Restoration Breaths New Life
   into Classic Grove Park Course

Reprinted with permission from PubLinks Magazine

By Gary Carter

It’s not hard to imagine the consternation among the management team of Asheville’s renowned Grove Park Inn when it was learned that the executive director of the Donald Ross Society had declared the resort’s golf course as “best suited for a future goat farm.” After all, this was the 1926 handiwork of the revered Scottish architect that had in its time tangled with Harry Vardon, Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan and Sam Snead, not to mention thousands of resort guests.

But the course had, quite frankly, been neglected in recent years as the resort’s owners focused on an aggressive multimillion dollar renewal and expansion of the classic inn that was originally constructed in 1913 as a stylish retreat for America’s elite. In fairness, the Grove Park Inn has never promoted itself over its illustrious history as a “golf resort,” but rather as a resort that has a golf course. Still, even in its less than pristine condition, the layout retained the character of the architect’s original vision and the charm of a time when F. Scott Fitzgerald roamed the inn’s halls.

“We always knew we had a curiously wonderful golf course that had a historic context,” says Dal Raiford, the director of golf at The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa. “But the playability of the course had been impacted over the years, and much of the original Ross design and strategy had been compromised.” To rectify this situation, the course was closed in June 2001 for a complete $2.5 million restoration that ultimately took 11 months to complete.

The project was entrusted to Kris Spence, a Greensboro-based golf designer, whose results on several other renovations of Ross courses impressed Raiford and Greg Benton, the course superintendent. “Working with Kris, we determined that our objective was to deduce the strategy that Donald Ross had intended in order to save as much as we could even as we recreated the course,” Raiford says. “We tried to focus on the time in which Ross was working while taking advantage of advances in grasses to improve both playability and aesthetics.”

For Spence, his initial challenge was to determine the original layout of the course, which had undergone several redesigns over the years that had resulted in the heights of greens changing, fairways being redirected, and bunkers being moved, filled or lost. This process was complicated since there were no original drawings or other definitive sources from which to draw. Ultimately, Spence utilized an aerial photograph of the area and other photos found in the inn’s archives that hinted at bunker depths and shapes of greens. “Basically, we were able to step back in time and determine from careful study of these photos an indication of what style of course Donald Ross had created,” explains Spence. “Then we went out and looked for clues, and dug around to get a sense of the shapes of greens, fairway perimeters, and location and depths of bunkers. Along the way, the potential revealed itself.”

Once revealed, attention turned to the details. Greens were enlarged and reshaped to capture the original contours that are a centerpiece of the Ross strategy. Collars were added to expand short game possibilities, while the areas around the greens now range from tightly mown collection areas to high native grasses. The greens also were reseeded with the new heat-resistant A-4 bentgrass. According to Raiford, the greens now reflect the intentions of Donald Ross who always offered players a range of options on approach shots as well as opportunities for recovery. Spence now characterizes the greens, with their subtle slopes and slick surfaces, as the best in North Carolina.

Fairway routings were corrected where necessary, with Spence paying particular attention to the architect’s intent in showing players where to place the ball. Ross typically directed line of play through the use of mounding and placement of bunkers. Spence has honored this intent while also acknowledging the changes in equipment that have given today’s players greater length and accuracy. To accomplish this, tees were moved back on numerous holes to keep features in play and maintain the strategic approach intended by Ross. This posed a logistical challenge for Spence since the course is nestled snugly into 88 compact acres. However, some skillful manuvering opened up enough needed space.

A number of trees were removed to open up the rough and enable players to make recovery shots. In addition, the fairways were converted from Bermuda to bentgrass, while the tees were reseeded with a hybrid bentgrass and laser-leveled. Bunkers were restored to their original shapes and depths, and, in several instances, returned to their proper locations. Native grasses have been grown in around the layout, adding a nicely Scottish touch that also can prove penal if an errant Pro V-1 refuses to adhere to orders to hold the line.

“Donald Ross was the architect of this golf course, and our job was to help it regain his vision and its history,” Spence says. “The key to this project was to retain the authentic, historic feel while taking advantage of modern techniques to create outstanding conditions. We’re very proud of the results.” These efforts were rewarded when Golfweek Magazine selected the Grove Park Inn’s project as the top course restoration in the United States for 2002. Additional vindication came when Michael Fay, the executive director of the Donald Ross Society who had deemed the course in dismal shape, delivered his unreserved congratulations.

“The Ross features have been recaptured in the finest of fashion,” Fay wrote. “The course is scenic, strategic and fun to play. The putting surfaces are uniform, interesting and slick. The bunker work is faithful to the style of Ross, and the tees really set off the overall effect. All in all, I give the restoration an A+.” And the accolades are well deserved. Upon its reopening, players discovered an entirely new golf experience that both honors the legacy of Donald Ross and delivers unsurpassed conditions. For the Ross purist, it’s a legitimate test against the master. For everyone else, it’s a fair and enjoyable challenge that rewards strategic thinking and a deft touch around the greens.

The course’s par four holes remain varied and individual, complemented by elevations that impact both placement and club selection. With proper positioning off the tee, the par fives can be challenged by better players, while a well-placed lay-up provides a good chance at birdie. Par threes at Grove Park are significant and can be foreboding, especially if a breeze kicks up (which is not uncommon on the side of a mountain).

The fairways are smooth and lush, with bends and elevation changes that require proper direction off the tee. Following the correct line keeps a player out of trouble and opens up a range of approach options as Ross intended. The significant elevation changes require attention. Downhill shots make club selection tricky, while uphill approach shots often face limited visibility and false fronts that play visual tricks. Bunkers definitely come into play and are suitably penal. After all, keep in mind that it was Ross who stated there is no such thing as a misplaced bunker and that “it is the business of the player to avoid it.”

The greens are classics, with the subtle slopes and humps that can bedevil even the most adept players. Run-off and collection areas capture many shots that miss the right landing spot. Fringes are tight and can be putted from if downgrain; however, into the grain and uphill can be tricky and require chipping. As with any Ross course, it’s always wise to leave the ball below the hole.

Of course, making a good run at the cup can be an adventure. On a Ross green, it’s important to read not just the route to the hole but also to determine what can happen if the putt goes past. It’s not uncommon to roll a good putt, go two feet by and then watch in disbelief as the ball gathers momentum and trundles away, even off the green. As a result, smart players realize it’s not just a matter of making the first putt, but also leaving the ball in good position for a second effort. (A tip: Local knowledge says all putts break away from the inn, often in what appears to be defiance of natural gravitational laws.)

With three sets of tees ranging from 5,001 to 6,702 yards, the course has multiple personalities. Factor in the wind that often blows and yardages can change significantly. “Our golf course is now as stern a test as you want or can be as forgiving as you need it to be,” Raiford says. “From each set of tees, the course plays completely different, which makes it fun and keeps things interesting.”

All in all, the year-long process accomplished its objectives admirably. It both returned the course to its original glory while adding the modern touches and outstanding conditioning that should elevate its status among North Carolina’s finest courses. The setting remains inspiring as shots fly toward distant ridges or climb sloped emerald fairways between rows of stout evergreens. And the overall experience is one of stepping back in time.

As Raiford observes in his typically wry fashion: “We haven’t changed the world, but we do now have a very nice little golf course that deserves to be enjoyed.”

The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa is an ideal mountain destination for the golfer with a non-playing companion.

Overlooking Asheville’s skyline, the inn was built in 1913 from massive boulders as a retreat for America’s elite and remains a renowned getaway. Non-golfers can enjoy the resort’s 40,000 square-foot world-class spa that offers an array of luxurious services, while the sports complex houses indoor and outdoor tennis, swimming and complete workout facilities. The inn also features three outstanding restaurants.

In addition, the resort is just five minutes from uptown Asheville where visitors will find an eclectic blend of shops, galleries, bookstores, cafes and restaurants. Also close by is the magnificent Biltmore Estate with its 250- room mansion, grounds and winery. And a drive along the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway is always a great way to experience the mountains. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with just grabbing a wooden rocker on the Grove Park Inn’s stone terrace and watching the sun settle beyond the ridges. Or maybe grabbing another quick nine.

For more information, visit www.groveparkinn.com or call 800/438-5800