LATEST
NEWS

David Whelchel leads renovations to Lake Course at Carolina Trace CC
Sean Dudley
/ Categories: News

David Whelchel leads renovations to Lake Course at Carolina Trace CC

Golf course architect David Whelchel is leading a renovation of the Lake Course at Carolina Trace Country Club.

Work is well underway at the Robert Trent Jones Sr. design in Sanford, North Carolina, with a view to reopening the course in time for October’s Lee County Amateur Championship.

GCA spoke to Whelchel, a member of the American Society of Golf Course Architects, to find out more about the work.

“Major components of the update to the course include the rebuilding of all the bunkers with new drainage, liners and whiter sand,” Whelchel said. “A few bunkers have been removed that are out of play or irrelevant, while some of the bunkers are being re-positioned as they are no longer in play for the better players with today’s club technology. At the same time you have to be careful and not make them more in play for the higher handicapper.”

The course’s fairways are being stripped, levelled and re-grassed. Drainage is also being added to the course in order to make maintenance easier.

“We are adding some length to the course, as mentioned in the article you read, because the club and owners would like to attract new members, many of whom are likely to be younger and can drive the ball farther, also in hopes of attracting some higher profile tournaments,” said Whelchel.

Several hundred trees have been removed from the course, allowing for better growing conditions and opening up sight lines for players.

Whelchel admitted that one of the biggest challenges he has faced is convincing the club’s membership that the course’s design legacy will be respected and maintained during the ongoing project.

“Probably the biggest challenge is convincing the members that they will still have a Robert Trent Jones Sr. course when the work is through,” said Whelchel. “This is a beautiful course on a great piece of property, and they are rightfully proud of their facility, so we have been very careful to keep them up to date on what is happening through meetings, providing renderings of the finished product and course tours during construction. So far, this seems to have alleviated their fears. As I have told some of them, think about the No. 2 Course at Pinehurst. It has been‘remodeled’ several times, but it is still a Donald Ross course. So this work is no different.”

Previous Article Ty Butler launches new Brio Golf course design company
Next Article Construction begins on new 18-hole golf facility in the Czech Republic
Print
9050 Rate this article:
No rating
Sean Dudley

Sean DudleySean Dudley

Other posts by Sean Dudley
Contact author

Contact author

x
Spring 2025 issue of ASGCA’s By Design magazine is out now
Magazine, News | Fri 14 Mar, 2025

Spring 2025 issue of ASGCA’s By Design magazine is out now

New issue asks whether the golf boom has led to an increase in municipal golf investment

The January 2025 issue of Golf Course Architecture is out now!
Magazine, News | Fri 17 Jan, 2025

The January 2025 issue of Golf Course Architecture is out now!

Projects covered include Golf Club Föhr, Brautarholt, Cabot Citrus Farms, Somabay and more

FEATURE
ARTICLES

Bob Harrison: Wizard of Oz
Konrad Borkowski
Interview | Adam Lawrence

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

Jim Wagner and Rusty Mercer discuss Kinsale design and build
Kinsale Golf Club
Interview | Richard Humphreys

Jim Wagner and Rusty Mercer discuss Kinsale design and build

Florida course is a tribute to the Golden Age designs of Raynor and Macdonald

Are bunkers getting too pretty for their own good?
Larry Lambrecht
Feature | Adam Lawrence

Are bunkers getting too pretty for their own good?

Is the beauty of bunkering being over-emphasised at the expense of its function, asks Adam Lawrence

Good Read: The Prairie Raynor
Grant Books Ltd
Good Read | John Moran and Rand Jerris

Good Read: The Prairie Raynor

John Moran and Rand Jerris share insight into their book about Seth Raynor’s design at Chicago Golf Club

Vinpearl Golf Léman: New pearls for Vietnam
Vinpearl Golf Leman
Report | Richard Humphreys

Vinpearl Golf Léman: New pearls for Vietnam

The first of two Golfplan-designed courses at club near Ho Chi Minh City has opened for play

Seven Canyons: Desert drama
Brad Klein
Report | Bradley Klein

Seven Canyons: Desert drama

Brad Klein reports on a Phil Smith Design renovation in Sedona, Arizona

Golf Club Föhr: Reinvented for a new century
Stefan von Stengel
On site | Adam Lawrence

Golf Club Föhr: Reinvented for a new century

Adam Lawrence reports on a visit to the far north of Germany where Christian Althaus has completely rebuilt the 27-hole course over the last 15 years

Nauka Nayarit: Welcome to the jungle
Harris Kalinka
Report | Richard Humphreys

Nauka Nayarit: Welcome to the jungle

Ten holes of a new Fazio Design course on Mexico’s Pacific coast have opened for play

Brautarholt: Oceanic connection
Tony Ristola
On site | Adam Lawrence

Brautarholt: Oceanic connection

One of the world’s best 12-hole courses is being extended to 18 by architect Tony Ristola. Adam Lawrence reports from Iceland and says he expects the finished course to make quite a splash

The Club at Quail Ridge: Delivering the dramatic
Evan Schiller
Report | Richard Humphreys

The Club at Quail Ridge: Delivering the dramatic

Florida club unveils results of North course redesign, completed by Fry/Straka and NMP Golf Construction

Addison Reserve: Return on investment
Gideon Heller
Report | Toby Ingleton

Addison Reserve: Return on investment

One of southeast Florida’s premier residential communities has completed a project to redesign its three nines of golf

Gopher Watch Competition – January 2025
Gopher Watch, News | Fri 17 Jan, 2025

Gopher Watch Competition – January 2025

Which course has Sandy the gopher visited this month?

MOST
POPULAR

FEATURED
BUSINESSES