 By Fred Byrod
Associate Editor
Work will begin next month on a $1.6-million project to improve the golf course and other facilities of Whitford Country Club in Exton, Chester County.
"We are now celebrating our 40th anniversary," said club President Jack Oppasser, "and are undertaking a plan to improve most areas of the club." Other than rebuilding of one green, these will be the first major changes to the original course designed
by the William F. Gordon Co.
The "master plan" developed over a three-year study and approved by a membership vote last month will be supervised by Lisa Maki of Golf Design Services International, an Atlanta, Ga., firm. It includes three major course changes.
- Total reconstruction of the par-four eight hole, including an enlarged tee area and wider landing space, new fairway bunker, expanded and reshaped green and two new greenside bunkers.
- Enlarged tee, new fairway bunker, new lake and expanded, reshaped green on the par-five ninth hole.
- Replacement of the present irrigation system with a new Rainbird, computer-controlled "dual row" system.
Also approved: three additional Har-Tru tennis courts with underground watering.
Whitford's practice putting green will be utilized as a temporary par three during this work. Thus members will be able to continue play, and the Whitford Classic, one of the major events on the Philadelphia PGA's tournament schedule, will go on as sched
uled Sept. 8-9.
These are the present Whitford course statistics: from the black (championship) tees: 6,734 yards, 72.6 rating, 130 slope; from the regular (blue) tees; 6,395 yard; 70.8 rating, 128 slope.
Still in the planning stage, listed for 18 months starting in 1997, are a new locker room and other clubhouse facilities and a new swimming pool. Cost of that work is anticipated at an additional $1 million.
Further course work will include added and relocated bunkers, tee enlargements and either enlarging or building some new greens.
|
