Southern California's No. 1 Source for Golf
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"Although golf was originally restricted to wealthy, overweight Protestants, today it's open to anybody who owns hideous clothing" |
-Dave Barry |
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 For starters, a tee time at Pelican Hill Golf Club in Newport Coast, which is scheduled to reopen November 2 after being closed for nearly two years of renovation work. Seem pricey? For those unfamiliar with the property's two 18-hole gems, allow designer Tom Fazio to put it in perspective: "I don't think there's any golf experience better than Pelican Hill, no matter where it is," he said. High praise. And that's coming from the guy who renovated Augusta National. He's also designed several of the world's top-ranked courses and his portfolio reads like a never-ending dream vacation. "If I only designed two golf courses in my whole career and they would have been those two, I would have felt very proud to have had the opportunity to do that," Fazio said about Pelican Hill's North and South layouts. While there were no drastic changes, those familiar with the old layouts will see subtle differences. Some bunkers have been repositioned, and Tifway II hybrid Bermuda turf was planted on the fairways and the rough is now a mixture of fescue and rye. There is also a new irrigation system. "The technology of golf today relative to underground construction and details is very different than it was 15 or 20 years ago," said Fazio, referring to the initial opening of the facility in 1991. Typically, golf course renovation projects are due to wear and tear. But the chance to refurbish Pelican Hill was born from attractive circumstances, namely the addition of a luxury resort. "When we decided to redevelop The Resort at Pelican Hill, we took the opportunity to reassess the courses," said Clarence Barker, executive vice president of The Irvine Company. "In keeping with the very high bar we set for the resort as a whole, we wanted to see if we should make any adjustments to take the two courses and make them even better." The resort, scheduled to open late next year, will feature all of the amenities one would expect and be complemented by Palladian architecture similar to what golfers will see in the grandiose new clubhouse. Golfers will further be spoiled prior to their rounds with four practice putting greens, a practice hole and a new driving range, which will feature Nike One Platinum balls. Instead of GPS systems on the carts, each vehicle will have a detachable Laser Link rangefinder for gauging distances. Being part of such a prestigious project appealed to Steve Friedlander, who left a management post with Wisconsin's famed Kohler courses and has been Pelican Hill Golf Club's general manager since January. "If this job wasn't as fantastic as it is - the location, the property, the concept of the resort - I probably wouldn't have come," Friedlander said. SG For more information or to arrange a tee time, call (877) 735-4226 or visit pelicanhill.com. |
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