Zinkand completes restoration of bunkering at Old Elm
Zinkand Golf Design has completed the restoration of greens and bunkers at Old Elm Club in Highland Park, Illinois.
Harry Colt routed the golf course in 1913 during one of his rare visits to the United States, while Donald Ross led construction, including its greens.
Golf course architect Drew Rogers began the restoration, recapturing width with tree clearing and expansion of fairways and putting green perimeters. ZGD was then hired to bring the original bunkering back to life, alongside Old Elm superintendent Curtis James.
In GCA’s coverage of the project in 2015, ZGD principal David Zinkand, a former Coore & Crenshaw associate, said: “Ross’s greens were beyond reproach. We merely addressed areas that could no longer be pinned due to decades of topdressing and modern green speeds.”
With Colt’s elaborate notes and sketches as inspiration, Zinkand has worked to restore bunkers back to their original design style.
“We took painstaking care to reintroduce Colt’s preferred bunkering at Old Elm, merging his aesthetic preferences and strategic concepts with modern play and maintenance expectations,” said Zinkand. “The course now features bold bunker forms with dramatic ‘ripped’ and ‘torn’ edges that complement the site’s beautifully rolling terrain.”
In parallel to the bunker work, the entire course has been regrassed, and Zinkand has made subtle modifications to contours on six greens, including the Redan at seventeen.
“It’s an incredible honour to work on Old Elm’s incomparable Colt-Ross hybrid and play a role in ushering the two titans’ design ambitions into the future,” said Zinkand. “We’re proud to have earned the trust of Curtis James, former general manager Kevin Marion and the rest of the Old Elm team as they focus on delivering a unique playing experience.”
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Zinkand Golf Design
Zinkand Golf Design has completed restoration work at Olm Elm Club in Illinois
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