65,000 rounds targeted as architect Garl reconstructs greens at Florida course.
By Adam Lawrence |
A US$175,000 renovation led by local architect Ron Garl aims to reduce a recent decline in rounds at the Cleveland Heights municipal course in Lakeland, Florida.
The course is currently losing around US$800,000 a year, but director of parks and recreation Bob Donahay told the Lakeland Ledger that the renovation showed the city's faith in the course. “The city manager's office, the commissioners, they want this to work. They want it to make money. That's why they've given us so much leeway to put more into the course, even though it's losing money right now,” Donahay told the newspaper.
Cleveland Heights opened in 1925, and was originally designed by legendary architect William Flynn. The project includes a new irrigation system, more forward tees, repairing cart paths, and resurfacing the 27-hole complex's greens with Tifdwarf bermuda.
The course currently sees around 51,000 rounds a year, and Donahay said the aim was to increase that number to 65,000. The A nine will reopen in October, while the B and C courses will be done next year.