Zinkand Golf Design (ZGD), led by golf course architect David Zinkand, has completed an extensive renovation of Knollwood Country Club in West Bloomfield, Michigan.
Construction began in August 2024 and followed ZGD’s proposed master plan for the golf course, short-game area and driving range. The 100-year-old course already possessed a strong routing that took advantage of the site’s varied terrain — dramatic, rolling hills along the perimeter and gentler grading toward its center.
So, ZGD focused on the improvement of numerous course features. That included the creation of a new par-3 17th hole near its original footprint, and shifting the tees and landing areas of the ninth and 10th holes to elevate their strategy and playability.
"The existing 17th hole didn’t fit the charming, Golden Age allure of Knollwood, so a new concept was devised to not only better fit the property’s character, but also provide additional separation from the practice range," said Zinkand, who has more than 25 years of experience designing, managing and shaping projects. "Similarly, the ninth and tenth holes were also realigned to take better advantage of a subtle valley along a small creek in the middle of the property, while improving player safety by increasing the distance between the holes."
The project also involved significant bunker work. Many existing bunkers were repositioned and several were removed. Chronic issues of poor drainage, contaminated sand and underwhelming aesthetics were addressed via revamped shaping and the addition of CapillaryFlow liners.
"The bunkers we removed were generally greenside and eliminated in the name of improving playability and aesthetics," Zinkand said. "We also added several, particularly along fairways, to capitalize on and embellish the terrain. All bunkers now exhibit a classic, Golden Age character with meandering lips and low leading edges for ease of entry and expanded visibility."
ZGD’s makeover also included the expansion and recontouring of all 18 greens and their surrounds. The combination of higher modern green speeds and shrinking putting surface perimeters has resulted in too few pin placements and lost strategic interest. Fairway expansions and low-mown green surrounds now increase decision-making complexity for skilled players while providing a greater variety of shot options for all.
Also, ZGD addressed excess tree growth that had narrowed playing corridors. Limbs were trimmed to improve air circulation and turf health, and non-native tree species were removed to enhance sense of place. Off the course, the new driving range’s expanded tee box and new strip of synthetic turf combine to reduce natural turf wear. And the short-game area, which had been showing its age, now offers a more versatile and realistic practice experience with its enlarged green surface and refreshed bunkering.
"Since opening earlier this year, Knollwood members have been raving about the incredible results that Dave and his team delivered," said Tracy Wilson, Knollwood’s general manager/COO. "ZGD’s deep knowledge of Golden Age architecture, exceptional construction skills and impressive attention to detail have created a private golf experience that now promises to rank among the best in metro Detroit."
THE SOCIAL ASPECT
Hyde Park G&CC in Cincinnati, OH. An amazing piece of land with the wildest ravines and coolest par threes you could ever imagine. Kudos to @pobrienhpgcc Arron Garrett, @mcdonaldgolfinc @JimRyanGCDesign HPGCC Agronomy team for many long days. All greens grassed can 👀 finish line pic.twitter.com/t9moj3nHlJ
— Tyler Rae (@TylerRaeDesign) October 4, 2025
EAGLEBROOKE IS UP AND FLYING AGAIN
The Club at Eaglebrooke, a semi-private facility in Lakeland, Florida, celebrated the reopening of its 18-hole golf course with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 1.
The course had been closed to play since April, undergoing a $1 million-plus, multi-phase renovation.
During the six-month renovation project, crews from Bartow, Florida-based Mondragon Golf rebuilt 20 greens to their original size and shape, and resurfaced with TifEagle Bermudagrass. Collars around greens were resurfaced with TifGrand Bermudagrass. The two bridges on the 13th hole were rebuilt, and the large bulkhead on the 17th was also reconstructed. Crews also reshaped select bunkers and improved landscaping throughout the course.
The project also included a complete redesign of the club’s short game practice area. Enhancements included a new 8,000-square-foot practice green, a new bunker, new irrigation and new drainage.
"We’re incredibly proud to welcome our members and the community back to Eaglebrooke for this exciting new chapter," said Ryan Roberts, the club's general manager. "This renovation not only restored our greens and infrastructure but elevated the overall playing experience. Our investment ensures Eaglebrooke remains one of Central Florida’s premier golf destinations for years to come."
The Club at Eaglebrooke’s golf course was originally designed by architect Ron Garl and opened for play in 1996. The 2025 renovation marked the first substantial changes to Eaglebrooke’s greens since the course opened for play.
The 6,917-yard, links-style course features natural lakes, abundant wildlife and has 100 feet of elevation change, which is unique in this part of Florida.
AUSTRALIA'S CATALINA TO GET RENOVATION
Clayton, DeVries & Pont (CDP) has collaborated with KruseGolf to create a master renovation plan for Catalina Club in Batemans Bay, New South Wales, Australia.
Located in a coastal setting on the banks of the yachting estuary of Batemans Bay, Catalina Club is reached via a four-hour drive south from Sydney or a two-hour drive east from Canberra.
Its roots date to 1920, when it opened with five holes. The club expanded to nine holes in 1930 and to 18 holes in the 1960s, when veteran Australian architect and professional Al Howard handled the design chores. In the 1980s, the club added nine more holes to form a 27-hole facility.
"Lukas Michel and I are members at Metropolitan on the Melbourne Sandbelt, which is a masterclass in how to make strategically interesting golf on flattish ground," said Mike Clayton, a partner at CDP, to GolfCourseArchitecture.net. "Greens best approached from one side of a fairway are a key element of such courses. We look forward to working with Harley [Kruse] to create the best coastal course between Sydney and Melbourne."
CDP’s masterplan features changes to the routing that will allow for a new practice range to be constructed on the present first and ninth fairways. Work is expected to begin in 2026 on holes one through nine, followed by renovations to holes 10 through 18 in 2028. Holes 19 through 27 will be re-worked in 2029.
"We are thrilled to be working with Harley Kruse and CDP," said Mitchel Judd, assistant general manager at Catalina Club. "We feel they will produce something unique in New South Wales’ golfing landscape."
