Orchard Lake Country Club Invests In Classic Design And State Of The Art Technology With Golf Course Restoration

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich., June 19, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- On Saturday, June 8, 2013 Orchard Lake Country Club reopened its newly restored golf course featuring a classic design reimagined by world renowned architect Keith Foster with state of the art bent grass greens and bunker construction.

CLASSIC DESIGN

In 1926, Orchard Lake Country Club's golf course was designed by the internationally heralded golf course architecture team of Harry S. Colt and Charles H. Alison (Colt & Alison).  Colt & Alison are famous for their work on great courses including Pine Valley, Milwaukee CC and Sea Island (Seaside) in the U.S. and many others around the world. Alison, who was the lead designer of Orchard Lake CC, was known for his strategic design as well as his dramatic, large deep bunkering.

Over the years, many of those elements were lost.  To find them again, OLCC engaged renovation specialist Keith Foster to restore the strategic elements of the course and create a modern version of Colt & Alison's vision.  Mr. Foster has worked on many outstanding courses throughout the U.S. including: Colonial CC, Southern Hills CC, Wilmington CC and many more.  His work at Orchard Lake CC has created a classically designed layout that is unsurpassed in strategic design and beauty.

STATE OF THE ART TECHNOLOGY

Within the new design at Orchard Lake lies the most up-to-date technology available.  The greens have been planted with a new breed of bent grass, Pure Distinction, never before used on any golf course in the world.  Pure Distinction has been bred to flourish in the hot, humid summers common in Southeastern Michigan and is also resistant to most diseases that affect bent grasses.  This grass will yield consistently fast, smooth greens from early spring through late fall.

In addition, to create the large sand-faced bunkers that Colt & Alison envisioned, Mr. Foster used the latest in bunker construction which will insure effective sand distribution and drainage throughout the playing season. 

Finally, large sections of the course, which were not in play, were converted from maintenance heavy blue grass to low maintenance natural areas to create a far more eco-friendly and sustainable golf course.

"With the restoration of the overall course design and the new greens, fairways, bunkers and vistas, there isn't a finer or more enjoyable test of golf in the area.  We are thrilled with the results," stated OLCC President David Woodruff.

SOURCE Orchard Lake Country Club