Inglewood concludes centenary by approving restorative work

Inglewood Golf Club, located in Kenmore, Washington, 12 miles north of downtown Seattle has approved a plan to finish remaining restorative-based work across its 1919 AV Macan-designed golf course in a single, final phase beginning in early October 2020.

Canadian architect Jeff Mingay – who has worked on a substantial number of Macan’s courses – has been in partnership with the club since 2016, when he completed a restorative-based master plan for the club. Bunker restoration, green surface expansion, adjustment to fairway mowing, as well as some tee and tree work at holes three-twelve and the seventeenth, was completed in several phases over the past three years working with contractor, Ridgetop Golf, and golf course superintendent, Greg Matz, and his staff.

“Inglewood was the first course on the west coast of the United States to sincerely compare to the best courses back east when it opened in 1919,” Mingay explains. “Along with Macan’s first course at Royal Colwood, in Victoria, British Columbia, Inglewood truly set the standard for golf course architecture in the Pacific Northwest. And, more than a century later, it continues to stand-up. Which speaks to Macan’s remarkable abilities and talent as a golf course architect.”

The final phase of this project, to begin in early October — including work at holes one and two, thirteen-sixteen, and the home hole — is scheduled to be carried out over the winter months and completed by spring 2021. Along with continued bunker restoration, adjustment to fairway mowing, tee and tree work, greens at holes one two, and thirteen-sixteen (which were redesigned during the early 1990s) will be reconstructed/restored to a character more representative of Macan’s original work. While this project is not strictly restorative, renovation work is definitely inspired and ultimately respectful of Macan’s pioneering, distinctive design.

“Macan’s routings can’t be improved upon,” Mingay adds. “But, the beauty and creativity of his golf course designs needs be restored. Macan exhibited exceptional creativity during the formative years of his career, particularly at Inglewood. The club has a treasure trove of historic photos of the course that show some of the most unique, eclectic bunkering I’ve seen, anywhere. It’s going to be very exciting to finally finish restoring this pioneering and amazingly distinctive golf course design.”

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