31 TEE BOX WAC has high hopes for Hillsdale WAC Golf, the design firm of Rod Whitman, Dave Axland and Keith Cutten, is continuing with the redesign of Hillsdale Golf Club in Mirabel, Quebec. Hillsdale was home to two golf courses designed by Howard Watson, who studied under Stanley Thompson. “However, due to the tight and quirky nature of the 36-hole property, which had only become more restrictive with the maturation of the site’s numerous trees, it had become evident that change was needed,” said Cutten. A masterplan was developed in 2023 to convert Hillsdale’s two layouts into a new 18-hole course, a nine-hole short course and expansive practice areas. Construction started in autumn 2023 with select tree clearing and the mining of native site sand for golf course feature development. “Ultimately, the work being completed aims to turn Hillsdale into a must-see golf facility,” said Cutten. “The new, reimagined Hillsdale will feature a bigger, bolder golf course than those previously realised, and allow Quebec to really experience creative, fun, and exciting golf.” Work will continue throughout 2024 and 2025 with the redesigned Hillsdale slated to open in 2026. Sandy was in the Midwest of the US in the last issue, paying a visit to the Erin Hills course, northwest of Milwaukee in Wisconsin. Erin Hills is located in an area known as the Kettle Moraine, which was formed by glaciers that left a lot of sand in the area. Golf architects Dr Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry, with the help of former Golf Digest architecture editor Ron Whitten, built the golf course, which opened in 2006. It became the longest course ever to host the US Open in 2017, when Brooks Koepka took home the trophy, his first Major, and the start of a two year sequence in which he won four. Congratulations to Jordan Kvasnicka of Atlanta whose entry was the first out of the hat. A very famous course – regarded by many as one of the best in the world – in this issue, so no clues, except to say that it is generally viewed as one of the two finest by its architect. And the other was the focus of the whole world’s attention recently! Entries, as ever, to gopher@golfcoursearchitecture.net. GOPHER WATCH Image: WAC Golf
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