LAKE TOXAWAY, N.C. – Construction has wrapped up on Phase I of the golf course redesign project at Lake Toxaway Country Club. Phase I encompassed nine holes that will become the back nine of the newly-designed course.
This initial phase was delayed last year by a statewide moratorium on construction work involving trout streams. However, several issues have been resolved and the back nine will now open in mid May after a grow-in period for the bentgrass fairways and greens.
At that point, golfers will have 18 holes available for play throughout the summer – nine original holes and the new back nine. Construction on a new front nine begins this fall and should be complete in summer of 2008.
"We had to slow down and make some minor field changes because of the moratorium, but everything turned out fantastic," said director of golf Lou Biago. "We took the existing land and put a whole new nine holes on it with a whole different look. We now have a more playable golf course that incorporates the majestic views of the mountains and the lake."
Noted course architect Kris Spence of Greensboro, N.C., is handling the redesign. Spence, who earned stellar reviews for his renovation at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville, devised a creative new routing at Lake Toxaway that includes reversing the direction of play in a couple of areas.
The new 12th hole was created by reversing the old seventh hole, while the new 16th and 17th holes were built in the inverted footprint of the old third hole.
"He’s taken two of the worst holes on the golf course and turned them into three spectacular holes by going in reverse," Biago said. "The members that have seen it think it’s really going to be something special. They know the quality and the level of work that has been done on that nine."
When completed next summer, the $7 million project will result in a new 6,600-yard, par-71 course with four sets of tees and multiple teeing options on every hole.
Lake Toxaway is a scenic mountain retreat that includes luxury homes and real estate options, vacation rentals, a 640-acre lake and marina, plus the elegant Greystone Inn.
For information, visit www.laketoxawaycc.com or call the club at (828) 966-4020.
Contact:
Craig Distl
(704) 377-8622
