(SANFORD, N.C.) – Carolina Trace Country Club today announces its clubhouse and award-winning Robert Trent Jones, Sr.-designed Lake Course will undergo major renovations starting March 1.
Located in at the northern edge of North Carolina’s famed Sandhills region, Carolina Trace is a highly-amenitized, top-tier club featuring two championship courses (both designed by Jones, Sr.), tennis courts, pool, a fitness center, fine dining and breathtaking views of Lake Trace.
“We are excited about this project and the future of Carolina Trace,” says David McDonald, President of Ft. Worth-based Escalante Golf, which acquired the club last year. “Robert Trent Jones, Sr. is one of the most respected golf course architects of all time, and it is an honor to restore this classic to one of the top courses in the state. The resulting layout will challenge accomplished and novice players alike.”
Phase one is a complete overhaul of the Lake Course including new leveled, squared tee complexes with additional sets of tees for every skill level. New bunkers will be added, numerous existing bunkers will be relocated and others will be eliminated. All bunkers will be completely rebuilt with new drainage, new liners and the best sand material available.
Trees that have encroached onto the course over the past 40 years will be removed and trimmed to open up site lines and return the layout to its original playability. All fairways will be re-contoured to provide a more consistent and smoother playing surface. Finally, the existing asphalt cart paths will be removed and replaced with eight-foot wide concrete cart paths.
The project is scheduled for a late fall completion. During construction, all play will be directed to the Creek Course, another Trent Jones, Sr. classic.
“Our vision for Carolina Trace entails elevating and enhancing every aspect of the club and member experience,” adds McDonald. “It begins with the Lake Course and will continue with the clubhouse. Our entire team has been enamored with the club since we first drove through the gates and saw Lake Trace. It is a wonderful community and we are truly excited to be its stewards.”
Both the interior and the exterior of the clubhouse will get a major facelift. The majority of the downstairs will be repurposed to accommodate a state-of-the-art fitness facility complete with the newest weight machines and cardio equipment. In addition, a separate area will be built to host various group classes from Yoga to Zumba. The men’s and women’s locker facilities will be completely redone with modern fixtures and accompaniments. Carolina Trace members will have 24-hour access to all the equipment, showers and restrooms.
In addition to the interior work, significant changes are planned for the exterior and landscaping of the club. The back of the club has incredible views of Lake Trace that will be leveraged by creating new outdoor areas perfect for hosting weddings, large parties and club events. The exterior of the clubhouse will be updated with architectural details including new awnings, balustrades and a cupola on the porte cochere. New shake shingles and board and batten will be added to further enhance the façade, making it more inviting for members and guests.
About Escalante Golf
Founded in 1991, Escalante Golf is a boutique owner and operator of luxury golf properties across eight states. The Fort Worth, Texas-based company has quietly assembled an impressive collection of exclusive clubs in key markets that have hosted several prestigious amateur and professional golf tournaments including the U.S. Mid-Amateur Golf Championship, the Charles Schwab Cup, the WGC Match Play Championship and the Shell Houston Open.
For more information: www.escalantegolf.com, (817) 386-9721.
Contact:
David Matheson
Escalante Golf
(817) 386-9721
