| |
People have come to North Carolina’s
Lake Toxaway for decades to enjoy
the serenity of a lakeside estate or
to relax at the luxurious Greystone
Inn. Starting next month, there will be a
new amenity in the Lake Toxaway portfolio –
world class golf.
Lake Toxaway Country Club is on the precipice
of unveiling the next golf masterpiece
in the mountains of North Carolina. When it
debuts Aug. 1, this gorgeous par-71 championship
layout will be the first original design
by acclaimed restoration architect Kris W.
Spence.
Spence, who built his reputation restoring
Donald Ross courses, has created a totally
new layout in the footprint of the club’s original
course, which opened in the 1960s. He
was asked to wipe the canvas clean and craft
a course as special as its surroundings. Early
reviews suggest he was up to the task.
“What Kris has done on this piece of property
is nothing short of amazing,” says head
pro Lou Biago. “Those of us who have been
here for a long time still aren’t sure how he
did it.”
|
 |
Spence says it was a challenge crafting
an original design in the existing footprint,
so he spent a lot time walking the hills and
valleys of the mountain property, studying
land forms and considering multiple angles
of play. The result is an excellent layout that
in some cases moves forward by going backwards.
For example, the new 12th hole was created
by reversing the old seventh hole, while
the new 16th and 17th holes came to life in
the inverted footprint of the old third hole.
“He took two of the worst holes on the golf
course and turned them into three spectacular
holes by going in reverse,” Biago says.
Spence also opened corridors that were
once claustrophobic, exposing vistas of the
Blue Ridge Mountains that hadn’t been seen
in years.
“We now have,” says Biago, “a more playable
golf course that incorporates the majestic
views of the mountains and the lake.”
For owner Reg Heinitsh Jr., this $9 million
project was about balance and timing. Heinitsh
wanted to |
|
bring the course into balance
with Lake Toxaway’s other fine offerings, and
he saw an opportunity to capitalize on the
popularity of a rising star in golf architecture.
“With the new golf course, all of our amenities
will be in balance,” Heinitsh says. “The
lake has always been sensational. Now the
golf course will be sensational too.”
Heinitsh, who hired Tom Fazio to design
the club’s expansive practice facility a few
years ago, had several high-profile architects in mind for this project. But when the moment
|
 |
|
arrived to make a selection, he sensed the timing was right for Spence’s first signature design.
That timing got even better this spring
as the PGA Tour chose Spence’s restoration
of Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro
N.C., to become the host venue for the
Tour’s Wyndham Championship.
“We really caught Kris at the perfect
stage in his career,” explains Heinitsh. “His
passion for the history of golf architecture
and Donald Ross is unsurpassed. He likes
nothing better than rummaging through old
vaults in clubhouses looking for original Donald
Ross plans and sketches. He’s like an archeologist.”
Spence incorporates many concepts of classic
architecture into the layout at Lake Toxaway
Country Club. Much like a Donald Ross design,
|
the true test is around the greens. There are
plenty of swales, hollows and grass-faced bunkers
to deal with.
The putting surfaces, on first glance, appear
relatively flat and straightforward. However,
deeper study reveals subtle spines and movements
that require the player to show some
ability with the putter. Simply reaching the
green in regulation is no guarantee of par.
The course is not overly long, measuring
about 6,600 yards from the back tees. Lake Toxaway
president David Dew says Spence was
careful to create a course that accommodates
golfers of various skill levels.
“When I look at the course, I see an excellent
layout by all standards,” says Dew. “It’s
challenging for low handicap golfers and fun
for the medium to high handicap golfers. And
it’s placed within a natural setting that may be
unsurpassed on the East Coast.” |
 |
|
Heinitsh and Dew expect the new course to
increase demand across all areas of the Lake
Toxaway Co. portfolio, from real estate sales
and vacation rentals to resort packages at the
four-diamond Greystone Inn.
“There is certainly a buzz. We’re fielding a
lot of inquiries,” Dew says. “Reg had a vision of
what this project would do for Lake Toxaway
and that’s coming to fruition. We couldn’t be
more pleased with the result.”
For information on real estate offerings,
vacation rentals or resort packages,
call Lake Toxaway Company
at (800) 443-0694, or visit
www.laketoxaway.com. |
|
