The most recent redesign work at Pease Golf Course in New Hampshire, US, is nearing completion.

Following two years of planning, permitting and the bid process, construction at Pease commenced in October 2012 to improve drainage on the course’s lower nine and enhance the player experience.

Led by architect William Bradley Booth and Wadsworth Golf Construction, the first phase of the project to upgrade the nine hole course, known as the Blue nine, was completed this May. Work on the course’s lower nine is also nearing completion. Seeding and grassing has begun and should be ready by late August.

Speaking exclusively to GCA, Booth said: “There are two parts to the golf course rework – first the upgrading of the Blue nine that entailed new tee construction, bunker renovation, playing corridor expansion and fairway enlargement. The larger scope was the total redesign and reconstruction of the ‘lower nine’ on the original 18 holes. That nine consists of portions of both the front and back nines.”

“The lower nine had a myriad of issues both from a feature and functional standpoint,” explained Booth. “It was very flat ground with routing issues and considerable drainage problems that limited its access during rainy periods. This portion of the project entailed improving the player experience, create more terrain and feature, be as true to the original design as is possible, create a better visual palate and, of course, improve the drainage situation.”

So what can golfers expect when they play the redesigned course?

“The original reasons for Pease to consider this redesign was to improve access to the ‘lower nine’ during seasonal and wet weather conditions (drainage) and to upgrade the playing experience,” said Booth. “Players should find a more visual and pleasing arrangement as well as interesting new challenges and rewards.”

“Considerable earthwork was completed to add a large amount of terrain, such as rolls, humps, hillocks and hollows,” added Booth. “This should present a far more strategic and interesting less linear feel to the playing ground and surrounds. And at the same time, incorporating considerable drainage improvements to accomplish the movement of water off the course.”

Originally opened in 1901 as Portsmouth Country Club with Alex Findlay credited with the design, the course was expanded to 18 holes in 1929 and then taken by the Air Force in 1955 as part of the development of the air base. At this point it became Pease Golf Course. Nine more holes were added in 2000.