Richland CC in Nashville Gets Jack’s Stamp of Approval
LIBERTYVILLE, Illinois (Dec. 12, 2008) – Members of Richland Country Club in suburban Nashville are elated with Rick Jacobson’s $6.2 million renovation of their course, originally designed by Jacobson’s mentor Jack Nicklaus.
“The course is absolutely fabulous, as was our experience with Rick,” said Hal Johnson, past president of the club and the club’s point man on the renovation effort. “We were able to do some major infrastructure improvements and make some aesthetic changes while maintaining our status as a Jack Nicklaus Signature design course.
“Rick did a great job, and his strong working relationship with Jack helped us maintain our Signature status.”
Jacobson’s extensive “to-do” list included:
• Reconstruction of all greens to USGA standards; also increased number of pin placement zones while preserving the integrity of the original Nicklaus strategy
• Reconstruction of all teeing areas
• Extensive bunker renovation and addition of several strategic bunkers
• Planted new grasses in rough areas, utilizing zoysia and Bermuda strains
• Removed 250 trees near greens to allow for increased sunlight and improved growing conditions
• Expanded practice range by 50 percent; added a number of artificial-turf tees
• Added a new short game practice area
• Incorporated rock wall features in order to provide aesthetic accents
• Replaced original asphalt cart paths with new concrete cart paths and curbing
“The renovation of Richland Country Club enabled the club to make important improvements and updates in aesthetics, strategy, and infrastructure,” said Jacobson. “Having made a significant investment in their club, the members now will be able to enjoy the improvements for years to come.”
Jacobson consulted with Nicklaus during the planning process.
“I actually reviewed the plans with Jack and he signed off on them,” Jacobson said. “It remains a Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course.”
Early in his career, Jacobson worked for Nicklaus at his office in South Florida. In recent years, Jacobson has collaborated on the design of two courses with Nicklaus – Bayside Resort and Golf Club – named among the top new courses for 2006 by Golf Digest and Golfweek magazines, – and the 18-hole Harbor Station Golf Club, the focus of a large-scale master planned community in suburban Washington, D.C.
In recent years, Jacobson has been designing an increasing number of courses in the international market. He currently has several projects under construction or in the design phase in China and is working on a new course in southern Italy.
Jacobson is well known nationally for such heralded original 18-hole designs as Augustine GC in Stafford, Va., Makefield Highlands GC in suburban Philadelphia, Bear Trap Dunes in Ocean View, Del., and the Club at Strawberry Creek in Kenosha, Wis.
Jacobson also is known for his renovations of such highly regarded classic courses, as Pete Dye’s Des Moines G&CC, site of the 1999 U.S. Senior Open; The Oak Park CC and Bob O’Link GC, both Chicago area Donald Ross courses; North Shore CC in Glenview, Ill., an H.S. Colt/C.H. Alison course, and Sunset Ridge CC in Northfield, Ill.
Jacobson also has led the recent and ongoing renovation of Cantigny Golf, host of the prestigious Western Junior and U.S. Public Links over the last two years. This year, Cantigny is hosting the Illinois State Amateur.
Contact:
Barry Cronin
Cronin Communications, Inc.
847-698-1801
