GOLF COURSE MASTER PLAN PHASE FOUR
Farmington’s Golf Course Master Plan renovation work is scheduled again for 2023. The goal for this year is to complete phase four of the six-phase plan which is slated to commence in the spring.
As 2023 begins, the majority of the renovation work is complete on the front nine. There will be additional work to occur on these holes in later phases, but nothing that will require the closing of a golf hole. The only significant feature work—greens, tees, and bunkers—that remains on these holes is to renovate the 1st tee and practice green area. This has been omitted in previous work to allow time for the Racquets and Fitness Expansion plan to be fully developed and any overlaps addressed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do we need the Golf Course Master Plan renovations?
One of Farmington’s greatest assets is its highly acclaimed Main Golf Course designed by Fred Findlay in 1927. As Farmington looks to the future and the centennial anniversary in 2027, the quality of the course is vital to the overall health of the Club. Like any important asset, the need to maintain, preserve and make upgrades always exists. Reinvestment into the course is necessary to meet the needs and desires of not only our current members but also the generations of members and their families to come.
The golf course is a dynamic environment that changes every single day. Sand moves from bunkers, trees grow bigger, grass types and mow lines migrate, and time—along with weather—takes its toll on everything. Bunker sand, bunker liners, drainage, bridges, turfgrass, and cart paths all need occasional replacement and upgrades. These items, along with changes in the golf ball, golf equipment, golf architecture, and advancements in turfgrass science, create a significant list of priorities to maintain and upgrade. The best way to ensure this type of work is performed consistently and thoughtfully is through the guidance of a comprehensive master plan created by a qualified golf course architect.
What is included in Phase 4?
This phase includes work on holes 11, 12, 14, 15, and 17. The holes are not in continuous order as in years past.
• Hole #11 will include work on the far forward tee, fairway bunkers, and green surrounds
• Hole #12 will include tee adjustments, fairway bunkers, and green surrounds
• Hole #14 will include fairway bunkers, green expansion, and green surrounds
• Hole #15 will include tee adjustments, fairway bunkering, and green surrounds
• Hole #17 will include tee adjustments and a new green with new bunkering
What is the schedule for renovation work this year?
In February or March, depending on weather, work will begin on the fairway bunkers on hole #11. This will not require the closing of the hole to complete. The goal is to finish these bunkers and potentially start on hole #12 fairway bunkers before halting renovation work in early May. Plans call for a roughly six-week break in construction activities to allow for unencumbered golf play during this portion of the year.
On June 19, hole #11 will close to begin renovation work on and around the green. Once #11 is complete, work will shift to #12 then #14, #17, and finally #15. As in years past only one hole will be closed at a time as work progresses. The plan is to always have seventeen holes available and #9 East to allow for an eighteen-hole round of golf.
The goal for holes 10-18 is to finish the renovation work in two phases. In order to accomplish this goal, the plan is to continue renovation work through the fall and early winter. Hole #17 calls for an entirely new green, thus will be closed for a lengthy amount of time. Once construction finishes on #17,
work will shift to hole #15. This type of work will only include fairway bunkers and certain tee adjustments, thus, it won’t require the hole to be closed. Work on #15 may stretch into the winter and the new year depending on progress.
When will we be finished with the renovation work?
Phase five will begin in 2024 and will include holes 10, 13, 15, 16, and 18, as well as tee areas on 1, 11, and 14. This phase is intended to be the end of the major renovation work to the features of the golf holes. Phase six, slated for 2025 will include unfinished cart path work, bridges, and other small adjustments that will not require the closing of any golf hole to complete. By 2026, if all goes close to plan, the remaining renovation work on the course will be minor. The goal from that point will be to grow and manicure the course to be in pristine condition for the Club’s centennial anniversary.
If there are questions regarding this information, or any other golf course-related topics, please email Scott Kinnan, Director of Green and Grounds Maintenance, at scott.kinnan@farmingtoncc.com.
