Interviews

Oakmont: An interview with Gil Hanse

With the 2025 US Open arriving at Oakmont, Richard Humphreys spoke with the architect, who renovated the course in 2023, about what to expect

Martin Ebert: Design journey

With a portfolio that includes eight of the ten Open venues, Mackenzie & Ebert occupies an enviable position in the golf design industry. Adam Lawrence spoke with principal Martin Ebert to learn how they got there

Designs for the big screen

Chad Goetz and Agustin Piza discuss their design decisions for the virtual holes that featured in the first season of TGL

Bob Harrison: Wizard of Oz

The Australian designer has had a long career and, like many of his countrymen, has spent much of it away from home. Adam Lawrence listened to his tales from the road

Ben Cowan-Dewar: Shock and awe

Golf development firm Cabot now has properties in six countries. Richard Humphreys speaks with co-founder and CEO Ben Cowan-Dewar about what makes a great site, selection of golf course architects, and more

Team building

Turfgrass has launched its US arm with the appointment of John Lawrence, Adam Moeller and Brad Owen. Richard Humphreys speaks with them, Turfgrass founder John Clarkin and director of agronomy Julian Mooney to find out more

Brian Curley: Life of Brian

The designer has surely clocked up more air miles than anyone else in the business. Adam Lawrence caught up with him in between flights to discuss his career and his new venture with Jim Wagner

Oakmont: An interview with Gil Hanse

With the 2025 US Open arriving at Oakmont, Richard Humphreys spoke with the architect, who renovated the course in 2023, about what to expect

Martin Ebert: Design journey

With a portfolio that includes eight of the ten Open venues, Mackenzie & Ebert occupies an enviable position in the golf design industry. Adam Lawrence spoke with principal Martin Ebert to learn how they got there

Designs for the big screen

Chad Goetz and Agustin Piza discuss their design decisions for the virtual holes that featured in the first season of TGL

Bob Harrison: Wizard of Oz

The Australian designer has had a long career and, like many of his countrymen, has spent much of it away from home. Adam Lawrence listened to his tales from the road

Ben Cowan-Dewar: Shock and awe

Golf development firm Cabot now has properties in six countries. Richard Humphreys speaks with co-founder and CEO Ben Cowan-Dewar about what makes a great site, selection of golf course architects, and more

Team building

Turfgrass has launched its US arm with the appointment of John Lawrence, Adam Moeller and Brad Owen. Richard Humphreys speaks with them, Turfgrass founder John Clarkin and director of agronomy Julian Mooney to find out more

Brian Curley: Life of Brian

The designer has surely clocked up more air miles than anyone else in the business. Adam Lawrence caught up with him in between flights to discuss his career and his new venture with Jim Wagner

Sean Dudley
/ Categories: News

Restoration of Donald Ross’s Sara Bay course to begin this month

A restoration of the Donald Ross-designed golf course at Sara Bay Country Club in Sarasota, Florida, is to get underway on 30 April.

The work is being led by Kris Spence of Spence Golf – a golf course architect with extensive experience in restoring Ross courses.

Spence will be using a series of historic Ross drawings from Sara Bay to inform his work.

“The primary focus of the project will be to restore the greens and bunkers closely to the Ross field drawings,” said Paul Barone, PGA master professional and general manager at Sara Bay. “This will include reducing crowning on the greens and tapering the approaches, as well as restoring strategic bunkering and shot angles. The restoration will also include visibility improvement of fairway bunkering, construction of five new teeing areas and enlarged practice putting and short game areas.”

“We’re very excited to revitalise our course and deliver an outstanding golf experience to all of our members and guests,” said Daren King, PGA head golf professional at Sara Bay. “Donald Ross designed a true masterpiece, and we are honored to provide a golf experience that can only come with time and tradition.”

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Slideshow HTML
  • Sara Bay

    Work will commence on the course on 30 April

  • Sara Bay

    Some of Ross’s original plans for the course will inform Spence’s work

  • Sara Bay

    Spence has drawn up plans for the Sara Bay greens using Ross’s original work

  • Sara Bay

    The course’s bunkering will also be brought more in line with Ross’s plans for the course

Sean Dudley

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