fe ature ◗ David McPherson
Ready to Give Your Course a Facelift? Constant communication, strong relationships, the keys to course makeovers
Derrick Golf and Winter Club, Edmonton, Alberta credit: Bruce Comeau Photography
20 greenMaster | www.golfsupers.com
◗ Cory Janzen glances at the calendar on his office wall. This visual reminds him of what day it is. Forgive Westmount Golf & Country Club’s superintendent if the dog days of summer this year are a blur. On August 19, 2013, the private club in Kitchener, Ont. — perennially ranked as one of the top tracks in Canada — closed a pair of holes and began a $750,000 renovation. Flash back to 2004. That’s when the seeds for this project were planted. After careful consideration, Westmount hired golf course architect Doug Carrick to prepare a new long-range master plan. The club chose the Toronto-based designer due to his familiarity and expertise on Stanley Thompson courses.
“Doug [Carrick] is sympathetic to and understands Thompson’s style,” Janzen says. “He also started his career working under Robbie Robinson, who was Thompson’s apprentice, so there is a nice chain back to the famed Canadian architect.” Before starting any renovation project – whether large or small – superintendents need to develop a comprehensive long-range plan. Then, after the architect presents this vision, it’s essential the pair get along. First, they need to work together to sell this strategic plan to the board and the greens committee. Then, they need to use these key influencers to get buy-in from the broader membership. Flash ahead to the start of the 2012