By Len Ziehm
Michigan-based architect Ray Hearn has worked on courses across the country for 25 years, but his most recent projects are closer to home and may have a more far-reaching impact.
Stephen Kircher, Boyne’s President and Chief Executive Officer, and Bernie Friedrich, Senior Vice-President of Golf, brought in Hearn, who has headquarters in Holland, Michigan, to tackle a variety of projects. One of the most interesting is on the Donald Ross Memorial course at Boyne Highlands Resort.
Bill Newcomb was the original architect of the Donald Ross Memorial course. Each of its 18 holes is a reproduction of classic holes from other famous courses that he designed in the early part of the century.
The Ross Memorial course opened in 1989 and Golf Digest tabbed it the ‘Best New Resort Course in the U.S,’ in 1990. Its replica holes have been used in 14 U.S. Opens, 11 PGA Championships, eight U.S Amateurs and three Ryder Cups.
Seminole, Oakland Hills, Detroit Golf Club, Pinehurst, Charlotte Country Club, Oak Hill, Plainfield, Scioto, Inverness, Oak Hill, Bob O’Link, Royal Dornoch, Salem Country Club, Aronimink and Wannamoisett all have holes that have been recreated.
That’s quite a collection of holes, and Hearn is revising two of them.
The first and the 16th holes of the Ross Memorial are receiving facelifts. No. 1 is a recreation of the sixth hole at Seminole and the 16th is a copy of the tenth at Ross’ beloved Pinehurst No. 2.
“We’re capturing the flavor a little more than the first time through, when Bill Newcomb did it,’’ said Hearn. “There’s so much more information available for architects to work with now.’’
In the case of Seminole, that course was restored by the architectural team of Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw two years ago.
“We’re looked only at the original drawings of the hole. The bunkers were much larger. We took out quite a few trees to open the hole, like the original, in Florida. The result was the creation of massive waste areas on both sides of the hole.’’
Hearn is aware that tinkering with a Donald Ross design can be dangerous.
“There’s a small percentage of Ross aficionados who question the idea of the Ross Memorial, but I think it’s good. A lot of players would never get the chance to play those other holes, so getting to play them is fun. But, for those who take them too seriously, I respect that, too.’’
Watch this Back 9 Report interview with BOYNE’s Bernie Friedrich talking about future renovations to The Highlands at Harbor Springs. https://youtu.be/KFtEQewHedk
Despite his firm’s 25-year history and its proximity to the resorts, this is the first time that Boyne Golf and Hearn have joined forces and his work there will extend far beyond the Ross Memorial.
His biggest project there may be a redo of the Moor course, which opened in 1974.
“We’re in Phase 1 of that,’’ said Hearn. “We’ve begun tree removal and adjustments of the grass lines of the fairways and greens.’’
The bunkers will be addressed next and the work on the Moor will be extensive. Hearn wants to create more angles and options for shots and adjust the course for changes in length. There’ll be new pin placement options on the greens, plus new run-up areas to the putting surfaces.
Ken Griffin, Boyne’s Director of Golf Sales and Marketing, calls the changes, “subtle but significant.”
Sounds like a new course might be in the making, but Hearn says that’s not the case.
“I just like great golf. I’m not trying to put the Ray Hearn stamp on this,’’ he said. “I’m trying to create a throwback to a golden age look and feel – a tribute to that era.’’
Behind the Highland Lodge, Hearn will design a new par-3 course that will eliminate the modest one currently on the site. Boyne is joining the country-wide trend of building new short courses, although ground-breaking is not expected until early 2023.
“I’m creating my favorite nine greens from overseas, from Scotland, Ireland and England,’’ said Hearn. “This course will be visually stunning and interesting to play. It won’t have formal tees and it will have varying fairway levels. I want golfers to have the opportunity to put tees anywhere they want so they can practice options from different lies and angles.’’
Finally, The Monument Course at BOYNE Mountain, will also get some tender love and care.
“It’s a very nice, enjoyable course,’’ said Hearn, “but the trees on it have gotten bigger and bigger and have started to infringe on the fairways.’’
Fewer trees will allow Hearn to open more angles to increase shot options from the tees and fairways.
With ten courses spread over three Michigan resorts, BOYNE has long been a leader in golf while maintaining its similar role among ski resorts.
“They’re always looking forward, always thinking of improving. They’re visionaries,’’ said Hearn.
That vision extends beyond these golf course projects. The Main Lodge at Boyne Highlands has already undergone substantial upgrades, with more to come. The first phase involved the remodeling of 87 guestrooms and renamed them with Scottish and English heritage.
The next phase begins this spring and involves construction of a new multi-level European spa and the redesign of the Tower lobbies. Eventually a steak and sushi restaurant, plus a new convention center will be added.
