Design Notes

Andrew Green embarks on Olympia Fields' North renovation

Gene Bates collaborates on the reimagination of California’s San Juan Oaks; Italy’s Gardagolf gets a bunker refresh

Andrew Green, following his appointment in July, has started the planning process for renovating Olympia Fields’ North course in Olympia Fields, Illinois.

Located in the southernmost suburbs of Chicago, Olympia Fields is one America’s most storied country clubs, dating to 1915. Once home to 72 holes, its golf offerings currently consist of the North and South courses.

The North course, designed by Willie Park Jr. and opened in 1923, has played host to the 1928 and 2003 U.S. Opens, won by Johnny Farrell and Jim Furyk, respectively, the 1925 (Walter Hagen) and 1961 (Jerry Barber) PGA Championships and the 2015 U.S. Amateur (Bryson DeChambeau). It also served as the venue for the 1997 U.S. Senior Open (Graham Marsh), the 2017 Women’s PGA Championship (Danielle Kang) and significant PGA Tour events, where winners have included Jack Nicklaus, Jon Rahm and Viktor Hovland.

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Olympia Fields Country Club, Olympia Fields, Illinois.

"We are delighted to have Andrew Green spearheading the restoration of our North course," said Bill McErlean, president of Olympia Fields Country Club. "His vision and dedication to honoring the original design while incorporating modern advancements align perfectly with our goal of maintaining the course’s historical integrity and elevating the playing experience for our members and guests."

Green’s renovation will focus on restoring the classic design elements of Park’s original layout, enhancing the strategic challenges, and updating the course to meet contemporary standards of play. He will rely on historic photos to guide the landscape and design features.

"We are embarking on a journey to blend Willie Park Jr.’s amazing original vision for the North course with the modern demands of championship golf," Green told GolfCourseArchitecture.net. “While there will be a level of focus on future championships, the member experience will be at the forefront. We want to maximize the variety and excitement of each hole and allow all levels of player to enjoy their journey around the North course.

"Forward tees, more width and a better connection to the ground game will be at the top of my mind. Willie Park Jr. had a great handle on what makes golf great, so we know that infusing more of his character into the layout will only provide a higher quality of play for all."

SOCIAL ASPECT

SAN JUAN OAKS REOPENS
After a two-and-a-half-year intensive course renovation, San Juan Oaks Golf Club in Hollister, California, has reopened for daily-fee play. Developer Third Millenium Partners has overseen the project from start to finish, with insights from golf architect Gene Bates—designer of the original course in 1996, along with PGA Tour golfer and World Golf Hall of Fame member Fred Couples—who returned to modernize the layout in January 2022.

“San Juan Oaks Golf Club’s transformation marks a complete rebirth of our valued course and facilities, embodying meticulous planning from the first tee to the clubhouse,” said San Juan Oaks Golf Club general manager Manny Freitas. “Enhanced for playability and sustainability, our course seamlessly blends with the natural beauty of the San Juan Valley. Whether enjoying a round of golf or dining, expect an extraordinary experience reflecting our commitment to becoming Northern California’s premier golf and social destination. With a 28-year legacy, our 18-hole championship course promises an unparalleled golfing journey, inviting players to immerse themselves in the artistry of the game.”

Spearheaded by Third Millenium Partners, the comprehensive restoration involved regressing the entire course, including tees and fairways with perennial ryegrass, 007XL bentgrass on the greens and new drought-resistant Bermuda grass on the practice range. Installation of a new pump station and irrigation system reduces overwatering and achieves better playing conditions. The newly renovated course plays to a par of 72, reaching 7,071 yards from the tips and 4,771 yards from the forward tees. Additionally, there are new practice facilities and multiple short game areas.

BUNKER RENO DONE, GARDAGOLF OPENS NINES
Northern Italy’s Gardagolf has reopened its three nines, the Red, White and Yellow, after a bunker renovation project by Italian architect Pierfrancesco De Simone. A member of the European Institute of Golf Course Architects (EIGCA), De Simone is prolific in the Mediterranean region of Europe and Africa. Donald Steel originally created the Red-White layout in 1986, while the Yellow nine was added in 1990.

The home club of four-time European Tour winner Matteo Manassero, Gardagolf had played host to three Italian Opens, the first in 1997, when Bernhard Langer set the course record with an eight-under-par 64 in the final round, when he edged Jose Maria Olazabal for the victory. Mathias Gronberg captured the 2003 event, which marked the final competitive appearance of Seve Ballesteros before he passed away.  Denmark’s Thorbjorn Olesen claimed the title when it was most recently held here in 2018.

“Gardagolf is laid out on hills, creating a natural amphitheater with great views toward Lake Garda and the Alps in the background,” De Simone told golfcoursearchitecture.net. “Since opening almost 40 years ago, the course had not changed much from its original layout except for the addition of a few fairway bunkers and new back tees to keep up with the modern hitting distances. Almost all bunkers had erosion issues and very poor drainage, especially when torrential rain occurred. In addition to maintenance issues, many bunkers were located in areas where the growing vegetation hid them from golfers’ view or were quite far away from the line of play.”

De Simone reworked many of the bunkers, reshaping, rebuilding and relocating them. In doing so, he also eliminated several extraneous bunkers that no longer served their original function. In all, he reduced the sand square footage nearly by half.

Aside from the bunker renovations, De Simone designed a new green for the par-5 seventh hole on the White course, stiffening the challenge by adding 55 yards and by siting the green adjacent to a water hazard.  


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