By Greg Johnson
Raymond Hearn Golf Course Designs of Holland, Mich., has completed a long-range Master Plan and is moving ahead on renovation and restoration at Washtenaw Golf Club, one of the oldest courses in Michigan with roots to 1899.
It’s the second time the duo of Hearn and Dave Kendall, operating partner of the now-public Washtenaw property, and Michigan Golf Hall of Fame inductee (2015), has corroborated on a renovation.
In the late 1990s, Hearn was well-established as a golf course architect who needed some renovation of his own – the golf swing.
“He had a reputation as one of the best teachers in Michigan so I booked a lesson,” Hearn said about Kendall, who had set up shop with the Kendall Golf Academy at Miles of Golf in nearby Ypsilanti Twsp. and went on to win many teaching awards and tournaments, including two Michigan Senior Opens. “That led to more lessons because he helped my golf game greatly and we became friends. I think at the root of our friendship we share a great passion for the game.”
Kendall describes the working agreement with Hearn as a gradual renovation project that will involve some restoration and some remodeling of a classic course that started out as a 3-hole course in 1899, was expanded to 6 holes and then 9 holes in the early 1900s and finally to the current 18 holes in 1922.
Hearn also found in his research of the course a 1937 aerial photo of Washtenaw that he is using to help restore some of the original design concepts.
“I’ve always judged courses by whether or not I looked forward to playing it again and it turned out those were always highly regarded places,” Kendall said. “When I talked to Ray after we took over at Washtenaw one of the first things he said was Washtenaw is one of the most underrated courses in the state.
“We go around the course and I find I’m in agreement with what he is saying and proposing, and he’s not offended if I have a different idea. He wants the same thing I want – to make a great place to golf even better and bring back some of the things that made it great in the first place… he wants to make it playable, restore lost historical features and make the course enjoyable for all golfers.”
Hearn, who has done some initial work at Washtenaw when it used to be private, said finding the 1937 aerial photograph was a great help in guiding the new Master Plan.
“This will be a combination of restoration and renovation course improvements that make sense in terms of improved strategy, shot value and playability,” he said. “Restoring old edges to certain historic greens, removing a few trees, repositioning certain bunkers, renovating certain tees, and tweaking fairway limit lines will all add to increased strategy, shot value and playability. My goal is to achieve more angles and play options for all golfers.
“Restoring some of the original course features lost over time has been a true treasure hunt utilizing old aerials, photos and sketches along with a handy soil probe,” Hearn said of his initial work at Washtenaw.
