Design + Renovation

SWINGING INTO ACTION

Indoor golf training facilities boost off-season bookings, with revamped spaces that offer instruction, club fittings and more.

By Pamela Brill, Contributing Editor

CHIMNEY OAKS GOLF CLUB

Homer, Ga. “Parties have the option to rent out the entire building by the hour, giving them a private space with no outside guests allowed.” — Hunter Suggs, First Assistant Golf Pro

GOLFERS AND MOTHER Nature have a contenti ous relati onship, one that club managers must wrestle with on a regular basis. Whether it’s persistent heat or rainy seasons in warmer climates, or the onset of winter that moves players off the green, members aren’t ready to give up their golf games—and many no longer have to.

Thanks to conti nued innovati on in simulati on technology, combined with a greater demand for tee ti mes, faciliti es are investi ng in indoor training centers that enable golfers to perfect their performance, no matt er the weather.

FORGING AHEAD

Buoyed by the increasing demand for indoor golf, Chimney Oaks Golf Club in Homer, Ga., recently built a brandnew indoor facility, The Forge, to cater to this trend. The Forge opened its doors in May 2021 and has since become a “popular spot for golfers of all skill levels,” reports First Assistant Golf Pro Hunter Suggs. “We have given golfers the ability to play golf and practi ce when the weather does not allow them to be outdoors,” Suggs says.

Adjacent to the club’s driving range, the 3,000-sq. ft . building is outf itt ed with the latest TrackMan simulator technology to maximize and improve game play. Members rely on the advanced equipment in two side-by-side hitti ng bays to calculate and esti mate their alignment, aim and swing, with individual monitors displaying perti nent data.

The Forge’s fl exible design allows golfers to perfect their swing in two diff erent modes of play. When hitti ng outdoors, the building’s garage door is opened so players can hit balls out onto the range, while data is supplied via the monitor. When the door is closed for indoor hitti ng, a projector screen is lowered for data display.

“The design of the hitti ng bays allows the player to be covered from the outside weather, while sti ll being able to hit outside to see the fl ight of the ball,” says Suggs. In additi on, members can have their clubs fi tt ed by a staff member and may choose from a variety of opti ons, including TaylorMade, Cleveland, Srixon, Callaway, Titleist and Ping.

Since The Forge’s opening, members have taken advantage of the indoor bays for evening birthday parti es and

Since the opening of The Forge (also pictured on pgs. 32-33) at Chimney Oaks GC, members have not only used the facility for indoor/outdoor golf practice, but also parties and events.

company events. A built-in bar and catering from the club’s foodservice operation extends the use of this all-inclusive functional space. “Parties have the option to rent out the entire building by the hour, giving them a private space with no outside guests allowed,” says Suggs.

EXTENDING THE SEASON

As cooler temperatures take hold in Chicagoland, visitors to Heritage Oaks Golf Club in Northbrook, Ill., no longer need to put away their clubs until next year. Instead, they are now able to partake of indoor golf facilities within a brand-new clubhouse. The decision to add this amenity was prompted by the club’s geographic location.

“In Chicago, the outdoor golf season is only so many months long,” says General Manager/Director of Golf Operations Greg Baron, PGA. “We wanted to activate our site by having year-round activity.”

In August 2021, the facility opened its doors to the public with a completely refurbished set-up, including a dedicated space that houses two Full Swing golf simulators and provides room to socialize. When determining the layout, Baron and his project team considered different iterations that would make the best use of the space.

“We went from considering side-by-side simulators and then opted to have them hitting away from each other, so it creates a more intimate environment,” explains Baron. The selection process required a team visit to the PGA Show before settling on Full Swing models that “provided the most realistic golf precision.”

Each wide-screen simulator occupies 440 sq. ft. and is anchored by a communal area in the center, complete with high-top chairs, tabletops and a couch that can collectively seat eight people. (The room itself can allow 8 to 10 people standing.) A set of sliding-glass doors look directly into the adjacent grill room, so diners can keep an eye on the action. “One of our concerns was noise emanating into the simulator space, so we chose a soundproof material for the doors,” notes Baron.

To supplement the indoor golf experience, a 15 x 15foot structure within the 1,000-sq. ft. pro shop will serve as a secondary space for instruction and club fitting in the offseason. Beginning in late November 2021, a portable TrackMan will be used for instruction and will stay in place until outdoor play resumes in March.

The new facility earned tremendous buzz during the club’s open house in August 2021, when nearly 1,000 people walked through the new simulator room. And as a result, Baron reports he’s also received interest in having the space rented out for a number of private parties.

To further address the need and demand for indoor

HERITAGE OAKS GOLF CLUB

Northbrook, Ill.

“We went from considering side-by-side simulators and then opted to have them hitting away from each other, so it creates a more intimate environment.”

— Greg Baron, PGA, General Manager/Director of Golf Operations

golf, Heritage Oaks is currently promoting a simulator league that will be held Mondays through Thursdays, with daily rentals during the off-hours. “When we did our research for designing the simulator space, we heard that most places with simulators have had every hour of every day booked in the offseason,” Baron says. “We hope to have that same level of success.”

“FORE-WARD” THINKING

In mid-November 2021, members of Sea Pines Country Club were scheduled to begin teeing off inside a brand-new addition to the Hilton Head, S.C. property. Known as The Barn, the space will provide golfers with a dedicated place to perfect their swings during inclement weather, while taking advantage of a full

SEA PINES COUNTRY CLUB

Hilton Head, S.C.

“Our goal was to utilize what facilities we had on site and build upon them to create a convenient and comfortable setting, but with all the technology and benefits of some of the top teaching facilities in the country. Smart, simple design assisted in the construction and completion of the project.”

— James Swift, Director of Golf

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THE COUNTRY CLUB OF ST. ALBANS

St. Albans, Mo.

“We found space in an unused card room and after presenting the idea at an annual meeting, a member made a significant donation to fund the project. We’ve received very positive feedback about the space, and the members are requesting that we build another simulator.”

— Morgan Gonzales, Regional Operations Executive, KemperSports

line of fitting and instruction programs.

“This new teaching and coaching facility will highlight our newly reconfigured practice area and will allow future growth of Sea Pines Country Club’s overall golf experience, to be on par with all other high-end clubs in the region,” says Director of Golf James Swift.

Located to the left of the new practice tee, the 1,500-sq. ft structure, constructed from an existing cart facility, is designed with what Swift describes as a simple, but well-thought-out floor plan. “Our goal was to utilize what facilities we had on site and build upon them to create a convenient and comfortable setting, but with all the technology and benefits of some of the top teaching facilities in the country,” he explains.

Of note is the installation of TrackMan’s new high-definition golf simulator that allows players to choose from over 200 courses across the world. A private fitting bay will house a second TrackMan unit dedicated to private instruction and club fitting, which will be integrated with Swing Catalyst teaching and coaching software. “[This will] provide our members and guests with the highest level of feedback and swing analysis seen at the best teaching and fitting facilities,” adds Swift.

After contending with an unseasonably rainy winter in 2020-21, Sea Pines members are expected to benefit from this year-round investment. With blocks of reserved time allotted to four to six players at a clip, The Barn is projected to accommodate 30 to 40 players per day, even when playing outdoors is not possible.

While integrating the necessary technology components did not pose any challenges, acquiring the necessary building materials—hampered by COVID-related delays and shortages— created a slight hiccup. Nevertheless, the project remained on schedule for its mid-November opening. “Smart, simple design assisted in the construction and completion of the project, which we hope will result in a clean, comfortable and professional setting for our members to enjoy,” says Swift.

REFRESHED AND REPURPOSED

Adding a simulator to The Country Club of St. Albans (Mo.) had been under discussion for several years, but because of the lack of space and funding, the idea was put on the back burner, until a new discovery and member generosity combined to bring it forward.

“We fi nally found space in an unused card room and aft er presenti ng the idea at an annual meeti ng in 2018, a member made a signifi cant donati on to fund the project,” says Morgan Gonzales, Regional Operati ons Executi ve, KemperSports, and St. Albans’ former General Manager. The new space opened to membership in January 2019 and has been a hit with golfers ever since.

Located on the third fl oor of the main clubhouse, directly above the men’s locker room, the 1,200-sq. ft . space contains a TrackMan simulator and launch monitor, hitti ng screen and turf mat. A counter and seati ng area with tables and chairs can accommodate 40 occupants, providing ample room for socializing between rounds. When not perfecti ng their swings, players can also take a turn on a Golden Tee arcade machine (see photo at left ).

During constructi on, the ceiling needed to be opened up so the equipment could be brought into the room. But otherwise, the project went off without a hitch. “We’ve received very positi ve feedback about the space, and the members are requesti ng that we build another simulator,” says Gonzales. The club is currently looking into other existi ng areas where a similar, temporary set-up could be used from November through March. C+RB

SUMMING IT UP

> Increased demand for indoor golf faciliti es and year-round practi ce access has prompted the design of dedicated simulator rooms.

> Simulators allow clubs to off er world class-caliber teaching faciliti es, regardless of their locati on.

> Situati ng simulator rooms with easy access to clubhouse ameniti es facilitates extended member visits.

Full Circle Coming Full Circle

A secluded wine room is the piece de resistance at the refurbished Dormie Club.

By Pamela Brill, Contributing Editor

Members of the Dormie Club in West End, N.C. (part of the Pinehurst/Southern Pines region) are toasti ng a bevy of recent updates, including the perfect spot to raise their glasses. Following a property-wide overhaul that spanned nearly 18 months of constructi on, the club reopened in September 2021 to a rejuvenated fi ne-dining scene, complete with an inti mate wine room that aff ords ample storage in a sophisti cated setti ng.

NAMESAKE RECOGNITION

Reimagining Dormie Club’s private dining faciliti es helps bring greater emphasis to the private club’s brand. One of six private-desti nati on golf faciliti es under the Dormie Network umbrella, this locati on was primed for a top-down renovati on courtesy of a major capital-improvement plan.

The key updates included a 16,600-sq. ft . clubhouse, stand-alone golf shop, cott age residences and private outdoor pati os. Within the club-

Design Snapshot DORMIE CLUB

West End, N.C.

Architect: Sinclair Hille, Lincoln, Neb. Dining table: Lorts Chairs: Wesley Hall Lighting: Lumenpulse Sculpture: Sinclair Hille (design); Creative Sparks, Carthage, N.C. (fabrication) Carpeting: J+J Flooring Group

Aft er a property-wide, 18-month overhaul, the Dormie Club reopened in September 2021 to a rejuvenated fi ne-dining scene where the inti mate Wine Room (left ) aff ords ample storage in a sophisti cated setti ng that “is essenti ally the centerpiece of the clubhouse,” according to Chris Graham, the Chief Hospitality Offi cer of the Dormie Network.

house resides a dining room that seats 32, a private dining space with a 24-seat capacity, and a lounge that holds 42 guests.

And in a cloistered spot just off the main lobby is the Wine Room at Dormie Club. “This [room] was put in place to maximize the space and is essenti ally the centerpiece of the clubhouse,” says Chris Graham, Chief Hospitality Offi cer, Dormie Network. Helping to frame the clubhouse’s main entry on the south elevati on, the 370-sq. ft . space, despite its small footprint, makes a bold statement.

Designed by architect Liz Bavitz of Sinclair Hille, which handled the renovati on, a mix of warm browns and grays, along with natural materials like wood and brick, are carefully balanced to create a welcoming vibe. Upon entering the room, a custommade piece suspended overhead att racts immediate att enti on.

“The sculpture took its inspirati on from the old tobacco baskets used in the drying process on tobacco farms in Kentucky and North Carolina,” explains Bavitz. Fashioned with steel strips welded together and fi nished with an acid wash to create a weathered look, this decorati ve element is displayed via four cables (see photo at left ).

The room’s circular design is accented by a round table that comfortably sits eight, with extra seati ng for four that can be added as needed. A round, cove-style ceiling plays up the room’s circular design, while the illusion of height is accentuated by fl oor-to-ceiling, aluminum-clad wood windows that look out on the golf course.

Taking the room’s full-circle design approach one step further, Bavitz points out “brick fl ooring [that] surrounds a circular carpet ‘rug’ with patt erns that emulate Shou Sugi Ban, a traditi onal Japanese method of preserving wood with fi re.” This look helps to anchor the seati ng area, which is fl anked by custom wood cabinetry that serves as a repository for the club’s burgeoning wine collecti on. (Member wine storage is not available on site.)

Each of the four displays includes nooks for stacked bott les, individual countertops for convenient opening and pouring, and temperature-controlled wine refrigerators. Dimmable lighti ng spotlights each vignett e, helping to set the mood for evening tasti ngs and dinners. Consistent styling helps to showcase the club’s wine collecti on while housing up to 420 bott les.

MAKING A STATEMENT

Since the reopening, the Wine Room at Dormie Club has seen a steady stream of visitors, with nightly events ranging from 6 to 12 guests at a ti me. “This is very much a staple of our private dining and corporate entertainment space,” notes Graham.

Tasti ng events can also be added to the calendar at members’ requests and are expected to be another way to make good and full use of this inviti ng space. C+RB