Waynesville in North Carolina reopens following transformation

Waynesville Inn & Golf Club in North Carolina has reopened following a redesign by Bobby Weed Golf Design.

The project has seen the club’s original Carolina nine, designed by Donald Ross in 1926, restored and now becomes the front nine of the new routing. The other two nines, Dogwood and Blue Ridge, have been consolidated into a new back nine.

“The Waynesville Inn & Golf Club’s new routing is compelling, memorable and avoids repetition,” said Weed, who was hired by ownership group Raines in April 2021. “Quality courses should have a rhythm of scoring opportunities and challenges. The design variety should also provide different hole shapes, distances and shot options for the player to discern. We accomplished these goals during our renovation.”

Weed’s work on the par-35 ‘Ross nine’ – a compact set of holes that play across a valley floor, flanked by streams and trees, and surrounded by mountains – has included restoring Ross’s small greens, short-cut surrounds and bunkers, with hole lengths extended where possible. Weed has also transformed the first tee, with 11,000-square-feet of tightly mown bentgrass now able to serve as an outdoor event space.

Land from the former Dogwood and Blue Ridge nines that was not used in the new back nine, named after Weed, provided the architect with the opportunity to revamp the practice areas and mark space for future residential use. A land plan created by Weed and design associate Joey Graziani identified a new 10-acre parcel for development, which will include eight golf cottages and, along the tenth and twelfth fairways, bungalows and single-family houses.

Weed used the rolling topography to shape greens with gentle slopes and falloffs that closely resemble the Ross nine, while making the most of mountain views.

“In partnering with Bobby Weed Golf Design, we’ve been able to elevate this historic destination into a must-visit hub for golfers and guests alike,” said Grey Raines, co-managing partner of Raines. “By preserving the heart of this iconic design and incorporating top-notch amenities, we’ve created a venue that genuinely celebrates the stunning western North Carolina landscape.”

An out-and-back ‘Wedge Park’ short course has been built between the fairways of the first and eighteenth holes. An 18,000-square-foot putting green can be lit for evening use, and a new driving range and a chipping and bunker complex were also built. Construction work was completed by MacCurrach Golf Construction.

“My wife, Leslie, has generational ties to Waynesville that date back over 100 years,” said Weed. “As long-time seasonal residents, this was a dream come true to personally steer the club in a new direction for future generations.”

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