Golf course architect Lester George, ASGCA has been engaged by the historic Audubon Country Club in Louisville, Kentucky to create a long-range master plan of renovations for the club. The golf course, originally designed by Thomas Bendelow in 1908, has been regarded as one of the finest courses in the region for decades. Audubon has hosted the Kentucky Open, Kentucky State Amateur, Kentucky Senior Amateur, and KGA Mid-Amateur state championships. To maintain its reputation for excellence in Louisville’s competitive market, the club’s master plan will address improving and modernizing the golf facilities and infrastructure.
“This master planning process is what Audubon needs to continue to position itself as a premier country club in the city of Louisville. The creation of this long-range plan will help sustain our current membership and prepare for bringing in future members,” said Club President Bob Frank. “Audubon is minutes from the revival of the Germantown Neighborhood and the immense growth of Downtown Louisville and the University of Louisville. This master plan is going to help our club match the growth and improvements happening all around us. We’re excited to be working with Lester George and his team.”
“It was serendipitous that I heard about Lester at a PGA conference where practice facilities were being discussed,” said Director of Golf Eric Gilliland. “Two people in the room told me about his expertise with historical properties, and his reputation for developing practice facilities, and I was excited to get him here to see Audubon.”
Prior improvements to the course were spontaneous, without a cohesive vision for the evolution of the golf course. The development of a long-range plan for future improvements gives Audubon the opportunity to evaluate course strategy, practice facilities, turf varieties, aesthetics, drainage, and overall facility efficiency.
“Lester has a unique and inclusive approach,” said Gilliland. “He suggested we allow the membership to give their input on what they want Audubon to become before we share our ideas with them so we can compare their ideas of what the club needs with our own. This process is unfolding organically with the right person at the right time.”
The Board voted unanimously to hire George Golf Design. George is meeting with focus groups representing a comprehensive cross-section of the membership at Audubon to discuss their opinions about the course, the property, and the direction of the club.
“I am looking forward to hearing what the membership has to say about the facilities and amenities so we can work that information into an inclusive, comprehensive plan for Audubon,” said George. “I fell in love with the course the first time I toured it, and I think the club leadership saw my passion.”
“The Board of Directors made a great decision to retain Lester George and his company George Golf Design, Inc. to map the future of our club’s amenities. I am very excited for our membership and future new members of Audubon,” said General Manager Mike Misheck. “I have had the opportunity to work with several golf course architects during my career, and Lester stands apart from all the others. We learned that his business model is very unique for golf course architects in general. I consider him somewhat of a ‘Hybrid’ in the industry because he is not only an architect but serves as a consultant, project manager and partner for his clients. He will not only develop a master plan but guide us through the process. Lester George is very selective as to the projects he chooses, and it is fair to say that Lester chose Audubon as much as our Board of Directors chose Lester. Lester will not only be developing a plan for the golf course and a state-of-the-art practice facility unique to this region, but the club in totality. Lester is very excited about Audubon, as we are of him. It will be an honor for our club to partner with such a renowned and respected professional.”
About Lester George: A Board member of the esteemed American Society of Golf Course Architects, internationally renowned golf course architect, Lester George, has quite a versatile resume. In addition to his award-winning new course designs, has developed a niche in renovating and restoring classic golf courses designed by some of the most revered golden age architects. He has worked on everything from plains to steep, rocky terrain to brownfield and environmentally challenging sites, including a course under which thousands of unexploded bombs were discovered once excavation began – and he has become somewhat of a master at designing practice facilities that offer a realistic experience for golfers. George’s Kinloch Golf Club is the highest ranked golf course in the history of Virginia, having won countless awards. Ballyhack Golf Club is rated # 7 in the state by Golf Digest and was on several top ten Best New Course lists. The Old White Course at The Greenbrier was honored as Golf Digest’s Best New Remodel and now hosts a PGA Tour event; the James River Course at The Country Club of Virginia was the #5 Best New Remodel; and Willow Oaks Country Club was one of Golf Digests’ Best New Remodels of 2009. Most recently, Lester’s renovation of Independence Golf Club was listed as one of Golf Digest’s Top 10 Best Remodels of 2015.
Contact:
Shannon Fisher, Vice President of Communications, George Golf Design, 804-314-3268
