Briefs Ross lives! Kay keen ... while super ... and Crenshaw to keep lasting restores greens views classic as influences to original form player/designer MASON TAKES ON PROJECTS By Mark Leslie By Frances G. Trimble By Bradley S. Klein BEND, Ore. — designer Bunny If Stephen Kay had never read that feature Tommy Grisham vividly recalls his first Hidden gems. That is what professional Mason, who April 1 bid a fond farewell to article on architecture 26 years interview with the greens committee at High- golfer Ben Crenshaw seeks in his travels Black Butte Ranch after a 23-year connec- ago, he might be a teacher of English classics land CC in Fayetteville, N.C. It was obvious to around the world. Once in awhile he happens tion, the lastas director of golf, has plunged today. Instead, he is a keeper of the classics the 17-year agronomy veteran that Highland's upon a priceless diamond — a golf course into three projects that belie retirement — golf courses, that is. vintage mid-40s course "was in distressed with character and memorability, a classic. talk at 64. "When I was 13 or 14 I read a two-part condition." Yet the committeemen were not Such a discovery occurred last summer of a mind to consider major renovation. Mason's chief designing/construction article in Golf Digest about golf course archi- when Crenshaw visited The Orchards in concentration is on the 18-hole Awbrey tecture. I was on the school golf team, and I Said Grisham, 'They wanted to know what South Hadley, Mass. Glen course here, which he terms "the read that article and thought it was the great- to do, but at the same time they said, 'Don't Having signed on to play the Canon Greater dream of a lifetime." He's also working on est thing in the world. And I said, 'God, please Continued on page 24 Continued on page 28 projects in Gresham and Stevenson, Wash. let me be a golf course architect,' " Kay Black Butte head professional J.D. recalls. Mowlds, Mason's successor as director of The Lord apparently heard. Following the golf, noted that 28 head pros in the section advice of architects Robert Trent Jones Sr. have worked under Mason, and countless and Bill Mitchell, Kay followed a well-de- others have benefited from his guidance. signed plan that led to a landscape architec- ture degree from Syracuse University, a turfgrass degree from Michigan State Uni- CARTON JOINS BURNS DESIGN versity, and work as both a course and con- FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. - Edward struction superintendent. The result: a six- L. Carton has joined Burns Golf Design. year hitch as a designer with architect Bill Carton has been in golf course design Newcomb of Ann Arbor, Mich., and the for six years, including a short time with launching of Kay's own business in 1983. Hurdzan Design Group, and 5-1/2 years Since then, he has gained increasing feme with Tom Fazio. and respect as a champion for the masters of While with Fazio, he was involved in the golf course architecture, especially Donald design of more than 30 golf courses, in- Ross and AW. Tillinghast. Though he has designed two courses and A bunker on the 18th hole at Oyster Harbor had lost the shape Donald Ross first gave it Above is the cluding Emerald Dunes in West Palm deteriorated bunker; below, the bunker as Stephen Kay rejuvenated it Beach, Osprey Ridge at Disney World, is planning two more, Kay has concentrated Caves Valley Golf Club in Baltimore, the on renovations. He has completed more than town of Oyster Bay (N.Y.) Golf Course 75 golf course renovations, most in the North- and Black Diamond Ranch in Lecanto. east, and a number of designs by Ross and He graduated from North Technical Tillinghast. Education Center in 1986 with honors in "I'm glad my career has gone this way," architectural design and drafting. Kay said. "I turned down a chance to do a course in Florida in 1983.1 wanted to come back East and renovate some of the old golf CUPP SIGNS ANGEL PARK REMAKE courses because I thought they were the LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Plans are being best If s taken me some years to really learn made for Cupp Design of Atlanta, Ga., to what their techniques and styles were, to the revise Angel Park Golf Club here. point where I feel I can go in and do Tillinghast Designed by , the public or Ross or Seth Raynor and do them so well resortfeaturestwo 18-hole, par-71 courses, people won't know that I did it. an 18-hole putting course and a night driv- 'This is exactly what I wanted to do and I ing range. Continued on page 26 , design associate at Cupp Design, and Bob Cupp will reorganize the existing range and a few strategically placed holes to accommodate a larger range and add a par-3 course. The 'ins' and 'outs' of the ASGCA INDONESIAN RESORT INKS NICKLAUS Hills takes over as president Clark leaves strong legacy NORTH PALM BEACH, Fla.—Golden By Ma rk Leslie Bear International has agreed to build a By Peter Blais His term as president of the American Society -designed golf course on Art Hills can thank the Yellow Pages for launch- of Golf Course Architects was "a tremendous Bintan Island in Indonesia. Hie Nicklaus ing his career. year, atransitionalyearinthe developmentofgolf design will be the first golf course built for The newly elected president of the American courses," according to Tom Clark. Bintan Lagoon Beach & Golf Resort. Society of Golf Course Architects was a struggling, A partner in Ault, Clark & Associates, Ltd. of "We are excited to be the first to build a 32-year-old landscape architect trying to raise five Art Hills Tom Clark Kensington, Md., Clark reflected on the chal- golf course on such a rare and beautiful children when he placed an ad in theToledo, Ohio, lenges and successes after stepping down as president of the ASGCA in piece of island property," said Nicklaus. phone book. Buried in the space were the words golf course design. May. "This resort promises to be one of the best Bryan, Ohio, officials wanted to build a nine-hole addition to the "We opened a record number of courses the year before (1990)," he in the Far East." municipal course. Someone saw the ad and called Hills. That job led him said. "But, with this recession a lot of the developers—through environ- The property is part of the Bintan to a developer with 350 acres and a dream Hills helped fulfill. mental issues and financing — are finding it more difficult to develop Beach International Resort. Nicklaus will Thirty years after that first addition, Hills, 62, is one of the country's courses... Consequently, we directed everything this year at improving design the first of three championship hottest architects. Golf Digest recently picked Harbour Pointe in Wash- that situation." courses along the white sand beaches of ington and the Golf Club of Georgia the nation's top new daily-fee and The major accomplishment in aiding development is a publication the island. Construction will begin in the private courses, respectively. Windsor Park in Jacksonville, Fla, finished fourth in the daily-fee voting. Clark hopes will be printed in July. fall. Continued on page 19 Continued on page 19 D € V € LQ PME Ni Kay feels comfortable putting himself in Ross' or Tillinghast's place Continued from page 18 bigger, or grown in and gotten themselves revisiting one of their one. He usually places it farther have stated as fact that Ross built thank God for it I thank God every smaller — every part of every bun- courses that he is renovating. from the tee to allow for today's only flat sand bunkers, always bring- day." ker being different. Acouple of bun- Inspecting a site, Kay thinks, longer drives. ing the grass down the banks. Kay said many courses are being kers had been taken out over the "What would they do if they were Kay does not favor mass bunker Doubting that statement, Kay renovated "because they are dete- years. A couple that were real big here today?" changes to allow for distance. He researched and read George Tho- riorated, like a roof or carpet dete- had been made into two bunkers," That sometimes leads to minor said building tee boxes further back mas' 1927 book 'Golf Architecture riorates. Most of these courses Kay said. "We went in and followed changes to the original design. In can compensate for longer drives. in America.' Among the many old haven't done any work in25,50 or 70 the plan 98 percent and rebuilt the Ross' day, there were no golf cars. "Pinehurst No. 2 was originally photographs in the book were sev- years, and they realize they have to bunkers." So when facing a spot at Oyster under 6,000 yards, I believe. Now eral donated by Ross. start rebuilding bunkers, leveling Alluding to his scores of renova- Harbors, where people were driv- it's 7,000 yards from the back tees," Kay reported: "Photos Ross gave tees, making tees larger because tions and the slow, long process of ing golf cars between a bunker and he said. Thomas for the book showed flash they aren't big enough for the learning how Ross and Tillinghast a tree, Kay enlarged the bunker so Kay points to a major misconcep- sand all the way up to the top. I think amount of play they get today." conceived their designs, Kay said a drive-through is impossible. tion of Donald Ross: his bunkers. he did it both ways. This often involves a master plan he feels comfortable putting him- Sometimes, if a bunker has been Since a magazine article several "From what I have seen from which Kay drafts. self in their place, as if they were eliminated, Kay will build a new years ago, many in the industry Continued on page 27 "My average master plan is a five- year plan and they spend about $200,000 a year," he said. "Seldom do you rebuild many greens. In an average master plan we will prob- ably rebuild two greens. We will rebuild almost all the bunkers, do a lot of drainage work, enlarge and rebuild most of the tees, and oftentimes install a fair amount of It St bunkers." Kay aims for a look of authenticity in his work, whether it is renovation or an original design. "In renovation I want to do work to the intent of the original architect, To Have Its PI and I don't want my fingerprint on it," he said. "In doing my own de- sign, I want it to look like an old golf course. If it has mature trees, give it You're witnessing a rare four to five years for the grass to sight. Toro's Reelmaster® mature and I want the golfer to think 450-D actually standing still. the course is 50,60, 70 years old." A rare sight because the Reel- Kay's advocacy of the classic look master 450-D is so depend- is because "I'm not crazy about how able that it goes and goes and the new architecture had gone. That goes. Giving you the high has changed the last couple of years; capacity mowing and precise people are starting to get back to the even cutting you've old style. But the style we had five, been looking for. 10 years ago was the moonscape and the high-tech look. That's not something Donald Ross or Tillinghast did and I think they're the best. The old architects in the 1920s and '30s are the best" Helping those old courses stand the test of time even longer — or returning them to their original state — is Kay's primary concern. At his latest renovation— Oyster Harbors Club in Osterville, Mass., on Cape Cod — he followed Ross' plans "98 percent." In cases like "Hempstead (by Tillinghast) on Long Island, or Oys- can float freely in any direction, following the contour ter Harbors or Winchester (Mass.) of the turf for an even, uniform cut. Or can be locked in Country Club (by Ross)... we try to a fixed position get the architect's plans, old aerial photos, and photos taken within the first 10 years after the course was built. Then we try to restore to those Tillinghast or Ross specifications... I try to keep the character or style of the golf course." At Oyster Harbors, Kay had Ross' green plans, complete hole plans, old aerial photos, and old photos taken during a tournament when The Reelmaster 450-D the course was young. can be customized with these Listed by as a "hid- accessories: ROPS, Cab, 5- den gem," Oyster Harbors is "a The Toro 450-D gives you protection against hydraulic fluid leaks. and 7-bladed reels, rollers marvelous golf course. I think it has Wherever possible, hoses have been replaced with strong steel lines and thatching reels. the best greens, contourwise, I've and O-ring seals protect connections. A hydraulic warning system ever seen," Kay said. flashes an alarm when the fluid level drops. For easy servicing, test Those greens went untouched. ports for the hydraulic system are righto n the side of the machine. Rather, Kay rebuilt the bunkers. 'They had never been touched since Ross had done work on it. But The Toro Company, Commercial Marketing Services, 8111 Lyndale Ave. So., Minneapolis, MN 55420. they either had eroded and gotten 26 June 1992 D t V € L 0 F M € N T Ross Society gaining membership, eyes regional events PINEHURST, N.C. — pointed out that Ross members are Pinehurst's No. 2 course would be Eger: Holding a U.S. Open on Pinehurst No. 2 would be 'fitting tribute' to designer from 40 states, the United Kingdom a "magical" site for a U.S. Open. The USGA title event is booked his membership application a signed by Ross and contemporar- and even the Middle East. So said David Eger, senior direc- through 1996. scorecard he'd used while winning ies. "People who appreciate preserv- tor of rules and competitions for the Eger, current North/South Ama- the 1991 British Open. Barry J. Palm of Phoenix, Ariz., ing classic golf courses are finding Unted States Golf Association, at teur champion, shared the speak- Other new members included Donald Ross Society president and out about us," Palm said, noting the Donald Ross Society's recent ing spotlight with former N/S ama- PGA Tour standout and co-founder, said some day his orga- that there are members from more annual meeting here. teur titlists Peggy Kirk Bell (1949) golf course architect Arthur Hills of nization hopefully will be headquar- than200Ross clubs across the coun- Eger noted such a prestigious and Harvie Ward (1948). Eger, 40, Toledo, Ohio. Hills joins peers Dr. tered at Pinehurst From such a try. event would be fitting tribute to made his firstN/ S title try in 1990. Michael Hurdzan, Jack Nicklaus, base, he declared, the society could At the suggestion of members, course designer Ross. Eger was among prominent golf Stephen Kay, Ben Crenshaw, Ron serve the members and the game, the society plans regional meetings Eger cautioned that Pinehurst names welcomed into the Ross Prichard and Tom Doak. and continue to promote Ross' and golf tournaments and outings would have to meet several USGA Society, now 3 years old and num- The Ross Society was formed to memory. at Ross courses such as took place stipulations, such as course condi- bering 525 members. assist with restoration and preser- Palm, assistant executive direc- last fall at Salem (Mass.) Country tions and greens fitness in June. Ian Baker-Finch sent along with vation projects at golf courses de- tor of the Arizona Golf Association, Club.

Kay: Keep it classic Continued from page 26 looking at plans of Ross and from old aerial photographs, it appears he always wanted the golfer to see the sand. So if you were playing downhill, he would maybe leave the sand flat and bring the grass down the bank because you could see it If you were playing uphill, and if you left the sand flat, you would be blind. So he would flash the sand. He says on a couple of holes at Oyster Harbors: 'I must see the sand. Flash it up the face.'" Toro's exclusive variable clip control allows Indeed, Kay said Oyster Harbors you to calibrate reel speed and mowing speed to even has both styles in one bunker give you the highest quality of cut in varying alone. coursc conditions. Combine that with faster Meanwhile, although Kay's reno- mowing speeds, up to 7.5 mph and 12.5 mph vation work of the masters' courses transport speed, and you're going to witness an mainly involves bunkering, at Bel increase in productivity. All controls are in easy Air (Fla.) Country Club this year he reach of the operator to provide greater comfort. will rebuild all the greens on the South Course to Ross specifications. The 450-D is designed with its weight When new owners bought the evenly distributed around a center-mount 50 hp course in the 1970s, they built ponds engine for better balance. This means more up- on the site and raised all the greens hill climbing ability than other machines and but changed their contours. better traction. HIS OWN WORK Kay intends to cling closely to the classic look in two 18-hole golf courses he is designing this year— Blue Heron Pines near Atlantic City, N.J., and Stanton (NJ.) Golf Club. Blue Heron Pines will be a mix- ture of Pine Valley, Bethpage Black, Oyster Harbors and Pinehurst No. 2, which are all on sandy soil with pine and oak trees, similar to Blue Heron Pines. Yet, Stanton is on a hilly site and will have "a completely different style," Kay said. "We're not copying holes, but I'm trying to get a (clas- sic) feel and concept." For faster, easier mowing with HisfirstM 18-holecourse—Hiland more beautiful results, call your Golf Club, which opened in 1989 in local Toro distributor for a demonstration of Glens Falls, N.Y. — is hosting the the Reelmaster 450-D or contact Toro at the New York State Open this year. address below. A machine "I want to keep my work to around built from the ground up two 18-hole courses a year and a with proven Toro design certain amount of renovation be- cause I personally shoot the grades Compared to tractor gang experience. And that trans- on every green," Kay said. mowers, the Toro 450-D weighs lates into the kind of pro- Remaining true to his feeling for less and is equipped with wide ductivity no one The Professionals theclassics ('They have stood the test 31-inch tires that spread the can argue with. That Keepfàu Gutting. of time."), Kay said his best compli- weight for the lowest PSI, fur- ments come on holes that were com- pletely changed over the years and ther minimizing turf marking. that he tries to put back to their origi- nal state. If a golfer plays it and says it is one of the best holes Donald Ross "Toro", and "Reelmaster" are registered trademarks ever did, that is what I'm looking for." of The Toro Company. ©1988 The Toro Company. And has that happened? CIRCLE« 126 "Yes," is the happy reply. June 1992 27