35 The front nine of the Cypress course at Woodmont Country Club in Tamarac, Florida, has reopened following a renovation by Joe Jemsek. “Our intent has been to restore some of the original elements of Robert Von Hagge’s design while renovating the course to meet modern standards,” said Jemsek. “I started with the elements I love in Von Hagge’s course, such as the boldly shaped, flash sand bunkers and freeform, contoured greens. I then added modern elements to break up the sometimes-repetitive design concepts utilised in courses from this era. Green complexes now allow for players to enjoy tournamentstyle setups, with tucked pins and forced carries, but new ground contouring offers alternative paths to access pin locations.” While Jemsek’s work on the putting surfaces has been more restorative, he has taken a slightly different approach to bunkers. “Previously, greens were fronted and flanked by large bunkers, requiring high lofted shots to access the putting surfaces,” he said. “Reducing the size of front bunkers, shifting them laterally, or in some cases removing them all together, created multiple entranceways and short-grass areas around greens.” Woodmont’s owner wanted Jemsek to use local coral rock to accent features and also for the ‘Surrey Wall’ in the middle of the eighth fairway. The 150–foot-long wall stretches down the second landing area and is three feet high in places. Players that hit past the wall with their second shot will have a better approach angle to the green. Woodmont reopens front nine following Jemsek renovation Sandy was in very exalted settings for the last issue, visiting the storied Seminole club in Florida. Photographing Sandy on very famous courses inevitably increases the number of entries we receive: it was the largest number of correct answers we have had for Gopher Watch in its 19-year history. Englishbased Australian architect Tim Lobb, was the first name out of the hat, and wins the prized GCA golf shirt. This time, Sandy is back on the links, his natural home. A less famous course, though, as the backdrop to the photograph shows, hardly the most anonymous. This writer vividly remembers playing the course on a hugely windy day and seeing a ball swing full 50 yards in the air on his tee shot on a par three. Know where it is? Entries, as ever, to gopher@golfcoursearchitecture.net GOPHER WATCH Photo: Jemsek Golf Design TEE BOX
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