ON SITE

A very

At in Chicago, and his team have just completed a restoration of ’s design of the No. 2 course. Adam Lawrence explains what makes it unusual

estoration, renovation, rebuilding, elevation of several other greens way above reconstruction, reimagining: the the level that Colt had them. list of words that can be applied This PR shemozzle aside, even projects to a project that involves doing that are more authentically restorative workR on an existing course seems to get in intent often struggle to justify the longer by the week. label. Colt, MacKenzie, The truth is that, much of the time, and Tillinghast didn’t have GPS units or whether a project is judged to be a CAD systems, and the result is that, on restoration or a renovation is more of a many jobs, the restoration architect is left PR calculation on the part of architect guessing at what the original designer and club than a real story of what actually did in many areas. Even when good aerial happened on the job. As golf architecture images and the architect’s original sketches has become more of a mainstream interest survive – which is by no means always in recent years, and ‘pedigree’, in the sense – there is much that is quite simply not of being able to claim a link to a famous known. Once in a while, there might be old architect, has become more highly some drawings that give a general feel for valued, many projects have been tagged how the original architect of record wanted with the restoration label that in no way his greens to look, but we know from warranted it. Gracious, the initial Ernie Els their writings that most of the Golden Age Design-led rebuild of Wentworth’s West greats made alterations themselves in the course about five years ago was called a field, and also were prepared to allow their restoration of Harry Colt’s original design trusted construction guys to interpret their in the club’s PR effort, despite the fact that instructions quite freely. In short, most of the project included the creation of a fake the time a restoration is simply a best guess stream in front of the home green and the in many areas.

38 Architecture Medinah Country Club Photos: Evan Schiller © Medinah Country Schiller Club © Medinah Evan Photos:

Medinah’s No. 2 course has been relatively untouched over the years, making it possible to achieve a faithful restoration to Tom Bendelow’s original design. Pictured, holes seventeen, nine (below left) and thirteen (below)

The fourth hole on the Bay course at Navarino Dunes runs along the coast

39 Holes six (above), seven (top) and eight (right) on the restored No. 2 course at Medinah Country Club

However, at the famous Medinah Country very unusual: we basically know it is accurate, design,” says Jones. “We have modernised it Club in Chicago, architect Rees Jones and his because the course was untouched and all the by adding or relocating a few bunkers and associate Steve Weisser under the guidance features were still there, in the ground. adding tee locations, but the green surfaces of Medinah’s director of golf course Reviewing the work on No. 2 this May and the surrounding slopes are Bendelow’s operations Curtis Tyrrell have recently with Rees, Steve and Curtis, it is easy to see original design. I would say this is a bona finished a restoration project that is a little why the club again tapped Jones to assist fide restoration with a few implementations different from most. Medinah Country Club with the project. If there is anyone who of design ideas for 21st century play. is best known for its No. 3 course, a massive and brawny layout that has hosted three US Opens, two PGA championships, and, of course, the 2012 , legendary as the “The trees were overgrown, the greens had shrunk, ‘Miracle at Medinah’, when the European team came back from a four point deficit at and several bunkers had been eliminated” the start of the Sunday singles matches to win possibly their most spectacular victory knows about golf course restoration it is “No.2 hadn’t been touched for a very in the event. Rees Jones, who some consider to be the long time so the original design ideas Jones and his team reworked No. 3 for father of the restoration movement starting were evident,” Jones continues. “The trees that Ryder Cup, turning it into a 7,600 yard with his work at in were overgrown, the greens had shrunk, behemoth. More recently, Tom Doak and Brookline and continuing with the work at and several bunkers had been eliminated. his crew at Renaissance Golf Design rebuilt such places as Bethpage Black, Baltusrol’s So we were able to restore it back to how Medinah’s No. 1 course, leaving No. 2 the Upper and Lower Courses, East Lake, Tom Bendelow originally designed it. Tom only one of Tom Bendelow’s three original Golden Horseshoe’s Gold Course and Tulsa Bendelow lived in Chicago and spent a lot of creations at the club that had not been Country Club. personal time designing this course, and so touched in recent years. After this project, that “I think the term restoration is sometimes subtle nuances can be found because of that.” is no longer the case. Yet, in a sense, it still overused, but this project in my opinion There have been no major routing is. For, as restoration projects go, this one is is a true restoration of Tom Bendelow’s changes, notable grading, or topography

40 Golf Course Architecture Medinah Country Club

As part of the club’s ‘Golf for Life’ programme, there are now seven tees on each hole at Medinah’s No. 2 course, allowing players of every skill level to enjoy the game Country Schiller Club © Medinah Evan Photos: changes made to No. 2. Rather, most of and so many of the bunkers are located introducing this programme.” the work was focused on green complexes farther away from the surface of the greens.” A total of seven tees to accommodate every and bunkers, relying on aerial photographs The work on Course No. 2 also included different skill level in Medinah’s golfing from 1938 to determine their original sizes, the ongoing improvement of the club’s community. The programme sorts golfers shapes, and locations. infrastructure, including enhancing draining based on a number of criteria including, The total area of fairways and approaches and storage capabilities and the overall but not limited to, , age, gender, increased by more than 50 per cent, from growing environment. distance, and level of interest. 21 to 34 acres, with some of the widened So what Medinah Country Club has Medinah’s professional staff will segment corridors connecting on adjacent holes – now is a course built to modern standards, members into appropriate groups, create unusual today, but not uncommon during with greens built to USGA specifications, teaching programmes specific to each group, golf architecture’s Golden Age nearly 100 equipped for sub-surface vacuuming and and organise tournaments, clinics, and other years ago. Greens complexes were restored gas-exchange capability, tees built on a functions based on these one-of-a-kind to feature Bendelow’s original contouring, sand mix that allows for internal drainage, segmentations. Perhaps most important, accentuating generally longer, deeper, taller reseeded fairways, bunkers equipped with the multiple tees/skill segments will allow and more pronounced putting surfaces. subsurface draining and erosion liners, and every golfer to record measurable data, see Jones says that though the club’s three greens, tees, and fairways all planted with the improvement and follow a comprehensive courses have differing design attributes, the same strain of creeping bentgrass. instruction plan. greens on No.2 really stand out. “Bendelow Another interesting aspect of the project “When a beginner takes up the game, they had some very interesting green surfaces is it addresses the future of the game with can play the forward tee and as they get which we were able to restore back to the old the addition of tees to each hole in what the better they keep moving back,” says Jones. shapes and contours which are unique. Most club calls its ‘Golf For Life’ programme. “This “Then as you get older and you can’t hit of the greens have open entrances so they type of programme is being incorporated at it as far, you start moving forward again. I are easy to access. The bunkers are scattered a number of golf courses around the country think this is going to be a golf course that much like you would find from many to help the game grow and keep people in every calibre of player, from entry level to the courses from that era, when architects tried the game,” Jones says. “Medinah Country young to the older, can enjoy if they play the to build British links-style courses inland, Club wanted to take a leadership role in proper tees.” GCA

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