Chris Wilcynzski creating five new holes at Indian Trails Golf Course
Chris Wilcynzski is leading a project at the Indian Trails Golf Course in Grand Rapids, Michigan, which sees the construction of five new holes.
The Saline-based architect has drawn up plans that will also see the creation of a new practice facility at the club.
The revised 18-hole layout will play only 5,500 yards from the back tees. The former ninth, seventeenth and eighteenth holes have been removed to make space to the new range and short game practice area.
The replacement holes have been moved to land south of the practice range. Wilczynski has also designed a new par-three second hole, while bunkers and greens have also been rebuilt on the par-four third hole.
Other elements of the work include the splitting of what was formerly the par-five sixth hole and turning it into two holes – the new par-three sixth and par-four seventh holes.
“Facilities like this are important to the game of golf,” said Wilczynski. “Indian Trails is a classic, entry-level course in a great location, and now it will have a practice facility worthy of elite players.”
The new 25-acre practice facility will feature 30 hitting stations of Turfhound artificial turf, as well as multiple target greens, three greens in a short game area that can be used for putting or chipping, and four practice bunkers.
The US$2.7 million project was approved by the city of Grand Rapids in September 2015, and Wilczynski has worked closely with the city’s parks and recreation division – as well as landscape architects Viridis Design Group and Wadsworth Golf Course Construction – throughout the course of the project.
“This project is going to have a very significant impact on Grand Rapids, both economically and socially,” said Lance Climie, general manager at Indian Trails. “Chris has done a great job. He appreciates the utility of the project, as well as the aesthetics. With the course upgrades and new practice facility – which already is drawing a great amount of interest – golfers who play Indian Trails will be getting an exceptional value.”
A grand opening for the full 18-hole course is scheduled for May 2017, with the new practice facility potentially opening later this year depending on weather conditions.