Second phase of restoration work commences at Inglewood Golf Club
The second phase of a multi-year course restoration project at Inglewood Golf Club in Kenmore in the US state of Washington is now underway.
Golf course architect Jeff Mingay is overseeing the work, with the aim of ‘fundamentally improving the course in a contemporary context.’
The Inglewood course was originally designed A. Vernon Macan, an Irishman who helped pioneer golf architecture in the Pacific Northwest. Macan’s first design was at Royal Colwood in Victoria, Canada, and Inglewood was his second, designed in 1919.
GCA caught up with Mingay to discuss how he is looking to take the Inglewood course back to its roots.
“I’ve been working on the Inglewood masterplan for a couple years now, which was approved in concept by the club’s board in 2016,” said Mingay. “The intent is to restore the best elements of Macan’s original design – principally some remarkably unique bunkering and several Macan-designed greens that were replaced over the years. Phase one involved work on the third, fourth and fifth holes. We’re currently at work on the sixth and ninth holes.”
Mingay said that the main focus of the latest restoration work is around the course’s bunkering, the removal of sand build-up on the green surrounds, and the restoration of the original sizes and shapes of the putting surfaces.
“Some related adjustment to fairway mowing will take place, as will tree management and work to improve drainage throughout the course,” he said. “A forward tee plan is also in development.”
Mingay is currently at various stages of restorative-based projects at Macan-designed courses throughout the region.
“These include at the Victoria Golf Club in British Columbia, where Macan lived, worked and played,” he added.
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A. Vernon Macan designed the Inglewood course in 1919
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One element of the current work is focused on the course’s bunkering, which Mingay described as being ‘remarkably unique’
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