Knudson Nine at Oakdale G&CC undergoes Thompson-style makeover
Architect Ian Andrew is leading a project at the Oakdale Golf & Country Club in Toronto, Canada.
The work is focusing on the club’s Knudson Nine, which was originally designed by Robbie Robinson.
As well as the Knudson Nine, Oakdale is home to 18 holes originally designed by Canadian architect Stanley Thompson.
Andrew has been tasked with matching the feel of the Knudson Nine with the club’s Thompson holes.
“I will rebuild two uphill holes using other Stanley Thompson green sites from two other courses in the city,” Andrew told GCA. “I will also re-bunker the nine holes using the position and style of the club’s original 18 for placement and character.”
Andrew is planning to remove hundreds of artificial mounds which have been added to the Knudson Nine in the last 25 years, in order to ‘get the course to blend back into the surroundings like the other two nines do’.
“I will also connect fairways back into the greens for playability and character,” he added. “Essentially, the goal is to make it feel like Thompson built 27 holes for the club. My reasoning behind this was to balance out the play between the nines.”
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A before shot of the seventh hole...
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...and following Andrew’s work
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A before shot of the uphill ninth
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Reworked bunkering is evident on the ninth hole
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