Harbor Springs, Michigan – The Boyne golf resort in Michigan now has five renovated holes on its Donald Ross Memorial course, a collection of 18 accurate re-creations of Ross’s work at some of the most famous clubs.
The latest holes to be completed include Hole 2 (No. 4 Plainfield Country Club), Hole 13 (No. 15 Seminole), Hole 15 (No. 11 Aronimink), and Hole 16 (No. 10 Pinehurst No. 2). Five holes have now been renovated to Ross’ original designs, and additional holes are on tap for renovation over the next few years.
The 124th U.S. Open will be held next month on Pinehurst No. 2, Ross’s second course in Pinehurst, N.C., where Ross worked for some 40 years.
Thirty-five years ago, Boyne Golf’s founder, Everett Kircher, decided to pay homage to Ross, widely considered the father of 20th Century American golf architecture, by re-creating some of Ross’s signature holes from his top courses east of the Mississippi River.
The course features classic renditions from historic venues like Seminole, Pinehurst No. 2, Oakland Hills, Oak Hill, Scioto, Detroit Golf Club, Aronimink, Wannamoisett, Plainfield, and Inverness, to name a few.
“When we began this journey in the late 1980s, Dad wanted to create a unique golf experience that no other resort had done before, replicating some of the great designs of famous holes in one compositive golf course,” Kircher said. “
The goal at Boyne: More accurate fairways, bunkering, greens complexes
Kircher and long-time Boyne executive Bernie Friedrich, the director of golf course Renovations and Development for Boyne Golf, who is leading the project, were also part of the original selection and execution team during the course’s original development. They enlisted Michigan course architect and Donald Ross expert Ray Hearn to oversee it.
Friedrich said the objective with every hole was to duplicate Ross’s original designs. More accurately following Ross’s original designs, he reshaped the fairways, creating additional angles into the greens and improving shot values. Along with more accurate positioning of bunkers and more exacting green complexes, golfers will experience an even more authentic Donald Ross experience, he said.
Resort officials said next on tap will be the 10th hole of the Ross Memorial course, a rendition of No. 14 at Royal Dornoch, where Ross grew up, was the superintendent, and learned the trade under Old Tom Morris. Construction starts in June and will be done by 2025.
Have a story idea or a news item to report to Alabama Golf News? Email gregg@alabamagolfnews.com
Featured image of the Donald Ross Memorial course courtesy of Boyne Golf
