Minnesota Golfer - Travel 2022 - 35

MGA NEWS
Polishing Golden Valley's
Hidden Gem
T
hese days, revitalizing older, storied course is news, and
the work done this past summer and fall at Golden Valley
Country Club fits that bill. The private club embarked on a project
that sought to modernize the course, circa 1926, with an eye
toward famed architect A.W. Tillinghast's original design.
" It's a renovation to modernize the course, creating driving distances
that are appropriate for today's golfer, as well as reinstating
Tillinghast's original design nuances, such as his master bunker
philosophy, " said Kevin Norby, principal/project architect at Norby
Golf Design.
Norby and Duininck Golf, a family-owned golf construction
company in Delano, Minn., reconstructed the bunkers on all 18
holes, built new forward tees on 13 holes for a yardage of 4700
yards on the new set of tees, did some fairway realignment, consisting
of widening landing areas and expanded green surface to
regain some lost square footage and reinstate lost pin positions.
Much of the work around the bunkers consisted of steepening
Golden Valley's deep bunkers to eliminate hanging lies, raising the
bunker floors to create more accessible entry points and running
fairway grass right up to the bunkers' edge. According to Norby,
Tillinghast built golf holes by looking back from the greens toward
the tees and designed the strategy of each hole with the bunkering.
He said all the renovation was done in a manner consistent with
Tillinghast's original vision for Golden Valley.
" We know that because our primary source of information has
been the 1926 plan prepared by A. W. Tillinghast, " Norby said,
" as well as some historic photos hanging on the walls in the clubhouse.
And a 1937 aerial photograph, which is the earliest photograph
available for the property. "
In addition, Norby brought in two Tillinghast experts as consultants
on the project: Phillip Young, an author of 15 books on the
architect and considered the top Tillinghast expert in the world,
and Bradley Klein, a golf course historian and author ( " Discovering
Donald Ross " ). The pair have been onsite several times, including
in October, when Young told members of the GVCC board and
greens committees they have great possibilities.
" You have a piece of land and a golf course that just needs a cleaning
off-it is underappreciated at every level, " Young said. " You're going to
find when all the project works are finally done that you have a remarkable
course. It's a hidden gem and it's about to be really polished. "
100 Years of Public Golf Celebration
Mark your calendar for June 16, 2023, and the Minnesota Public Golf Association's Centennial
celebration, featuring an 18-hole Pro-Am tournament at Theodore Worth Golf Club, followed
by a banquet and program at the Metropolitan Ballroom in Golden Valley.
Visit mpgacentennial.wixsite.com/my-site for details.
mngolf.org
Travel 2022 MINNESOTAGOLFER 35
PHOTO: JON SCHMENK

http://mpgacentennial.wixsite.com/my-site http://www.mngolf.org

Minnesota Golfer - Travel 2022

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