Ramsey County in Minnesota has hired Pinehurst-based architect Richard Mandell to direct a renovation of the historic Keller Golf Course in Maplewood, near St Paul. 

The Keller course was opened in 1929 and was designed by Ramsey County chief engineer Paul Coates. It hosted many high-profile tournaments, including two PGA Championships, in 1932, won by Olin Dutra, and 1954, when Chick Harbert emerged victorious, as well as the Western Open in 1949.

Mandell was selected ahead of seventeen other candidates. Work will begin later this year, and the course will reopen in May 2014.

“We were attracted to Richard Mandell because of his minimalist approach to renovating classic golf courses and his interest in involving the public golfer throughout the design process” said Kevin Finley, Ramsey County’s director of golf operations.

Mandell said: The plan is to polish the gem, and not change the character of the property. There are too many people who love this course to make significant changes.  My objective, with golfer input, is to solve problems and update the course for another successful seventy years.”