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

Richard Humphreys
/ Categories: News

The Club at Lac La Belle unveils renovated course

The Club at Lac La Belle in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, has reopened its golf course following a renovation by Craig Haltom.

“The first four holes have been built on new property that was never part of the original course,” said Haltom. “That gave us room to reroute holes on the existing course to reach all the most interesting parts of the property, while avoiding a lot of the low-lying problem areas. The result is a routing that has a lot of room between holes, in some places, and a scale that most people don’t expect.

“You cross the road to reach the fifth hole, but it’s a nice walk and it all works together.”

Jimmy Cavezza oversaw construction, which began in May 2018, and is staying on as the golf course superintendent at La Belle.

The project has seen 18 new and much larger greens built. “The new greens are generally pretty big, with some big contours, which is nothing like the original course that had a couple of the flattest greens I’ve ever seen! People are having a lot of fun, so that’s been great to see.”

Read more: Haltom spoke to GCA about the new routing last year, when construction was almost complete

Tyler Morse, vice president of The Prestwick Group, said: “We added 30 acres to the property and not one hole has been used from the previous 18-hole routing. Craig did some unique things out on the course that people will have a lot of fun with.”

“We cleared thousands of trees, so the views across golf holes are also dramatically improved,” said Haltom. “Everyone is really pleased with the result. The drainage issues are resolved, and the course is playing great.”

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  • La Belle
    Mike Baldwin/ The Club at Lac La Belle

    The Club at Lac La Belle has reopened its golf course following a comprehensive renovation by Craig Haltom

  • La Belle
    Mike Baldwin/ The Club at Lac La Belle

    The project has seen 18 new and much larger greens built

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Mike Baldwin/ The Club at Lac La Belle
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