Jack Nicklaus, ASGCA Fellow (Nicklaus Design), and John Sanford, ASGCA (Sanford Golf Design), have combined on a number of golf design projects. Added to that list is the redesign of the Naples Beach Hotel and Golf Club, reopening after a 7-month project.
Golf Course Architecture reports:
Sanford commented: “The course has been redesigned to challenge the best players but also be enjoyable for all golfers. The redesign takes advantage of the sandy soils so the course will play ‘firm and fast.’ The ball will roll out so tee shots will be longer and approaches are open to accept running shots to the greens. The greens are gently contoured to allow for multiple hole locations but have continuous movement that will challenge all skill levels.”
Following the redesign, the course will have a par of 71, and range from 4,800 yards from the front tees to 6,900 yards from the back tees. A new 300-yard driving range has also been added as part of the project.
“We have a number of great new holes at the resort course, which includes the ‘signature hole’ on the sixteenth,” Sanford added. “It is a medium length ‘Redan’ par three. The green is a peninsula with water in front, on the right and behind the green. It’s not long but will require accuracy to hit the green.”