Tripp Davis’ firm has completed the second phase of a renovation and restoration project at Spring Lake Golf Club in New Jersey, US.

Originally designed by George Thomas, the course’s greens and bunkers were restyled by the legendary A.W. Tillinghast in 1918.

“We are very proud of what we’ve accomplished to date at Spring Lake,” said Tripp Davis. “The intent of the work during the past two years was to restore the classic look of the golf course after a previous bunker renovation went to more of a modern cookie cutter look that had no character. We paid homage to both George Thomas, the original golf course architect in 1910, and Tillinghast, who did a redesign in 1918. The bunkers have mostly grass faces that Tillinghast did here, but as a nod to Thomas we created more movement in the sand lines, similar to the style he used at Los Angeles CC and Riviera in California.”

A number of bunkers and tees were moved in order to help make the course more relevant for the modern game.

Davis said that some work still needed to be completed on the tees and greens, but that around 90 per cent of his original master plan for the course is now in place.

The architect said that Philadelphia-based firm Mottin Golf Course Renovations and the course’s superintendent Josh Reiger were influential in ensuring the work was completed to the highest standard.

“Mottin Golf was the builder and did an excellent job and it was a great pleasure to work with golf course superintendent Josh Reiger,” said Davis. “Josh has probably done the best job I have ever seen growing in the sodded areas around the bunkers, tees and greens to look like they’ve been there a while and with no scars.”  

“The entire membership is extremely pleased with the outcome of Tripp’s renovation of our course,” added James Hickey, Spring Lake Golf Club’s greens chairman. “As a member of the committee who oversaw the project, I was very happy with the outcome and the process. Tripp, Doug Mottin and their teams were incredibly professional and easy to work with. The outcome was nothing short of amazing.”