf quality; but it still isn t on par with the other putting surfaces. Over the decades, many of Portsmouth s greens have shrunk in size. This is not unusual. Due to the use of triplex mowers and the fear of scalping the collars, greens on older courses invariably have shrunk from their original sizes. We propose to restore the greens back to their original size wherever possible. This will reclaim many interesting hole locations and will help spread wear on the putting surfaces. The expansions will also bring some greenside bunkers back into play for the better golfers. 5

7 Tees: The tees at Portsmouth vary greatly in quality. Many are in terrific shape and require nothing whatsoever. Several others though have become unlevel over time and need to be releveled. Some suffer from lack of sunlight or air movement and require the removal of adjacent trees and shrubs. And some are slightly misaligned or misplaced and could benefit from realignment or relocation. As was mentioned earlier, several rear tees have been abandoned over the years, most notably on the 6 th hole. On several other holes though, the rear portion of the long runway tees stopped being mowed. These include holes 5, 7 and 17. Thus, the Blue Tee yardage has been reduced from the original 7,200 yards to 7,072 yards. However, when we checked the Blue Tee yardages on plan we calculated a current total of 6,970 yards. Over the last ten years, new forward tees have been added on all the holes reducing the forward tee yardage from 6,202 yards to 5,134 yards. The forward tees are now the Silver Tees; and the old Red Tees (6,202 yards) are now the Gold Tees, which are typically located in the front portion of the original runway tees. Currently the Red Tees shift, from hole to hole, between the Gold Tee pad and the Silver Tee pad resulting in a total distance of 5,511 yards. This is a good overall distance for the Red Tees, but the tee locations on a hole-by-hole basis are either shorter or longer than ideal as they are sharing a tee pad from either the 6,202 yard course (Gold Tee) or the 5,134 yard course (Silver Tee). Ideally, the Red Tees would have their own tee pad positioned between the Gold and Silver Tees. Also, the par for women was reduced when the forward tees were constructed. Originally, the par for women playing the 6,202 yard forward tees was 78. When the forward tees were added, par was reduced to 75 still three shots higher than the men s par. Our philosophy regarding tees is that if a professional, or scratch golfer, typically plays a hole with a driver and a 7-iron, then the average male, female, senior and junior players should also play the hole with a driver and a 7-iron. We accomplish this by positioning middle and forward tees at the appropriate lengths necessary to achieve this balance. However, due to the varied nature of golf course terrain, it is not always possible to place tees where they are precisely balanced with the other tee locations on a hole. Another item to consider is the distance of the course from the White Tees. Currently the White Tees play over 6,600 yards long. This would be fine at a private club. But Portsmouth is a public course; and the majority of mid to high handicap men visiting the course will play from the white tees. That is what American male golfers are programmed to play. Unfortunately, this means they are playing a course significantly longer than their abilities can handle. For this reason 6

8 we have proposed that the club adopt a blue, gold, white, green and silver color scheme for the tee markers. The Blue Tees would play 7,200 yards and would be utilized by near-scratch and professional players. The Gold Tees would play 6,665 yards and would be ideal for male golfers below a ten handicap. The White Tees would play 6,2500 yards and would be ideal for average males and scratch females. The Green Tees would play 5,425 yards and would be ideal for senior men, junior boys and low to mid handicap women. The Silver Tees would play 4,905 yards and would be perfect for super seniors, young juniors and mid to high handicap ladies. With this color scheme, the White Tees are placed at an appropriate yardage for daily-fee play, and the Red Tees are abandoned so men will be less hesitant to move forward to a shorter, yet more appropriate, set of tees. Bunkers: The bunkers at Portsmouth also vary considerably in size, quality and character. No feature of a golf course changes more rapidly than bunkers. In this region bunkers typically grow larger over time due to edging, mechanical raking, erosion and sand being thrown out by golfers. Over time this can dramatically alter the character and appearance of the course. Also the turf quality immediately adjacent to bunkers declines over time, to the point where growing healthy turf is impossible. Over the years, greenside bunkers have been removed on the 7 th and 10 th holes and fairway bunkers have been abandoned on holes 15 and 17. New bunkers were added around the 14 th green when the ponds were created in the first landing area in In 2004, the bunker floors were lined with Klingstone to keep the sand from being contaminated by native soil. Unfortunately, this material did not allow sufficient ground moisture to reach the bunker sand, which dried out the sand to the point where it became like powder. With strong winds consistently blowing across the course, the dry sand was easily blown off the bunker faces leaving the Klingstone exposed. This has resulted in very inconsistent playing conditions in the bunkers. Currently, Greg Dubois and his staff are attempting to remove the Klingstone material from the bunker faces. Due to the age of the bunkers, and the remaining Klingstone material, all the bunkers at Portsmouth should be rebuilt. The overall appearance, playability and maintenance of the bunkers will be greatly improved and there will be consistency throughout the golf course. Trees: The ongoing tree management program has already shown tremendous benefits and should continue. Growing healthy turf under trees is virtually impossible because turf needs sunlight to grow and the tree roots compete with the turf for water and nutrients. The lack of direct sunlight weakens the turf and thus 7

9 makes it more susceptible to various pests and diseases. Thus, in order to promote strong turfgrass at Portsmouth, dense stands of trees should be thinned. Originally, the course featured many splendid elm trees. Unfortunately, most of the elms are now gone due to Dutch elm disease. In their place, many willows and conifers have been planted throughout the course. These softwoods are short lived trees that are not well suited to golf courses. Deep rooted specimen hardwoods are the preferred tree species for golf courses in this region. With the new disease resistant American elms available, it would be wonderful to introduce some elms back into the golf course. Water Features: Portsmouth is one of only two courses in the state that could be considered a sea-side golf course. The views of Great Bay are phenomenal and the winds off the water are always a factor when playing the course. The 12 th and 14 th greens are situated on promontories overlooking the bay and have been subject to erosion over the years. The 14 th greensite was stabilized several decades ago and the 12 th greensite is currently being reinforced. One drawback of the bay is flooding during times of exceptionally high tides. Holes 3, 4, 14 and 17 often suffer salt damage due to seasonally high tides. This occurs due to the low elevation of certain parts of these holes. Areas below seven feet in elevation appear susceptible to periodic flooding. Two ponds on the 14 th hole were added in 1969 to help alleviate the flooding and poor drainage on this hole. Unfortunately, due to their shallow depth, water quality is less than desirable and aquatic weeds are an ongoing problem. In 2000 a new irrigation reservoir was created between the 7 th, 9 th and 10 th holes. This allowed the reservoir adjacent to the clubhouse to be filled and utilized for parking. Maintenance Facilities: Portsmouth ranks among the finest golf clubs in all of New England. The addition of the new clubhouse further solidified the club s position among the elites. However, there is one aspect of the club that falls below firstclass standards; and that is the maintenance facility. Portsmouth has benefited over the decades from great superintendents and crews. But the buildings that house their work place and equipment are undersized and dangerous. Upgrading these substandard facilities is a top priority of the committee. Summary: I want to thank everyone who takes the time to read through this report. I realize it is a lot of information to digest, and appreciate the dedication of the members willing to do so for the good of their golf course. I believe we all share the same goal to make Portsmouth Country Club the very best golf course possible. 8

10 Hole-by-Hole Analysis 1 st Hole Currently: Blue Tee White Tee Gold Tee Red Tee Silver Tee 401 yards 386 yards 370 yards 370 yards 311 yards Proposed: Blue Tee Gold Tee White Tee Green Tee Silver Tee 395 yards 386 yards 370 yards 330 yards 311 yards Existing Conditions: The opening hole is a medium length par four that doglegs gently to the right. The hole is attractively framed by a combination of small softwood and mature hardwood trees. A large bunker guards the inside of the dogleg, but can be carried with a strong tee shot. Two small bunkers frame the approach to the large subtly contoured green. 9

11 Proposed Improvements: Additional tee space is needed on this hole and thus a new tee has been proposed that will serve as the new White and Green Tees. The tee will be positioned just beyond the cart path in front of the existing tee. The ridge directly in front of the new tee will be lowered slightly and the fill used to create the tee. The existing rear tee needs to be leveled. There are several low areas in the fairway that require additional drainage. In addition to these areas, there are also some old irrigation and drainage trenches that have settled over time and need to be leveled. The bunkers need to be restored. The work that was completed several seasons ago dealt only with the bunker cavity. The entire bunker surrounds need to be rebuilt. The hole will benefit from some additional hardwood trees, especially on the right side to provide better separation from the practice range. As we propose throughout the course, the softwood trees should slowly be removed and replaced with longer living hardwood species, which are preferred golf course trees. 10

12 2 nd Hole Currently: Blue Tee White Tee Gold Tee Red Tee Silver Tee 445 yards 425 yards 358 yards 358 yards 358 yards Proposed: Blue Tee Gold Tee White Tee Green Tee Silver Tee 470 yards 425 yards 390 yards 345 yards 304 yards Existing Conditions: The 2 nd is a long par four that doglegs gently right through a forest of mature pine trees. Bunkers protect the front right and left side of the green, which was rebuilt about ten years ago. The slightly elevated green slopes sharply toward the front and falls away in the back left. 11

13 Proposed Improvements: The tees on the 2 nd hole are being shifted to the left for several reasons. As the pine trees continue to grow on the right side of the fairway, shots from the existing tee are becoming increasingly awkward. Shifting the tee to the left places golfers in the middle of the corridor and provides a much more balanced look to the hole. Another benefit of shifting the tee to the left is that it opens up more room for the practice range and allows a larger grass tee to be constructed in front of the current practice tee. As this has historically been one of the tougher holes at Portsmouth, we are proposing a new rear (Blue) tee that will stretch the hole to 470 yards. We are also proposing a new forward (Silver) tee that will play 305 yards. A new cart path will be added adjacent to the new tees providing more safety from the practice range. Most of the existing path in this area, except for an access to the range teaching tee, will be removed. 12

14 The selective tree removal has improved the conditions on this hole considerably. Pine trees should continue to be thinned to allow more sunlight to reach the turfed areas and to promote better air circulation throughout the hole. Four pines to the right of the landing area that are crowding a white oak should be removed; and two pines that are shading the green should also be removed. The drainage channel right of the landing area should be cleaned up as it does come into play. There is a wet area on the left side of the fairway short of the green that needs additional drainage. As is typical throughout the course, the greenside bunkers need to be restored. 13

15 3 rd Hole Currently: Blue Tee White Tee Gold Tee Red Tee Silver Tee 390 yards 375 yards 349 yards 304 yards 304 yards Proposed: Blue Tee Gold Tee White Tee Green Tee Silver Tee 420 yards 375 yards 349 yards 304 yards 300 yards Existing Conditions: The 3 rd hole is a mid-length par four dogleg left. The tee shot is over a small pond to a rolling landing area. A long drive can reach a down slope that will propel a player s ball another ten or so yards closer to the hole. The approach is to a green protected by front flanking bunkers and marshland to the left. 14

16 Proposed Improvements: A new back tee is proposed, which will lengthen the hole to 420 yards and restore the strategic intent of the tee shot on this hole. Several trees will need to be removed to accommodate the tee and some drainage will be needed to pick-up surface water in some low lying pockets in the area. The large existing tee will be releveled and the right side will be realigned slightly to orient golfers in the correct direction. Some additional pine tree removal on the east side of the tee would be beneficial. The forward tee will be expanded to accommodate the Green and Silver Tees. Some irregularities in the fairway short and left of the landing area will be leveled. A portion of the fairway, just beyond the landing area, is low-lying and susceptible to flooding during seasonal high tides. Drainage in this area should be improved and alternatives to reduce salt water damage should be explored. The two most obvious options would be either raising the area slightly to bring it above seasonal 15

17 high-tide levels or creating a berm that will keep the tidewater from reaching the fairway. A couple of hardwood trees should be planted between the 3 rd and 7 th holes for separation and to visually screen the irrigation satellite. There is a tight grouping of red oak trees right of the fairway between the landing area and the green. The first oak should be removed and transplanted behind the other two oaks to allow the trees to fully mature without overcrowding each other. Again, the greenside bunkers should be restored. It appears that the green has shrunk over time. There are opportunities to restore lost putting surface on the left side and back right portion of the green. 16

18 4 th Hole Currently: Blue Tee White Tee Gold Tee Red Tee Silver Tee 516 yards 494 yards 471 yards 375 yards 375 yards Proposed: Blue Tee Gold Tee White Tee Green Tee Silver Tee 520 yards 494 yards 465 yards 445 yards 375 yards Existing Conditions: The 4 th hole is a beautiful par five that plays along the Winnicut River. From the rear tee golfers must play across the river to reach the fairway. Forward tee players are spared the carry over the river, but still must be wary as the hazard flows along the left side of the fairway. In the second landing area the hole climbs a gentle slope to a hilltop green that is protected by bunkers front left and front right. 17

19 Proposed Improvements: The left side tee is Jones original tee location. Currently it is unlevel and underutilized. The tee should be rebuilt and expanded to accommodate the Blue, Gold and member White Tee play. This is the most dramatic tee shot on the course and it should be enjoyed by as many golfers as possible. The carry over the river for the White Tee player is 185 yards along the centerline and only 150 yards to the beginning of the fairway if they play safe to the right. Golfers playing a 6,200 yard course (White Tees) should be able to carry the ball 150 yards. A new cart path should be created for players using the expanded left side tee. The current right tee is misplaced and misaligned. It creates an extremely dangerous situation as the tee is oriented directly toward the 6 th fairway. A straight 200 yard shot from this tee will land in the 6 th fairway. For this reason the tee should be abandoned. 18

20 In its place a new tee should be created further to the right, which that takes the river out of play and significantly reduces the risk of balls reaching the 6 th fairway. Folks playing the Green Tees and special event White Tees would utilize this new tee pad. There are two areas on this hole that are subject to flooding during seasonal high tides one in the vicinity of the forward tee and the other just beyond the first landing area. Drainage in these areas should be improved and alternatives to reduce salt water damage should be explored. The two most obvious options would be either raising the areas slightly to bring them above seasonal high-tide levels or creating berms that will keep the tidewater from reaching the fairway. Ideally, the cart path on this hole would be situated along the right side of the fairway so the left side of the fairway ran directly along the river. Due to the close proximity of the 6 th hole, though, this is not possible. But there is an opportunity in the first landing area to expand the fairway closer to the river to create a greater risk/reward opportunity for players willing to flirt with the inside of the dogleg. The conifers along the right side of the hole should be slowly removed and replaced with specimen hardwood trees. By repositioning the forward tee, there will be a great reduction in the number of tee shots reaching the 6 th hole. Thus the wall of arborvitae, cedar and pine trees will no longer be necessary. Also, the pines adjacent to the second landing area and by the green block tremendous view opportunities of the golf course and the bay. Currently the fairway in the second landing area appears very narrow in relation to the wide corridor leading up to the green. The fairway in this area should be widened to bring it into better scale with the surroundings; and a bunker positioned on the right side of the fairway would add greatly to the strategy of the lay-up shots. The right side of the fairway is the preferred area for golfers to lay-up to. With a bunker protecting this side of the fairway players will have to decide just how much they dare challenge the bunker with their second shots. This bunker will also visually enhance the beautiful hilltop greensite. The greenside bunkers are in need of restoration. The green can be expanded slightly on the right side. 19

21 5 th Hole Currently: Blue Tee White Tee Gold Tee Red Tee Silver Tee 175 yards 157 yards 139 yards 139 yards 139 yards Proposed: Blue Tee Gold Tee White Tee Green Tee Silver Tee 185 yards 157 yards 139 yards 120 yards 105 yards Existing Conditions: The 5 th is the first par three on the course and the first hole along Great Bay. Two bunkers protect the right side of the small green and the bay marsh will catch any shots missed left. The seemingly ever-present wind makes the hole more challenging than the yardage would suggest. 20

22 Proposed Improvements: The tee on the 5 th hole has shrunk over the decades and we are proposing to extend it back to its original length. Also, in order to provide sufficient square footage of teeing area, we are proposing a new forward tee that will allow the hole to be played in a similar manner by golfers of all abilities. The area between the tees and the fairway is poorly drained and needs additional subsurface drainage. In order to speed up play, and to control traffic in a historically wet area, a cart path spur has been proposed to drop players off closer to the green. Several new hardwood trees will screen the path from the tees. The greenside bunkers need to be rebuilt. Some drainage work is also need on the back right portion of green collar. By removing the right side bunker this problem is much more easily solved. 21

23 6 th Hole Currently: Blue Tee White Tee Gold Tee Red Tee Silver Tee 443 yards 412 yards 403 yards 403 yards 332 yards Proposed: Blue Tee Gold Tee White Tee Green Tee Silver Tee 443 yards 412 yards 403 yards 332 yards 325 yards Existing Conditions: This is a demanding straightaway par four that turns from the bay and begins the journey back to the clubhouse. The drive is from an elevated tee to a narrow tree-lined fairway. Mr. Jones original tee for this hole was abandoned years ago and currently serves as an alternate tee for the 5 th. The long approach is made more difficult by three bunkers that protect the left, right and front portions of the green. 22

24 Proposed Improvements: The rear tee needs to be releveled and the middle tee needs to be expanded to provide adequate square footage. It will be expanded to the front. The forward tee will also be expanded to accommodate both the Green and Silver Tees. The low-lying area between the middle and forward tees needs to be raised slightly to allow positive drainage over the cart path. As has been mentioned previously, the softwood trees throughout the course should be removed over time and replaced with hardwood specimens. Two pines left of the landing area are primary candidates for removal. In their place two hardwoods could be planted. The right side of the fairway from the landing area to the green should shift to the left to keep the fairway grass outside the drip line of the trees. The three greenside bunkers should be restored. 23

25 7 th Hole Currently: Blue Tee White Tee Gold Tee Red Tee Silver Tee 530 yards 500 yards 474 yards 388 yards 388 yards Proposed: Blue Tee Gold Tee White Tee Green Tee Silver Tee 540 yards 500 yards 474 yards 388 yards 380 yards Existing Conditions: The 7 th is a straightaway par five that can be reached in two by long hitters. A large pine tree short and right of the green makes approach shots from the right side of the fairway difficult. Thus most golfers favor the left side of the second landing area, which then requires an approach shot over a small pond to the green. A small bunker protects the front right portion of the green, and large pine trees loom beyond. 24

26 Proposed Improvements: A new rear tee has been proposed that will increase the length of the hole to 540 yards for the best players. The large existing tee will be releveled and realigned slightly to play toward the middle of the fairway. The forward tee will be rebuilt and expanded to accommodate both the Green and Silver Tees. The cart path running in front of the large tee, directly in the golfer s viewshed, is a visual nuisance. We have proposed to shift the path to the right, out of the line of play. The two large hickory trees will screen the path from the view of golfers playing the back and middle tees. There are some old tire ruts in the first landing area that need to be leveled. We have proposed some additional tree plantings adjacent to the second landing area. On the left side of the fairway three hardwood trees would be added to deter players from bombing their second shots to the left. And on the right side two 25

27 hardwoods would be planted to eventually take the place of the large pine that looms over the right side approach. The overflow structure, adjacent to the pond in front of the green, needs to be improved. It appears that years of freezing and thawing have pushed the structure up creating an awkward landform next to the pond. There is also exposed concrete that can create an unplayable situation only a few feet off the fairway. Originally, Mr. Jones had a bunker front left of the green. Apparently the bunker was poorly drained and thus was removed. We propose to restore the bunker in a manner that will allow it to drain properly. The existing greenside bunker also needs to be restored. The tree thinning around this green has already shown tremendous agronomic benefits. Shadow patterns should continue to be monitored and, if necessary, additional pine trees should be removed. 26

28 8 th Hole Currently: Blue Tee White Tee Gold Tee Red Tee Silver Tee 226 yards 219 yards 210 yards 210 yards 154 yards Proposed: Blue Tee Gold Tee White Tee Green Tee Silver Tee 226 yards 219 yards 210 yards 154 yards 145 yards Existing Conditions: The 8 th is a demanding par three that plays uphill to a green that falls away to the back and to both sides. Two bunkers frame the entrance to this unusual green. Pars on this hole are valued highly by even the most accomplished golfers. 27

29 Proposed Improvements: The main tee on the 8 th hole is undersized, especially for a par three. It should be expanded to the front and to the right. We are proposing that a stone wall be created at the front of the tee in order to maximize tee space. The cart path would be adjusted slightly to accommodate the tee expansion and wall construction. As was the case with the 7 th green, the recent tree removal will undoubtedly improve the turf conditions on this tee. Nevertheless, shadow patterns should continue to be monitored and, if necessary, additional pine trees should be removed. The forward tee will be expanded to accommodate both the Green and Silver Tees. Currently, this hole is a par four for ladies playing the Red Tees. Ideally, golf holes have the same par for men and women. Thus we propose shifting the Green Tees (formerly the Red Tees) to the forward tee, which will result in the hole playing as a par three for everyone. The greenside bunkers should be restored. 28

30 There was considerable discussion about the 8 th green because it is so out of character for Trent Jones. Unfortunately we have not yet been able to find a detailed drawing for this green. Mr. Jones drawings are currently locked in a storage vault in Florida while his estate is being settled. Hopefully one day these drawings will be available to the public. We also talked with folks involved with construction of the golf course and no one recalls specifics regarding this green. It is hard to imagine that Mr. Jones designed such a steep fall-away green on a long uphill par three. But until evidence is found that proves that this was not his intent, we recommend leaving the greensite alone. 29

31 9 th Hole Currently: Blue Tee White Tee Gold Tee Red Tee Silver Tee 403 yards 375 yards 368 yards 272 yards 272 yards Proposed: Blue Tee Gold Tee White Tee Green Tee Silver Tee 410 yards 375 yards 368 yards 325 yards 272 yards Existing Conditions: The 9 th is a dogleg right par four that gently climbs back to the hilltop clubhouse. A large bunker protects the inside of the dogleg, while another fronts the left side of the steeply sloping green. A dense planting of young pine trees frame the right side of the hole, while a large willow and several smaller trees border the left side. 30

32 Proposed Improvements: The existing rear tee is currently aligned toward the willow tree on the outside of the dogleg. This tee will be rebuilt, extended slightly and reoriented toward the middle of the fairway. A new intermediate tee is also being proposed for the Green Tees. There is a large wet area in front of the tees that needs additional drainage work. Though it was not discussed by the committee, this is an area where a pond could be created, which will alleviate the drainage problem and enhance the aesthetics of the hole. Several specimen hardwood trees should be planted left of the landing area to eventually replace the willow tree. Hardwoods should also be incorporated into the dense planting of conifers along the right side of the hole. As the hardwoods mature, the conifers can begin to be thinned. 31

33 Both the fairway and greenside bunkers should be restored. The large concrete and metal drain inlet in the middle of the fairway should be improved to minimize its impact on golfers. 32

34 10 th Hole Currently: Blue Tee White Tee Gold Tee Red Tee Silver Tee 435 yards 418 yards 395 yards 311 yards 311 yards Proposed: Blue Tee Gold Tee White Tee Green Tee Silver Tee 440 yards 418 yards 395 yards 345 yards 311 yards Existing Conditions: The opening hole of the back nine is a strong par four that plays straightaway towards the bay. A large bunker protects the right side of the landing area but is easily carried by longer hitters. Another bunker guards the front left of the green. Two large willows, and the lovely bay beyond, form the backdrop for this challenging hole. 33

35 Proposed Improvements: Due to its close proximity to the 9 th green, we are proposing that the tee on 10 be shifted to the right. A new rear tee will also be created, which will increase the yardage to 440 yards. The cart path should also shift to the right of the tees further reducing the noise and commotion adjacent to the 9 th green. A new intermediate (Green) tee is also proposed. The cart path that currently crosses in front of the tees should be removed. The large tire ruts across the fairway should be repaired. Several large hardwood trees should be planted on both sides of the fairway. Currently the fairway bunker does not come into play for the better players. Except on the windiest of days, most good players land their tee shots beyond the bunker. 34

36 For this reason, we are suggesting moving the bunker back approximately twenty yards. This, coupled with moving the tees back, will bring the bunker back into play for the better players. The greenside bunker needs to be rebuilt. The low lying area short right of the green needs attention. Additional drainage may be needed and the cart path needs to be repaired. The right side of the green can be expanded slightly to gain some cupping space and the right side approach should also be opened up. The two willow trees behind the green are in decline and should be removed before one of them falls on the green, or worse, on a golfer. They would be replaced by seven small ornamental trees that would provide safety and separation for players on the 7 th tee. 35

37 11 th Hole Currently: Blue Tee White Tee Gold Tee Red Tee Silver Tee 539 yards 511 yards 483 yards 373 yards 373 yards Proposed: Blue Tee Gold Tee White Tee Green Tee Silver Tee 565 yards 511 yards 483 yards 435 yards 385 yards Existing Conditions: The 11 th hole is a strong par five dogleg left. A large bunker guards the inside of the dogleg and presents a nice risk/reward opportunity. Golfers that play close to the bunker, or carry the bunker, with their tee shots shorten the hole considerably. However, if they are caught by the bunker, they will be happy to escape with par. Another bunker short left of the green must be carried by players trying to get home on their second shots. 36

38 Proposed Improvements: Again, a new rear tee has been proposed that would lengthen the hole to 565 yards. We also propose to move the large member s tee to the right to get it away from the 6 th green. The cart path should also shift to the right of the member s tee to reduce traffic and noise around the 6 th green. This will also improve the aesthetics of the tee shot as golfers who flirt with the inside of the dogleg currently line up looking right down the cart path. With the cart path removed, the players view from the tee will be significantly improved. A new intermediate (Green) tee is also proposed. The drainage in the first and second landing areas needs to be improved. Greg and his crew have begun work in these areas and they are already showing tremendous improvement. 37

39 The fairway and greenside bunkers need to be rebuilt. A new cart path should be created adjacent to the second landing area. Currently riders share a path with folks on the 6 th hole and the path is a long way from the second landing area on 11. When carts are restricted to paths only, the long walk to and from the fairway approach area needlessly slows play down. A new path will speed play and keep the golfers playing 11 away from the 6 th tees. The green should be expanded slightly in the back right and front left to recapture lost putting surface. 38

40 12 th Hole Currently: Blue Tee White Tee Gold Tee Red Tee Silver Tee 472 yards 452 yards 423 yards 423 yards 377 yards Proposed: Blue Tee Gold Tee White Tee Green Tee Silver Tee 495 yards 452 yards 423 yards 360 yards 320 yards Existing Conditions: The 12 th is one of Portsmouth s most renowned holes. Playing out to the very tip of Pickering Point in Great Bay, this long and difficult par four, is made even more challenging by the constant winds blowing across the bay. Softwood trees line the inside of the dogleg and four large pines closely guard the left side of the landing area. The approach shot is to a beautiful green site overlooking the bay. A lone bunker is positioned short left of the green. 39

41 Proposed Improvements: A new comfort station is proposed in the area of the current rain shelter. This location is convenient for players between the 5 th and 6 th holes, and again between the 11 th and 12 th holes. It will also provide shelter for players out on the peninsula when a storm rolls in. A new rear tee is proposed in the area of the old 6 th tee. From the new tee the hole will play 495 yards, making it one of, if not, the longest par fours in New England. The hole is beautiful from this angle. The entire corridor is visible from the tee, with Great Bay providing an incredible backdrop. A new cart path spur will bring players to the back tee and will control cart traffic around the comfort station. The large member s tee needs to be reoriented slightly to aim players toward the center of the fairway. 40

42 The conifers along the right side of the hole are encroaching on the tee shot and should be removed. Hardwoods should be planted further to the right to frame the tee shot and protect the 14 th tees and 13 th green. The current forward tee should be expanded to become the Green Tee and a new forward tee should be created on the left side of the fairway. This will provide an easier and more attractive angle for players enjoying the Silver Tees. The left side of the fairway should be expanded slightly to provide a more consistent width throughout the hole and to encourage more people to play to the left side of the landing area, away from the 13 th green. To further encourage golfers to play their tee shots to the left side of the fairway, a new bunker has been proposed on the right side of the landing area. The bunker and several mounds will be adjacent to the cart path and will provide some additional separation between the 12 th fairway and the 13 th green. Also, several hardwood trees should be planted along the right side of the hole between the landing area and the green. The willow in this area serves as a good deterrent for those considering cutting the dogleg. But willows are short-lived trees and some longer lived hardwood species should be planted to take the place of this willow and the other softwoods between the 12 th and 13 th holes. Elm trees have been proposed along the extreme left side of the hole. Originally this hole was framed by a number of lovely elms. (The four pines on the left are not original.) Unfortunately, Dutch elm disease took its toll on most of the elms on the property. However, the new American elm varieties have shown great resistance to the disease and are being planted throughout the country. Thus we intend to recreate much of the original elm treescape at Portsmouth Country Club. The greenside bunker should be restored. It appears the green has shrunk slightly over the decades. Additional putting surface can be gained back left and right corners. A program is already underway to stabilize the shoreline behind the green and hopefully preserve the last remaining oak tree on the hole. 41

43 13 th Hole Currently: Blue Tee White Tee Gold Tee Red Tee Silver Tee 171 yards 152 yards 130 yards 130 yards 130 yards Proposed: Blue Tee Gold Tee White Tee Green Tee Silver Tee 171 yards 152 yards 130 yards 105 yards 95 yards Existing Conditions: The 13 th is a wonderful short par three that plays along the shore of Great Bay. The shallow green is angled from four o clock to 10 o clock and is closely guarded by bunkers in the front left and back right. This well fortified target, coupled with the ever present breeze off the bay, makes the hole play more difficult than the yardage might otherwise suggest. 42

44 Proposed Improvements: The bay is eroding and undermining the shoreline adjacent to the tee. We recommend that the current permit to reinforce the slope behind the 12 th green be amended to include the 13 th tee area as well. The current tee is undersized for a par three hole. It should be expanded as much as possible and a new forward tee should also be created in front of the cart path. This will enable wear to spread out over a larger area and will result in greatly improved tee conditions. The greenside bunkers should be restored back to their original condition. 43

45 14 th Hole Currently: Blue Tee White Tee Gold Tee Red Tee Silver Tee 525 yards 490 yards 432 yards 334 yards 334 yards Proposed: Blue Tee Gold Tee White Tee Green Tee Silver Tee 505 yards 480 yards 432 yards 375 yards 334 yards Existing Conditions: The 14 th is probably Portsmouth s most well-known hole. This short par five hugs the coast line of Great Bay as it doglegs sharply to the left and concludes with a green perched precipitously close to the bay. Two small ponds pinch the first landing area. Unfortunately, their visibility from the tees is very limited. A good drive gives most players an opportunity to go for the green in two. But danger lurks as three bunkers and the bay surround the long and narrow green. Again, the wind significantly adds to the difficulty of the hole. 44

46 Proposed Improvements: A new cart path loop should be created to bring golfers past the back tees. This will speed play and help control traffic around the tees. The back tee should be releveled. A new intermediate tee is proposed for Green Tee players. The pond on the inside of the dogleg should be expanded to be more visible from the tees and to create a greater risk/reward opportunity for players willing to flirt with the left side of the fairway in hopes of reaching the green in two. The three little trees currently on the inside of the dogleg will be removed in the process. The pond will also help alleviate some poorly drained areas on the left side of the fairway and rough. 45

47 We are also proposing to expand the pond on the right side of the fairway. In so doing we actually move the pond further away from the landing area. Currently this pond creates a difficult rules issue, especially during tournament play. If golfers do not see their tee shots land in the pond, and can t see their balls in the pond, they must declare their balls lost and return to the tee. They are not allowed to assume that their shots landed in the pond. For this reason we propose to move the pond to the right into the low area between the 11 th, 14 th and 17 th holes and expand it greatly. This will create a lovely water feature that will help with the drainage in this low portion of the golf course. It will also be a tremendous environmental asset that will benefit many of the wildlife and avian species that frequent the property. The greenside bunkers should be restored and the bunker short right of the green should be rebuilt more in the style of Trent Jones. The green appears to have shrunk considerable over the decades. It should be expanded back to its original size and configuration. 46

48 15 th Hole Currently: Blue Tee White Tee Gold Tee Red Tee Silver Tee 341 yards 329 yards 310 yards 310 yards 229 yards Proposed: Blue Tee Gold Tee White Tee Green Tee Silver Tee 341 yards 329 yards 310 yards 245 yards 210 yards Existing Conditions: The 15 th is the shortest par four on the course and doglegs left around a small pond and a cluster of trees. Better players can carry the trouble on the inside of the dogleg and, under favorable conditions, possibly reach the green. Two bunkers front the hilltop green, which again offers spectacular views of the bay. 47

49 Proposed Improvements: The member s tee should be realigned more directly toward the primary landing area and should be expanded to the back as much as possible. The current forward tee should be realigned and expanded to accommodate the Green Tees. A new forward tee should be created. The trees on the inside of the dogleg were the subject of considerable debate by the committee. Originally, Mr. Jones constructed two bunkers on the inside of the dogleg, where the cedar trees now stand. As technology improved and the better players easily cleared these hazards, it was determined by members that the bunkers should be removed and trees should be planted in this area. If we could move the tees back about thirty yards we would remove the trees, reinstate the original bunkers and be back to Mr. Jones original intent. However, due to the 48

50 close proximity of the bay, we can t gain the length necessary to bring the original bunkers back into play for the better golfers. Thus another bunker would have to be added further up the fairway to challenge the longer hitters as Jones originally envisioned. This dense grouping of trees on the inside of the dogleg has resulted in an up-andover tee shot that will become more accentuated as the cedars grow taller. It also has diminished the beauty of the hole by breaking up the view of the golf corridor. This too will only get worse as the trees mature. I recognize the risk-reward opportunity that the trees present. However, trees are not what Mr. Jones originally intended as protectors of the dogleg. In fact, he did not consider dense clusters of trees fair golf hazards and thought they introduced too much luck into the initial shot and the subsequent recovery shots. My hunch is that if Mr. Jones were able to visit the club today, he would much prefer to see bunkers or a pond protecting the inside of the dogleg. This would be in keeping with his original design intent. Several specimen hardwood trees should be planted between the 14 th and 15 th holes. Another hardwood should be planted left of the cart path short of the green. The greenside bunkers should be restored to their original configurations. 49

51 16 th Hole Currently: Blue Tee White Tee Gold Tee Red Tee Silver Tee 167 yards 143 yards 117 yards 117 yards 117 yards Proposed: Blue Tee Gold Tee White Tee Green Tee Silver Tee 185 yards 165 yards 145 yards 125 yards 117 yards Existing Conditions: The final par three of the round plays slightly downhill to a small crowned green protected by bunkers short left and right. Again, wind can wreak havoc on this seemingly benign hole. 50

52 Proposed Improvements: We are proposing that the rear tee be expanded. The tee pad would be expanded with suitable material excavated from the pond expansions on 14. This will increase the rear tee yardage to approximately 185 yards. The large existing tee will be realigned slightly to point directly at the green. This will be accomplished by adjusting the mowing along the left edge of the tee. The greenside bunkers should be restored. The green can be expanded slight in the front left to recapture some lost square footage. 51

53 17 th Hole Currently: Blue Tee White Tee Gold Tee Red Tee Silver Tee 445 yards 401 yards 376 yards 300 yards 300 yards Proposed: Blue Tee Gold Tee White Tee Green Tee Silver Tee 445 yards 401 yards 376 yards 350 yards 300 yards Existing Conditions: The 17 th is the first of two difficult par four closing holes. This straightaway two-shotter allows players to let it fly off the tee. The approach favors the right side of the fairway and is to a green that wraps around a left side bunker from five o clock to ten o clock. A second bunker protects the right side of the narrow putting surface. 52

54 Proposed Improvements: The rear tee has settled over time and should be releveled. A new intermediate (Green) tee is proposed between the current middle and forward tees. Old tire ruts crossing the fairway short of the first landing area should be repaired. Originally, Mr. Jones had a fairway bunker right of the landing area. The seemingly out-of-place mounds in front of the 11 th tee are all that remains of the complex. In order to restore the original design intent of the hole, a new fairway bunker has been proposed about fifty yards beyond the original. This will restore Mr. Jones s intention of protecting the right side of the fairway, which is the preferred side for approaching the green. 53

55 In addition to the new fairway bunker, several hardwood trees will also be planted along the right side of the hole to create some separation between 17 and 11 and to discourage golfers from blasting their tee shots up the right side rough. Several poorly drained areas in the rough short-right of the green need attention. The greenside bunkers should be restored. The green appears to have shrunk over the years. Additional putting surface can be reclaimed in the front and back corners of the green. 54

56 18 th Hole Currently: Blue Tee White Tee Gold Tee Red Tee Silver Tee 448 yards 410 yards 394 yards 394 yards 330 yards Proposed: Blue Tee Gold Tee White Tee Green Tee Silver Tee 460 yards 410 yards 394 yards 355 yards 330 yards Existing Conditions: Another strong par four that plays slightly uphill back to the clubhouse. From the original right side tee the hole is a demanding dogleg right. A newer left side tee shortens the hole slightly and plays straightaway. Large trees protect both sides of the landing zone. The approach is to an elevated green guarded by bunkers short right and left. 55

57 Proposed Improvements: The rear right-side tee should be releveled. Several specimen hardwood trees should be planted between this tee and the new rear tee on 11. A new hardwood tree planted adjacent to the cart path between the right-side and left-side tees would help frame the hole from both locations. A new forward (Silver) tee is proposed. The current forward tee would become the Green Tee. Hardwood trees are proposed along the left side of the fairway to eventually replace the willow and the pine tree. They will also screen the short-game practice area, which is a distraction for players on this hole. Tire ruts crossing the fairway in the landing area should be repaired. 56

58 The fairway from the landing area to the green needs to shift right slightly to be centered on the green. Currently the fairway is positioned to serve either the actual green or the old alternate green. But, as the alternate green is no longer utilized, the fairway needs to shift back to the right. An old abandoned wellhead needs to be cut to accommodate the fairway shift to the right. The greenside bunkers need to be restored. The green should be expanded on the right to recapture additional putting surface. 57

59 Practice Putting Green Existing Conditions: The practice putting green is conveniently located adjacent to the first tee on the bayside of the clubhouse. It is a very attractive setting that can be enjoyed by people on the patio and in the restaurant. It is a fair sized green, with gentle contouring throughout. Ideally the green would be larger, with more contouring, to allow a greater variety of practice putting opportunities. A second smaller green that was originally created for juniors now serves as a chipping green. Although this keeps people from chipping to the practice putting green, the tiny green provides only limited chipping options. This green, and the chipping apron, should also be expanded. 58

60 Proposed Improvements: We are proposing to expand the practice putting green significantly to provide more variety in practice options, to spread wear over a greater area and to accommodate more golfers during busy periods. We also propose to expand the practice chipping area for the same reasons. This front patio area adjacent to the clubhouse is exceptional. Our desire is simply to maximize the potential of this area. Currently there is some wasted space and we plan to utilize these areas to the fullest extent possible. 59

61 Short Game Practice Area Existing Conditions: Portsmouth is blessed with a realistic short game practice area. Originally created as an alternate green for the 18 th hole, the short game practice area allows members to practice a nice variety of short game shots. The area features an elevated two-tiered green, a greenside bunker and a small fairway approach. This amenity is one that all clubs wish they had, but only a few are willing to build. 60

62 Proposed Improvements: The row of arborvitaes in front of the short-game area should be removed. There may be an opportunity to replant them adjacent to the new maintenance building for screening purposes. The approach to the green should be expanded to allow more options for practicing short approach shots. The area to the front left of the green should be built up to allow some level chip and pitch shot practice from the low side of the green. The existing bunker should be rebuilt and a new bunker added back left of the green. This will allow players to practice uphill and downhill bunkers shots. A chipping area should also be created in the back right of the green to provide more variety of chipping options. 61

63 Practice Range Existing Conditions: The practice range is generally functional. It is approximately 250 yards long and 75 yards wide. The turf tee is approximately 60 feet wide, which enables only eight golfers to practice at a time. And the tee is also undersized by modern standards at 5,500 square feet in area. Fortunately, the back of the tee has an artificial turf mat to help reduce the stress and wear on the tee area. The range itself consists of a series of ridges and swales perpendicular to the line of play. This results in blind spots in the range where golfers can t see their shots land. And a large ridge approximately 200 yards from the tee blocks the view of any shots beyond this distance. There is a tremendous amount of land adjacent to the range that isn t currently being utilized. For this reason, the range should be widened, extended and recontoured to maximize the potential of the area. This will provide golfers ample teeing space, numerous target options and full visibility of their shots. 62

64 Proposed Improvements: We are proposing an ambitious range improvement project. First a large new tee would be added in front of the current tee. This wider tee would accommodate up to 25 golfers at a time and would allow for wear to spread over a much larger tee area. Also, the range landing area would be regraded to allow golfers to see their full shots. The large ridge at the back of the range would be lowered and the area adjacent to the creek between the range and the 2 nd tee would be raised to allow the range to stretch over 300 yards. Realistic fairway landing areas and target green areas would be created to allow enjoyable practice with all the clubs. Mounding at the back of the range in addition to tree plantings long and left would help ensure the safety of golfers on the 1 st and 2 nd holes. The range should also be irrigated as it is visible not only from the clubhouse, but from many parts of the golf course as well. These improvements will result in a world-class practice range for Portsmouth CC. 63

65 Appendix A Long Range Planning Committee I wish to thank the following people who devoted considerable time and effort to this project as members of the Long Range Planning Committee. I am indebted to everyone on the committee for their dedication, insights and considerable patience as we made our way through the planning process. This Plan is the result of their hard work. Committee members: Mr. David Lawrence, Chairman Mr. John Addorio Mrs. Florette Berg Mr. Jack Duffin Mr. Jim Facteau Mr. Dennis Greenwood Mr. Peter Kearns Mr. Kevin Mullavey Mr. Chris Pollet Mr. Steve Robbins Mr. Greg DuBois, Golf Course Superintendent Mr. Bill Andrews, Golf Professional I also wish to thank Mr. Tony Loch for his support of this project and his vivid recollections of the evolution of Portsmouth Country Club over the past halfcentury. Finally, I would like to thank the members of Portsmouth Country Club for their understanding of what a wonderful gem they possess and their desire to ensure that it remains not only the finest public golf course in New Hampshire, but a living museum for the golfers of tomorrow. Thank you, all. 64

66 Appendix B Robert Trent Jones, Golf Course Architect Robert Trent Jones was born in Ince, England in 1906 and was brought to America at the age of three when his parents migrated to western New York. He learned to play golf as a teenager at Genundawah, a nine-hole course on the shore of Lake Ontario, in East Rochester, New York. Each day after school Jones and a friend would mow the greens; and when they finished they were allowed to play for the remainder of the day. Within a year or so he was not only developing a keen understanding of turfgrass maintenance, but he was becoming quite a player as well. By the age of sixteen he had become a formidable challenger in local events. In an Open tournament at Genesee Valley Park in Rochester, Jones finished as low amateur, and in second place overall, with scores of 76 and 69 the final round setting the course record. Unfortunately a duodenal ulcer forced Jones to forego tournament golf for several years. After dropping out of high school and working as a draftsman for Merchants Despatch Transportation, Inc., which maintained and operated railroad refrigerator cars, Jones considered designing and building golf courses for a living. Having watched the renowned Donald Ross construct the two courses at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, he was intrigued by the process, but unsure as to how to pursue such a career. Still recognized as a fine player in his later teens, Jones landed a job at the Sodus Country Club in nearby Sodus Bay, where he served as the professional, greenkeeper and manager for the small nine-hole course. One day he had the good fortune of discussing his dream of becoming a golf architect with James Bashford, a wealthy member at the club. Bashford, perhaps recognizing brilliance when he saw it, drove Jones to Cornell University and introduced him to the dean of the College of Agriculture. Jones was accepted to the university as a special student and was allowed to create his own curriculum pertinent to golf course architecture. During his summer vacations, Jones returned to his position at Sodus Point; except for one year when, with Bashford s assistance, he landed a job teaching at the Hollywood Golf and Country Club in Florida. His health had also improved to where he again could play some tournament golf; and among his most notable showings was a tenth place finish in the 1927 Canadian Open. After finishing his classes at Cornell, Jones took an art course at the Rochester Technical Institute. There he honed his sketching skills that served him so well over the years not only in the field with design and construction, but also in selling his services to prospective clients. 65

67 Jones completed his studies in 1930 and, at the age of twenty-four, was ready to pursue a career in golf course architecture. Following a couple small remodeling jobs, he was hired to design the Midvale Golf & Country Club in Penfield, New York. The club, probably uneasy about Jones lack of experience, also called in Canadian Stanley Thompson to consult on the project. Unfortunately, the club went broke just before construction was completed and the architects went unpaid. Nevertheless, Thompson was impressed with Jones abilities and asked him to join his staff. Soon thereafter Jones was made a partner in Thompson, Jones & Associates and he set up a branch office in New York City. Jones primarily handled the firm s domestic projects but occasionally assisted with Thompson s designs as well. The partner s next three projects went the way of Midvale and were shut down prior to completion. Therefore, Jones became more involved with international designs. He routed the famed Capilano in British Columbia and produced drawings for several courses in South America. The domestic tide slowly changed though once Jones convinced several municipalities to utilize WPA funds for the construction of public golf courses. His first such project was Durand-Eastman Park for his home town of Rochester; and among the others were Pottawatomie Park in St. Charles, Illinois and Green Lakes State Park Golf Course in Fayetteville, New York, the latter of which Jones managed for several years after completion. In 1934 Jones married Ione Davis whom he had met while attending Cornell. The couple settled in her home town of Montclair, New Jersey; and she basically ran the office during the early years while Jones was traveling about from project to project. Thompson and Jones amicably dissolved their partnership in 1938; and Jones, respecting his friends turf, did not accept any jobs in Canada until after Thompson passed away in This left Jones on his own through the War, during which time he scraped to find enough work to keep the office going. In 1945 though, Jones got the call that was to catapult him to the forefront of golf course architecture. The great Bobby Jones had decided to invite Jones to design his second golf project. By this time Augusta National had become one of the most respected courses in the nation; and Bobby Jones was interested in creating another club closer to his home town of Atlanta, Georgia. Interestingly, during their first meeting the two Jones played nine holes at East Lake and the architect fashioned a very respectable 36. However, having finished seven shots behind Jones the golfer, who carded a 29, the architect realized there could only be one Bobby Jones in Atlanta. From that time on he referred to himself as Trent Jones. A gently rolling 230-acre tract of land was selected northeast of town. It was part of the Ashford estate and included the historic Cobb Caldwell mansion, which still today serves as the clubhouse. As he had done previously at Augusta, Bobby Jones 66

68 convinced a number of his wealthy friends to finance the project, and soon construction of the Peachtree Golf Club was under way. Originally it was thought that this would be Bobby Jones encore to Augusta National, but in fact Peachtree became a testimony of Trent Jones design philosophies. The course was routed through the low lying areas of the site and, when completed in 1948, its scale was immense. Peachtree, at 7,219 yards, was the longest course in America. It also featured the largest tees in the world and greens that averaged 8,000 square feet in area. Bold contouring in the greens created five or more distinct hole locations on each which, along with the long tees, allowed the course to be set up at a variety of lengths and difficulties. It also enabled wear to be more widely distributed over the tees and greens allowing more recovery time for stressed areas. Many years later Jones wrote in his autobiography entitled Golf s Magnificent Challenge, I believed at the time, and still believe, that the (Peachtree) course would set a standard for modern golf course architecture. Certainly its features have been incorporated into countless courses, mine and others. The 2 nd hole at Peachtree, a downhill 555-yard par five, is a wonderful example of what Jones coined heroic architecture. One of the rare Jones holes without a bunker, the 2 nd features a stream which widens to a pond in front of the green. A good drive leaves the player three options. They can go for the green in two, but the pond awaits any slightly misstruck shot; or they can lay up on either side of the pond. The near island of fairway on the right is easily hit but leaves a delicate third over the pond to the green; whereas the lay-up area on the left requires a stronger shot to clear the stream, but leaves an easier third shot into the open side of the green. This variety of attack angles coupled with the fact that the risks that must be faced are directly proportional to the rewards that may be reaped makes the 2 nd a tremendously exciting hole. In 1935 Jones first wrote of these heroic holes which, along with penal and strategic holes, created what he considered a third school of golf design. The trapping (in the heroic) is not as profuse as in the penal, nor as scarce as in the strategic. Traps vary from ugly, treacherous-looking ones to small, insignificant pot bunkers. The line of flight is usually blocked by some formidable looking hazard placed at a diagonal and involving a carry of from 170 to 220 yards in which the player is allowed to bite off as much as he feels he can chew. If his game... is not equal to the task, a safe alternate route to play around it is provided. The same principal is used in green design, in which the green is placed at an angle to the line of flight with an opening allowed for the cautious. Jones tried always to incorporate one or two heroic holes into his designs and these often became recognized as the signature holes of their respective courses. A good example is the 13 th hole at the Dunes Golf & Beach Club in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, a course Jones completed in The 13 th is a 575-yard par five which bends abruptly to the right along the shore of Singleton Lake. The tee shot is 67

69 ideally played as close to the lake as one dares which shortens the required carry over the lake on the second shot. The more water the player carries on the second the closer they get to the green. The safer they play, away from the lake, the longer the hole becomes. This hole is considered by many to be Jones finest example of heroic design, and is the one hole everyone thinks of when the Dunes course is mentioned. (The 14 th is Jones heroic hole at Portsmouth Country Club.) Having cemented a close friendship with Bobby Jones at Peachtree, Trent was called in several times between 1946 and 1950 to make modifications at Augusta National. His most significant alterations were made on the 11 th and 16 th holes, both of which he strengthened considerably. In 1949 Jones was hired to prepare the South Course at the Oakland Hills Country Club in Birmingham, Michigan for the 1951 U.S. Open. Originally designed by Donald Ross in 1917, steel shafts and livelier balls had shortened the course considerably and the many fairway bunkers were easily carried by the competitors. Therefore, Jones lengthened several holes, most notably the famed 16 th, and repositioned the fairway bunkers between 230 to 270 yards from the back tees. Jones also added several greenside bunkers but, for the most part, retained the original Ross greens. When the alterations were completed, the result was the most demanding course in U.S. Open history. Thick rough surrounded the narrow fairways and many players deemed the difficult 6,927 yard par 70 course unfair. Nevertheless, Ben Hogan fired a final round 67 on his way to a seven over par total of 287 and a two stroke victory over Clayton Heafner. After his final round success Hogan proclaimed that he had brought this monster to its knees. Whether the pros liked it or not, Jones course preparation for the 1951 Open became the standard for the USGA; and all subsequent U.S. Open courses have been conditioned in much the same manner as was Oakland Hills. Two months after the 1951 Open Championship, Herbert W. Wind authored an exhaustive article on Jones and his works in The New Yorker magazine. These two events gained Jones considerable public notoriety; and with the country experiencing a development boom, he soon became the most sought after golf architect in history. The publicity garnered from Oakland Hills convinced other U.S. Open host courses to bring Jones in to strengthen their layouts prior to the tournament. These included Baltusrol Golf Club s Lower Course, the Lake Course at the Olympic Club, Oak Hill Country Club s East Course, Southern Hills Country Club and Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland. Soon he had earned the title of the Open Doctor. Needless to say, these works only further amplified Jones reputation as a designer of tremendously difficult golf courses. He always stood by his convictions though, forever believing that every hole should be a hard par and an easy bogey. 68

70 During the 1950s Jones created a number of first-rate courses in the modern tradition of Augusta National and Peachtree. Among the most notable were Old Warson Country Club and Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis, Missouri, Point O Woods in Benton Harbor, Michigan and the South Course at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. While each of these layouts were tremendously strong and challenging, Firestone created a great deal of controversy for being perhaps too difficult. Originally laid out in 1929 by Bert Way, the South Course at Firestone had been selected to host the 1960 PGA Championship. Due to a limited budget Jones followed Way s routing, with its abundance of north and south running holes. That was about all that was salvaged from Way s course though as Jones lengthened the layout, rebuilt all the greens, added numerous bunkers and two water hazards. When completed the course measured 7,190 yards and played to a par of 70. Immediately critics dubbed Firestone as yet another typical Jones creation long, hard and boring. But Jones defended his design, later writing, it is certainly long and difficult, but it is hardly boring. Despite the parallel fairway and there I had no choice there is a diversity of water, sand, fairway and green designs that provide a different challenge on almost every hole. He continued on by stating, I prefer to think of it (Firestone) as a course on which par is the standard, although that standard usually is beaten by today s great players. But when they do, they have played extremely well. By 1960, Jones had become such a monumental figure in the profession of golf course design, that competing architects were copying his modern style of design. 7,100 yard courses became commonplace. As did also long runway tees, fairway bunkering at prescribed distances, large elevated greens with flanking bunkers, and man-made water hazards. Toward the end of his career Jones wrote of his influence during these glory years. It has been said that I ushered in a new era in golf architecture during this period. Certainly many of the design factors that went into my layouts had appeared in courses over the centuries. But I do feel that the introduction of the heroic concept, skillfully mixed with the strategic and, occasionally, the penal, set new standards for the modern golf course. I followed the same strategy in my many remodeling jobs. I did not want stretches of rough from the tee to the fairway or hazards in spots that would penalize and paralyze the higher handicappers. I spent a lot of time taking out crossbunkering and other penal attributes of the older courses and putting in options that would help those players. In effect, I was cleaning up architecture. The 1960s and early 70s proved no different for Jones organization. In fact, his office grew even larger during these years. Roger Rulewich, Cabell Robinson and Jones two sons, Robert Jr. and Rees, joined the firm during the boom years, which softened the blow of the 1963 departure of longtime assistant Francis Duane, who 69

71 had been with Jones since This stable of young designers helped Jones keep track of his many projects, which by this time were scattered around the globe. Jones once boasted, The sun never sets on the Robert Trent Jones golf course. Over the years he worked in thirty-four countries on five continents for such luminaries as Laurance Rockefeller, Dr. Armand Hammer, Yoshiaki Tsutsumi, the Aga Kahn and King Hassan II of Morocco. His most notable international works include Valderrama and Sotogrande in Spain, Royal Dar-Es-Salaam in Morocco and the New Course at Ballybunion in Ireland. With the exception of Ballybunion, which was a very naturalistic course, Jones foreign works introduced the modern style of golf architecture to many nations desperate for quality golfing facilities. Thus, once completed, his courses became the prototype for all future projects in that region. Among the many fine domestic projects Jones produced during this era were the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel Golf Club in Hawaii, Atlanta Athletic Club in Duluth, Georgia, Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota and Spyglass Hill Golf Links in Pebble Beach, California. Typical of most Jones projects, each of these designs met with both praise and criticism. However, Hazeltine and Spyglass came under such scrutiny that Jones was forced to return and make modifications to each layout. Completed in 1963, Hazeltine National was selected to host the U.S. Open only seven years later. Situated on the shore of Lake Hazeltine, the course is unquestionably attractive; but the lack of maturity and the accompanying lack of definition led to considerable criticism by the Open competitors. Among the players complaints were that eleven of the greens could not be seen from the tees and that several sharp doglegs required players to lay up on holes they felt were far too long and difficult to require such cautious play. Needless to say, after the Open concluded, Jones was called back in to straighten some holes and soften some greens. Some twenty years later, Jones son Rees was retained to prepare the course for its second Open in Spyglass Hill underwent a similar ordeal when it joined Pebble Beach and Cypress Point as a host course for the Crosby Clambake in 1967, less than a year after it had opened for play. Situated on what Robert Louis Stevenson called the greatest meeting of land and water in the world, Spyglass opens amongst the dunes overlooking Monterey Bay before winding its way back up the hill through dense stands of towering pines. Under favorable weather conditions it is simply one of the world s most demanding courses. But the weather along the Central California coast is seldom calm and it is under these less than ideal conditions that Spyglass becomes a torture chamber of turf, trees and sand. Jones had created some steep slopes in the front of several greens, which proved very unpopular, to improve visibility from the fairways. Also, during that first year, the heavy clay soil created 70

72 some serious drainage problems on the course. Jones was quickly called back in to rebuild the greens in question, and over time the drainage problems were rectified. Now, after forty years of maturation, Spyglass Hill stands quite possibly as Jones finest creation ever. Amazingly, Jones continued working well into his nineties. By this time Roger Rulewich had become his senior architect and sons Robert Jr. and Rees had started design offices of their own. Jones passed away in 2000; and in his nearly seventy years of design Jones was involved with over 400 projects. He also received many noteworthy awards including the Golf Writers Association of America s William D. Richardson Award in 1981 and the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America s prestigious Old Tom Morris Award in But perhaps the most meaningful was the inaugural Donald Ross Award in 1976 presented by the American Society of Golf Course Architects, of which Jones was a founding member. Needless to say, Jones had a more profound influence on golf course design and the profession of golf architecture than anyone in history; and his legacy will continue as long as this great game is played. From The History of the American Golf Course, Ross Forbes,

73 Courses Designed by Robert Trent Jones Alabama: Alpine Bay GC, Alpine (1972) Grand National GC, Opelika (Auburn 1993; Opelika 1992; Short 1992) Hampton Cove GC, Huntsville (Highland 1992; Lowland 1992; Short 1992) Magnolia Grove GC, Mobile (Crossings 1992; Falls 1992; Short 1992) Oxmoor Valley GC, Birmingham (Ridge 1992; Valley 1992; Short 1992) Turtle Point Y & CC, Florence (1964) Alaska: Eagleglen GC, Elmendorf AFB (1972) Arizona: Rio Rico GC, Rio Rico (1971) Village of Oak Creek CC, Sedona (9 1967; A ) Wigwam G & CC, Goodyear (Blue 1965; Gold 1965) California: Birnam Wood GC, Santa Barbara (1968) Calabasas Park CC, Calabasas Park (1968) El Dorado Hills GC, El Dorado Hills (Precision 1964) Laguna Seca G Ranch, Laguna Seca (1970) Mission Viejo CC, Mission Viejo (1966) Pauma Valley CC, Pauma Valley (1960) Rancho California GC, Murrieta (1970) Silverado CC, Napa (South 1967) Spring Valley Lake CC, Victorville (1971) Spyglass Hill Golf Links, Pebble Beach (1966) Sunset Dunes GC, Colton (Par ) Tecolote Canyon GC, San Diego (Precision 1964) Valencia GC, Valencia (1969) Colorado: Eisenhower GC, U.S. Air Force Academy (Blue 1959) Connecticut: Black Hall C, Old Lyme (1967) Bruce Memorial CG, Greenwich (1966) Fairview CC, Greenwich (1968) Lyman Meadow CG, Middlefield (1969) Patterson C, Fairfield (1946) Rockrimmon CC, Stamford (9 1949) Delaware: Wilmington CC, Wilmington (South 1960) Florida: All-American CG, Sharpes (Par ) American Golfers C, Fort Lauderdale (Precision 1958) Apollo Beach G & Sea C, Apollo Beach (9 1962) Beauclerc CC, Jacksonville (9 1955) Coral Ridge CC, Fort Lauderdale (1956) Flamingo Island C, Naples (1990) GC of Miami, Hialeah (East 1962; North [Par 3] 1962; NLE; West 1962) Grenelefe G & RC, Haines City (West [Routing] 1971) Inverrary CC, Lauderhill (East 1970, South [Precision] 1970, West 1971) Kings Point Executive GC, Delray Beach (No. 1 [Prec.] 1972; No. 2 [Par 3] 1973) MacDonald Estate GC, Bal Harbour (2 1955) MetroWest CC, Orlando (1987) Patrick AFB GC, Cocoa Beach (9 1961) Ponte Vedra C, Ponte Vedra Beach (Lagoon, ) Royal Palm Y & CC, Boca Raton (1960) 72

74 Sun City Center G & CC, Sun City Center (Kings Point [Precision] 1974) Turnberry Isle G & CC, North Miami (North 1974; South 1971) Georgia: Atlanta Athletic C, Duluth (Highlands, ; Riverside 1967) Chattahoochee GC, Gainesville (1959) Fort Benning G & CC, Fort Benning (Pineside, ) Gordon Lakes GC, Fort Gordon (1975) Metropolitan G & TC, Decatur (1968) Peachtree GC, Atlanta (1948), with Robert Tyre Jones, Jr. Standard C, Atlanta (1951, NLE) Stone Mountain GC, Stone Mountain (Stonemont 1968) Sunset Hills CC, Carrollton (9 1949) University of Georgia GC, Athens (1968) Hawaii: Hawaii Kai GC, Honolulu (Executive [Precision] 1960) Mauna Kea Beach Hotel GC, Kamuela (1965) Royal Kaanapali GC, Lahaina (North 1962) Idaho: Elkhorn GC, Sun Valley (1975) Illinois: Hilldale GC, Hoffman Estates (1972) Norris Estate GC, St. Charles (9 1935, NLE) Pottawatomie Park GC, St. Charles (9 1936) [The] Rail GC, Springfield (1974) Indiana: Otter Creek GC, Columbus (1959) Kansas: Crestview CC, Wichita (North 1969; South, ) Custer Hill GC, Fort Riley (9 1960) Kentucky: CC of Paducah, Paducah (1979) Louisiana: Santa Maria GC, Baton Rouge (1987) Timberlane CC, Gretna (1959) Maine: Evergreen Valley CG, Stoneham (9 1975, NLE) Maryland: Camp David GC, Camp David (1 1954) Ocean Pines G & CC, Ocean City (1972) Walden GC, Crofton (9 1969) Massachusetts: Crumpin-Fox C, Bernardston (9 1978, A ) Ipswich CC, Ipswich (1989) Round Hill C, South Dartmouth (9 routing) Tara Ferncroft CC, Danvers (1970) Michigan: Boyne Highlands GC, Harbor Springs (Heather 1968) Point O Woods G & CC, Benton Harbor (1958) Treetops GC, Gaylord (Jones 1987) Minnesota: Hazeltine National GC, Chaska (1962) Jonathan Par-30 GC, Chaska (9 Precision 1974) Missouri: Bellerive CC, Creve Coeur (1960) CC at the Legends, Eureka (1989) [The] Lodge of Four Seasons GC, Lake Ozark (1974) Old Warson CC, Ladue (1955) Montana: Yellowstone G & CC, Billings (1959) Nebraska: Willow Lakes GC, Offutt AFB (1964) 73

75 Nevada: Incline Green GC, Incline Village (Precision 1971) Incline Village GC, Incline Village (1964) Lake Ridge GC, Reno (1971) New Hampshire: Portsmouth G & CC, Greenland (1957) New Jersey: Duke Estate GC, Somerville (9 1940, NLE) Hominy Hill GC, Colts Neck (1965) Lyons VA Hospital GC, Lyons (9 1947) Metedeconk National GC, Jackson (1987, A 3 rd ) Panther Valley CC, Allamuchy (1969) Rancocas CC, Willingboro (1966) [The] Spa CG, McAfee ([9 Precision] 1088) Tammy Brook CC, Cresskill (1962) Upper Montclair CC, Clifton ( ) Wayne CC, Wayne (1951, NLE) New York: Albany CC, Voorheesville (1963) Amsterdam Muni, Amsterdam (1938) Bristol Harbor Village GC, Canandaigua (1975) Crag Burn C, Elma (1971) Durand-Eastman Park GC, Rochester (1934) Eisenhower Park GC, East Meadow (Blue 1951; White 1950) Fallsview Hotel GC, Ellenville (9 1962) Fox Hills G & CC, Riverhead (1966) Frear Park GC, Troy (9 1963) Glen Oak GC, East Amherst (1971) Green Lakes State Park GC, Fayetteville (1935) Hancock Muni, Hancock (9 1947, NLE) Hempstead GC at Lido, Long Beach (1956) IBM CC, Poughkeepsie (9 1945, A ) James Baird State Park GC, Pleasant Valley (1948) Malone GC, Malone (New C 1986) Marine Park GC, Brooklyn (1963) Midvale G & CC, Penfield (1931), with Stanley Thompson Montauk G & RC, Montauk Point (1968) North Hills CC, Manhasset (1961) Pines Hotel GC, South Fallsburg (9 1960) Quaker Hill GC, Pawling (9 1935) Radisson Greens GC, Baldwinsville (1976) Robert Trent Jones GC, Cornell University, Ithaca (9 1937, A ) Seven Oaks GC, Colgate University, Hamilton (9 1955, A ) Sodus Point GC, Sodus Point (9 1926) Tuxedo GC, Tuxedo Park (1947) West Point GC, U.S. Military Academy (1949) Wiltwyck CC, Kingston (1955) North Carolina: Carolina Trace G & CC, Sanford (Lake C 1971; Creek C, , A ) Duke University GC, Durham (1957) Tanglewood GC, Clemmons (East C, ; A ; West C 1957) Ohio: Arthur Raymond GC, Columbus (1949) Champions of Columbus GC, Columbus (1952) Firestone CC, Akron (North C 1969; South C 1959) Oregon: Eugene CC, Eugene (1967) 74

76 Heron Lakes GC, Portland ( ) Pennsylvania: Tamiment CC, Tamiment-on-the-Pocono (1947) South Carolina: Dunes G & BC, Myrtle Beach (1949) Greenville CC, Greenville (Chanticleer C 1970) Palmetto Dunes CC, Hilton Head Island (Jones C 1969) Seabrook Island GC, Seabrook Island (Crooked Oaks C 1981) Tennessee: Link Hills CC, Greenville (1947) Scona Lodge CC, Alcoa (9 1957) Texas: Corpus Christi CC, Corpus Christi (1965) Horseshoe Bay CC, Horseshoe Bay (Applerock 1985; Ram Rock 1981; Slick Rock 1973) Houston CC, Houston (1957) Rayburn C & CC, Jasper (Blue Nine 9, 1973) Shady Oaks CC, Fort Worth (1959), with Lawrence Hughes and Ralph Plummer Sugar Creek CC, Sugarland (27, 1970) Vermont: Sugarbush GC, Warren (1965) Virginia: Fort Belvoir GC, Fort Belvoir (9 1949) Golden Horseshoe GC, Williamsburg (Gold C 1964; Spotswood C [9 Prec.] 1965) Lower Cascades GC, Hot Springs (1961) Robert Trent Jones CG, Lake Manassas (1991) Stumpy Lake GC, Norfolk (1957) West Virginia: Bel-Meadow G & CC, Mount Clare (1967) Cacapon Springs GC, Berkley Springs (1973) Speidel GC, Wheeling (1972) Wisconsin: Madeline Island G Links, La Pointe (1967) [The] Springs GC, Spring Green (1969) Alberta: Kananaskis Country GC, Kananaskis (Mt. Kidd C 1984; Mt. Lorette C 1983) British Columbia: Rivershore GC, Kamloops (1981) Ontario: London Hunt & CC, London (9 1962) Bahamas: Cotton Bay C, Eleuthera (1955) Belgium: G de Bercuit, Grez Doiceau (1968) Bermuda: Port Royal GC, Southampton (1970) St. George s GC, St. George s (Precision 1985) Brazil: Brasilia GC, Brasilia (1970) Teresopolis GC, Terespolis (9 1934), with Stanley Thompson Colombia: El Rincon C, Bogota (1963) Dominican Republic: Playa Dorado GC, Playa Dorado (1979) England: Moor Allerton GC, Yorkshire ( ) France: Chamonix GC, Chamonix (1983) Golf de Bondues, Roubaix (Blue C, Golf de la Cote d Argent Moliets, Bordeaux ( ) Golf de la Grande Motte, Montpellier (Long C 1988; Short C [Precision] 1988) Golf de Riviera, Mandelieu (1991) Golf de Sperone, Corsica (1990) Golf de Valescure, St. Raphael (1989) 75

77 Golf de Vidauban, Vidauban (1992) Golf Esterel, St. Raphael (1992) Germany: Bodensee GC, Lindau (1987) Guadeloupe: Golf de St. Francois, St. Francois (1978) Ireland: Ballybunion GC, County Kerry (New C 1985) Italy: CC Castelgandolfo, Rome (1988) GC Castelconturbia, Arona ( ) I Roveri GC, Turin ( ) Jamaica: Half Moon-Rose Hall GC, Montego Bay (1961) Japan: Karuizawa Golf, Karuizawa (Higashi 1972; Kita 1972; Minami 1972; Mishi 1972) Martinique: Empress Josephine GC, Trois Illets (1977) Mexico: Tres Vidas en la Playa, Acapulco (East C 1969, NLE; West C 1969, NLE) Morocco: Golf de la Palmeriae, Marrakesh (1991) Royal G Dar es Salaam, Rabat (Blue C 1974; Green C [9] 1974; Red C 1971) Royal Palace GC d Agadir, Agadir (1987) Philippines: Luisita GC, Tarlac (1968) Portugal: Quinta da Marinha GC, Faro (1985) Troia GC, Setubal (1979) Puerto Rico: Cerromar Beach GC, Dorado Beach (North C 1972; South C 1972) Dorado Beach GC, Dorado (East C, , A ; West C, , A ) Sardinia: Pevero GC, Costa Smeralda (1972) Spain: C de G Mijas, Malaga (Los Lagos C 1976; Los Olivos C 1984) El Bosque GC, Valencia (1975) Golf La Duquesa, Manilva (1987) La Canada GC, Guardiare (9 1991) Marbella G & CC, Marbella (1990) Nueva Andalucia GC, Marbella (Las Brisas 1968; Par ; Los Naranjos 1977) Sotogrande GC, Cadiz (Old C 1964; Short C [9 Par 3} 1964) Valderrama GC, Cadiz [JKA Sotogrande GC (New C)] (1975) Switzerland: Geneva G & CC, Geneva (1973) Virgin Islands: Carambola Beach GC, Frederiksted (1967) Courses Remodeled or Expanded by Robert Trent Jones Alabama: CC of Birmingham, Birmingham (West C, R. 1959) Lakewood GC, Point Clear (Dogwood C, R. 1949) Arkansas: North Hills CC, Sherwood (R. 1979) California: Annandale CC, Pasadena (R. 1970) California GC, South San Francisco (R. 1968) El Caballero CC, Tarzana (R. 1964) Glendora CC, Glendora (R. 1970) 76

78 Hacienda CC, La Habra (R. 1971) Menlo CC, Redwood City (R. 1970) Olympic C, San Francisco (Lake C, R. 1954) San Gabriel CC, San Gabriel (R. 1972) Silverado CC, Napa (North C, R. 1967) Stanford University GC, Palo Alto (R. 1968) Colorado: Broadmoor GC, Colorado Springs (East C, A ; West C, A ) Connecticut: CC of Fairfield, Fairfield (R. 1960) CC of New Canaan, New Canaan (R. 1960) Greenwich CC, Greenwich (R. 1963) Hartford GC, West Hartford (R ) Innis Arden GC, Greenwich (R. 1960) Ridgewood CC, Danbury (R. 1959) Round Hill C, Greenwich (R. 1952; R. 1970) Florida: Boca Raton Hotel and C, Boca Raton (R. 1963) CC of Orlando, Orlando (R. 1959) La Gorce CC, Miami (R. 1953) Melreese GC, Miami (R. A ) Ponte Vedra C, Ponte Vedra Beach (Ocean C, R. 1954) Georgia: Augusta National GC, Augusta (R ; R. 1950) Sea Island GC, St. Simons Island (Plantation and Seaside Nines, R. 1949) Illinois: St. Charles CC, St. Charles (R. 1936) Maine: Portland CC, Falmouth (R. 1951) Maryland: Burning Tree C, Bethesda (R. 1963; R. 1977) Chevy Chase CC, Chevy Chase (R. 1948) Congressional CC, Bethesda (Blue C, A ; R. 1962; R. 1969) Elkridge CC, Baltimore (R. 1956) Green Spring Valley Hunt C, Garrison (A.9 R ) Suburban CC, Pikesville (R. 1949) Massachusetts: International GC, Bolton (R. 1969) Michigan: Bloomfield Hills CC, Bloomfield Hills (R. 1968; R. 1978) CC of Detroit GC, Grosse Point Farms (North, R. 1953; South, R. 1953) Oakland Hills CC, Birmingham (North, R. 1969; South, R. 1950; R. 1972; R. 1984) Minnesota: Hazeltine National GC, Chaska (R. 1982) Interlachen CC, Edina (R. 1962) Missouri: Bellerive CC, Creve Coeur (R. 1990) St. Louis CC, Clayton (R. 1952) New Jersey: Arcola CC, Paramus (R. 1960) Baltusrol GC, Springfield (Lower C, R. 1952) Canoe Brook CC, Milburn (North C, R. 1973) Crestmont CC, West Orange (R. 1978) Essex County CC, West Orange (East C, R. 1960) Galloping Hills GC, Union (R. 1949) Glen Ridge CC, Glen Ridge (R. 1949; R. 1978) Green Brook CC, Caldwell (R. 1948) Montclair GC, Montclair (R. 1935; R. 1959) North Jersey CC, Wayne (R. 1979) 77

79 Rockleigh GC, Hackensack (Bergen C, R. 1964) Tavistock CC, Haddonfield (R. 1959) New York: Bartlett CC, Olean (R. 1960) Bellport GC, Bellport (R. 1965) Bonnie Briar CC, Larchmont (R. 1936) with Stanley Thompson CC of Buffalo, Williamsville (R. 1954) CC of Ithaca, Ithaca (R. 1939, NLE) CC of Rochester, Rochester (A.3 R. 1960) Century GC, White Plains (R. 1959) Cherry Valley CC, Garden City (R. 1962) Cold Spring G & CC, Cold Spring Harbor (R. 1968) Colonie Muni, Colonie (A ) Dellwood CC, New City (R. 1956) Garden City CC, Garden City (R. 1935; R. 1958) Huntington CC, Huntington (R. 1960) IBM CC, Sands Point (R. 1954) IBM CC, Poughkeepsie (R. 1985) Locust Hill CC, Rochester (R. 1931) Moonbrook CC, Jamestown (R. 1959) Muttontown G & CC, East Norwich (R. 1968) National G Links of America, Southampton (R. 1948; R. 1969) New York Hospital GC, White Plains (R. 1960) Niagara Falls CC, Lewiston (R. 1938) North Hempstead CC, Port Washington (R. 1960) Oak Hill CC, Rochester (East C, R. 1956; R. 1967) Powelton C, Newburgh (R. 1953) Quaker Ridge CC, Scarsdale (R. 1962) Rockland CC, Sparkhill (R.) Sands Point CC, Sands Point (R. 1961) Scarsdale GC, Hartsdale (R. 1944; R. 1962) Siwanoy CC, Bronxville (R. 1953) Sleepy Hollow GC, Scarboro-on-Hudson (R. 1966) Stafford CC, Stafford (R. 1931) with Stanley Thompson Tam O Shanter GC, Brookville (R. 1967) Valley View GC, Utica (R. 1940) Vestal Hills CC, Binghamton (R. 1938, NLE) Winged Foot GC, Mamaroneck (West C. R. 1958) Woodmere C, Woodmere (R. 1952) North Carolina: CC of North Carolina, Pinehurst (Cardinal C, A ; Dogwood C, R. 1977) Charlotte CC, Charlotte (R. 1962; R. 1984) Pinehurst CC, Pinehurst (C No. 4, R. 1973; C No. 5, R. 1974) Tanglewood GC, Clemmons (West C, R. 1973) Ohio: Brookside CC, Canton (R. 1982) Oklahoma: Southern Hills CC, Tulsa (R. 1957) Oregon: Portland GC, Portland (R. 1950) Pennsylvania: Aronimink GC, Newton Square (R. 1989) Centre Hills CC, State College (A ) Gulph Mills GC, King of Prussia (R ) Oakmont CC, Oakmont (R. 1964) Pittsburgh Field C, Pittsburgh (R. 1952) 78

80 Valley Brook CC, McMurray (R. 1978) Westmoreland CC, Export (R. 1958) South Carolina: Dunes G & BC, Myrtle Beach (R. 1979) Tennessee: Belle Meade CC, Nashville (R. 1951) Texas: Colonial CC, Fort Worth (R. 1960) Vermont: Woodstock CC, Woodstock (R. 1969, R. 1975, R.1987) Virginia: CC of Fairfax, Fairfax (A ) Cascades GC, Hot Springs (R. 1961) Wisconsin: Milwaukee CC, Milwaukee (R. 1975) Wyoming: Jackson Hole G & TC, Jackson (R. 1966) Bermuda: Mid Ocean C, Tuckerstown (R. 1953) Brazil: Itanhanga GC, Tijuca (R. 1958) Columbia: El Rincon C, Bogota (A. Par ) France: G de Bondues, Roubaix (Red C, R. 1968) Greece: Glyfada GC, Athens (R. 1979) Italy: Olgiata CC, Rome (R. 1984) Japan: Sohbu CC, Chiba (R. 1971) Mexico: Pierre Marques GC, Acapulco (R. 1982) Portugal: Vilamoura II GC, Algarve (R. A ) Spain: Valderrama GC, Cadiz (A. 9 Par ) West Germany: Hamburg-Ahrensburg GC, Hamburg (R. 1978) From The Architects of Golf, Geoffrey S. Cornish and Ronald E. Whitten,

81 Appendix C Original Robert Trent Jones Master Plan (circa 1956) 80

82 Appendix D Construction Photos (circa 1956) Clubhouse area. 81

83 1 st, 2 nd, 8 th, 9 th holes & practice range. 82

84 3 rd, 4 th, 5 th, 6 th, 11 th, 12 th, 13 th & 17 th holes. 83

85 6 th, 7 th, 10 th, 11 th, 15 th, 16 th, 17 th & 18 th holes. 84

86 12 th & 13 th holes. 85

87 14 th green. 86

88 15 th, 16 th & 17 th holes. 87

89 10 th & 18 th holes. 88

90 Oblique view of entire golf course. 89