Michigan Golf News: August 16, 2025

In Michigan Golf News this week are items from Ray Hearn, Knollwood CC and Arrowhead Golf Loft.

Do you have some golf news in Michigan? Send it to [email protected] For consideration.

Raymond Hearn by Michigan, Asgca, selected to make a master plan for the historic Aurora CC in Aurora, IL, founded in 1914

1939 Historical antenna

Aurora, IL-Award-winning golf course architect Raymond Hearn, ASGCA, was selected by the historic Aurora Country Club for a renovation and restoration of the classic golf course from 1914.

“What an honor and privilege it is to collaborate with this historic club,” said Hearn, founder of Raymond Hearn Golf Course Designs. “Our goal is to make an extensive master plan that entails sympathetic recovery.”

Sympathetic recovery refers to a process in which a course is renovated to restore its original design and character, aimed at the history of the course and respect the original design intention of the architect, while also synchronizing with modern game and maintenance practices to improve strategy, shot value, playability, playability and sustainability.

“It is a careful balance between honoring the past and adapting to the present,” said Hearn.

The original 9-hole course design was by the legendary architect Tom Bendelow in 1914. Bendelow expanded the design to 18 holes in 1915 with a possible collaboration between William Langford according to various published sources. In 1935 the club consulted with the legendary golf course architect AW Tillinghast for some selected course improvements.

“We can’t be happier to get this prestigious assignment, because I know that the club was very interested in a wide range of golf -lane architects,” Hearn said. “We are walking in the footsteps of the architectural legends of Golfbaan.”

Hearn said that Aurora Country Club has a lively membership with excellent counsel and committee members.

“I will work closely with the Master Planning Committee of the club, including PGA Head Professional Curtis Malm and veteran golf course Chief Inspector John Gurke, CGCS,” he said. “We will communicate with them in every phase. After the master planning has been approved, my next assignment will help the club to implement the project construction that the club feels comfortable.”

Hearn said that he equates the club’s course on a classic artwork that is ready to reclaim his place at the best in the region.

“I want the sympathetic restoration work to increase the shot value, strategy, playability and beauty for all levels of wave power at the club, not just the handicapgoolfer with one digit,” he said. “I will clearly bring a tribute and tribute to the legendary architects involved in this design in my sympathetic restoration.”

Tom Cross, chairman of the Master Plan Committee, said that Aurora Country Club has always been dedicated to offer its members an exceptional golf experience and that this master planning initiative reflects the continuous dedication to that tradition of excellence.

“We follow a thoughtful, long -term approach to ensure that our course is still one of the best in the region for the coming generations,” he said. “Our partnership with Ray Hearn, whose award -winning restoration work speaks for itself, shows our dedication to investing in the world class expertise while we are planning to plan the future of Aurora. This process will be fully members, so that all improvements are in accordance with the values of our club and the vision of our membership.”

Gurke said that Raymond Hearn Golf Course Designs was a great choice of the club for the Master Plan and the project.

“I am very happy to work with Ray on this master plan for Aurora Country Club,” he said. “During the age of 35 here I immersed myself in the history and meaning of this golf course with architects, such as Bendelow, Langford and Tillinghast behind the Golden Age design. Ray is a renowned veteran designer who will tap into the past’s great passion, knowledge and respect for our club in the past, and will be in the future to Aurora Club.”

Raymond Hearn ( www.rhgd.com ) has developed a national reputation for making master plans for a long distance for historical and modern courses such as the Crestmont CC (Donald Ross 1921) in West Orange, NJ; Moon Brook CC (Willie Park Jr. 1919) in Jamestown, NY; Washtenaw GC (Bert Way 1899) in Ypsilanti, Mi; Midlothian CC (Hebert Tweedie 1898) in Midlothian, Il; Metedeconk National GC (RTJ Sr. and Roger Rulewich 1987) in Jackson, NJ; Lincolnshire Fields CC (Larry Packard 1976) in Champaign, IL; White Lake GC (Tom Bendelow 1916) in Whitehall, Mi; Flossmoor CC (Hebert Tweedie 1899) in Flossmoor, IL; Inverness CC (Doug Fraser 1925) in Chelsea, Mi; Club de Golf de Panama (Jay Riviera 1922) Panama City, Panama; Savannah CC formerly Wilmington Island Golf (Donald Ross in 1927) Savannah, GA and various master planning for various Boyne Resort golf courses in Michigan, Montana and Maine.

Gurke said that the members of the Master Plan Committee have done their due diligence and have experienced that Hearn has completed on other Golden Age golf courses.

“He has a great passion for what he does, but also for what those who were created for him on these great courses,” he said. “I like his sympathetic recovery ideas.”

Zinkand Golf Design completes extensive renovation at Knollwood CC from Michigan

New Par-3 17th highlights are aimed at improving playability, aesthetics and strategy of Golden Age course

[CHARLOTTE, N.C.] – Zinkand Golf Design (ZGD) – led by golf course architect David Zinkand and are more than 25 years of experience in designing, managing and shaping projects in the field – have completed an extensive renovation of Knollwood Country Club In West Bloomfield, Michigan.

Construction started in August 2024 and followed the proposed ZGD master plan for the golf course, the short game area and the driving range. The 100-year course already had a strong routing that used the varied site of the site, with more dramatic, rolling hills that include its circumference and softer assessment to the middle. That is why ZGD focused on improving numerous course characteristics. They include creating a new par-3 17th hole near the original footprint, and shifting the T-pieces and landing areas of the 9th and 10th holes to increase their strategy and playability.

“The existing 17th hole did not fit with the charming, golden age allure of Knollwood, so a new concept was devised to not only fit better with the character of the building, but also to offer extra separation of the practical range,” Zinkand said. “Likewise, the ninth and 10th holes were again tuned to benefit from a subtle valley along a small creek in the middle of the building, while the safety of players is improved by increasing the distance between the gaps.”

The project also included considerable bunker work. Many existing bunkers were moved and several were removed. Chronic issues of poor drainage, polluted sand and lower whelpesthetics were tackled through renewed formation and the addition of capillairflow -liners.

“The bunkers we removed were generally greenside and eliminated in the name of improving playability and aesthetics,” Zincand continued. “We have also added several, especially along fairways, to take advantage of and to beautify the terrain. All bunkers now show a classic, golden century character with meandering lips and low leading edges for the convenience of access and extensive view.”

ZGD’s assignment also included the expansion and recontouring of all 18 greens and their environment. The combination of higher modern green speeds and shrinking putting surface -perimeters had resulted in too few pin placements and lost strategic interest. Fairway extensions and low ground green surrounds are now increasing the decision-making complexity for skilled players, while offering a greater variety of shot options for everyone.

Moreover, ZGD has tackled surplus tree growth that had reduced playing corridors. Limbs were cut to improve the air circulation and health of grass, and non-native tree species were removed to improve the feeling of space. From the course the extensive T -box of the new Driving Range and a new strip of synthetic grassmen to reduce natural grass mat. And the short-game area, which had shown its age, now offers a more versatile and realistic practice experience with its enlarged green surface and renewed bunkering.

“Since the opening earlier this month, Knollwood -members are enthusiastic about the incredible results that Dave and his team have delivered,” said Tracy Wilson, General Manager/Coo, Knollwood CC “ZGD’s deep knowledge of Golden Age -architecture, exceptional building skills and impressive attention to the best of the best of the wave experience have been detected in detailing. achieve. “

For more information about ZGD, visit Zinkandgolfdesign.com or @Zinkandgolfdesign (Instagram).

About Zinkand Golf Design

Zinkand Golf Design emphasizes three umbrella principles – strategic options, feeling of adventure and genius Loci – to strategically guide customers through project order. By adapting these principles to the ambitions of each customer in a location -specific way, the company enables results to produce results that cost less, while the artistry is increased and emphasizes realistic maintenance. This perspective was adopted when chief designer David Zinkand, PLA, Asla, the large golf courses of Groot -Britain and Ireland studied as a recipient of the Dreer Award, and then crystallized during his 14 years of working for Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. Some of the recent customers of Zinkand are Old Elm Club (IL), Monterey Peninsula CC (CA), Sharon Golf Club (OH) and Chechessee Creek Club (SC).

Finally, Arrowhead Golf Course is open in Lowell “The Golf Loft.”Grand Opening is August 16, 2025.

From their website:

Golf at a different level.

The Golfslok was built to bring a completely new experience in the Driving Range. We are here to make golf -more approachable, more social and much more fun. Whether you are an avid golfer, a first-timer, or just tagging for the drinks and snacks you are in the right place.

The Golf Loof is where Golf meets energy, connection and technology. From informal fluctuations and laughs with friends to targeted training sessions with real -time balls, we have created a space where everyone feels welcome. Inrange’s Premiere Tracking system ensures that every game, course and practice mode offers the best experience for our guests

I didn’t try the golf loft, but you can read the Arrowhead Golf Course Review of Golf Blogger on the link.

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