The Kahkwa Club Master Plan for Golf Course Restoration and Improvements Revised June 1, 2009

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1 The Kahkwa Club Master Plan for Golf Course Restoration and Improvements Revised June 1, 2009

2 The Kahkwa Club Master Plan for Golf Course Restoration and Improvements Revised May 19, 2009 Goals and Objectives Summary Through discussions with committee members, site visits, examination of the available original Donald Ross plans and period photographs, and a review of the 1998 Forse Design plans and improvements for the golf course, we have identified the following goals and objectives to help guide the proposed Master Plan work on the golf course. Goal Strengthen The Kahkwa Club s place as the finest family club in the Erie, Pennsylvania area by making the golf course enjoyable to play for golfers of all levels and all ages. Objectives: Continue to increase the options and variation of length for teeing grounds on each hole that was begun during the 1998 restoration. At that time, most holes got new forward tees making the course more playable for many golfers (there are now 54 tee boxes on the course). Continue to make the course more playable by removing a few bunkers that serve no real strategic purpose and that are very close to the forward tees, and by softening the faces of a few bunkers that are in play mainly for higher handicap golfers. Restore playability to the new greens at holes 17 and 18. Improve the club s practice facilities to include expanded practice tees, better target greens, and a better short game area. Goal Continue to strengthen The Kahkwa Club s position as one of the leading golf courses in the Northwest Pennsylvania area. Objectives: Make maximum use of the Ross legacy by continuing to restore the strategy and look of the original Ross design. Increase the length and difficulty of the golf course for lower handicap golfers by adding several new back tees where possible, especially on the longer holes, in keeping with the Ross philosophy. Reduce the usage of the back tees somewhat by making the difference between the black and the blue tees more significant. Consider adding several new strategic bunkers to challenge longer hitters. Reestablish the tight relationship of the fairway bunkers and the fairway edge that is a hallmark of Ross designs. Too many bunkers are currently removed from the fairway edge by several yards of rough. Examine existing tree lines for each hole, and recommend adding or deleting trees to more closely reflect the intent of the Ross design. Discussion - The first goal will likely have broad support with the membership. The Kahkwa Club is primarily a great family club, with a strong physical plant that features a classic golf course by one of the game s great designers. The rolling topography and the heavily contoured greens are among Ross boldest designs. Kahkwa addressed playability issues during the 1998 restoration with generally good results. Anything that is done now to the golf course needs to keep playability firmly in mind and must accommodate a relatively mature membership and while attracting new younger families and beginner

3 rounds of golf; that is spouse, elderly, and children rounds. Kahkwa is not a men-only club, nor is it a golf-only club. The second goal is perhaps subject to more difference of opinion on the desirability of maintaining Kahkwa s place among the leading golf courses in the region. Kahkwa has a rich history in the world of private clubs and of tournament golf, including JoAnne Carner s 1971 U.S. Women s Open win, and more recently hosting the 2004 USGA Women s Amateur. But why should the club spend scarce resources now to make a fine family facility longer and more difficult to play? The fact is that many older clubs, especially in cities like Erie, are trying to attract new members from a decreasing pool of potential new members. That makes the club environment very competitive. Many younger male golfers, when assessing their club options, appear to consider course length and difficulty as important parameters. Currently, Kahkwa s difficulty is mainly around the fast, heavily contoured greens, where modern mowing heights have exaggerated the bold Ross shaping, while the length on the card (6,524 yards at par 72) is short by modern standards. Although Kahkwa certainly plays longer and tougher than the card indicates, most new competitive courses are substantially longer than Kahkwa, typically measuring over 7,000 yards, and it would be to Kahkwa s advantage to find some additional length where possible. Fortunately, the apparent contradiction of the two goals, keeping the course playable for family golfers while making it a leading course for the best golfers, is not necessarily a contradiction, but is, in fact, consistent with the original Ross design, and illustrates in part why his designs stand the test of time so well. Golf should be a pleasure, not a penance was a favorite saying of his. Modern golf course design addresses the length issue by providing many more teeing options than in the old days. Kahkwa has already provided a good set of forward tees and now needs to add some back tees where possible. Another aspect is fairway width. Ross was an advocate of generous fairway widths and very little rough in order to keep play moving and make the game more fun for the higher handicap player. An examination of the Ross original nine hole designs that remain (current holes 10-18) reveal fairways that are at least 40 yards wide in the landing areas and that often expand up to 50 yards wide. Most of the fairways at Kahkwa today are only yards wide. Where this really shows up is near fairway bunkers. While the Ross drawings show bunkers that either appear to take a bite out of the fairway or that actually are in the fairway, the current fairway bunkers are almost all removed from the fairway by 5-10 yards of rough. The original idea was to have the errant ball find the bunker instead of being stopped by the rough. We don t recommend widening the fairways throughout the course as that has implications on the cost of maintenance, but we should look for places where small increases in fairway area can have large playability and visual impacts. Another possible way to enhance playability for weaker golfers while adding challenge for low handicappers is at the greens complexes. There is an opportunity at a few greens to add fairway height run-offs around the greens. Such run-offs can give weaker golfers more options (chipping and putting) rather than playing a difficult wedge shot out of heavy rough to a slick green. At the same time, low handicappers, who have less trouble with the wedge out of the rough, will have to think a bit more about how to play the shot off a tight fairway lie. A word of caution, however, is that modern mowing heights and maintenance techniques on both the greens and the fairways can bring this course, with its bold contours, to the edge of playability, and in some places beyond playability. I realize that the membership really likes to keep the greens in the foot range on the stimpmeter. That is certainly far faster than any green speeds during Ross lifetime, and they make many of Ross best pin locations unusable. It creates a dilemma that is in the Green Committee s hands.

4 Finally, it is worth stating that Ross was an un-tiring modifier of courses, as were most of the golf course architects of his day. He changed one of his masterpieces, Pinehurst #2, over a 40 year period right up to his death. He would certainly not be afraid to add length and bunkers in response to changes in equipment and the way the game is played. Nor should we be slaves to his original vision for The Kahkwa Club. Golf courses are living breathing things, forever evolving. Implementation of the 1998 Forse Design Plan The Forse Design plan was implemented in part. The plan called for greens to be expanded back to their original slightly more square shapes in order to re-capture some of the best, most challenging pin placements. These sucker pins are meant to lure the best players, looking for birdie opportunities, while higher handicappers should be playing more to the green centers. It appears that only some of this work was done, and this is something that should continue to be done as time and budget permit. Also, several of the new bunkers that were proposed were evidently never built, or were not placed precisely where the plan called for them to be. Similarly, several of the new tees proposed by the plan were not implemented. Hole-by-Hole Recommendations Hole #1 This is a good example of the bunkers being too removed from the fairway line. The left side bunker especially should be closer to the fairway by expanding the bunker slightly towards the fairway and by bringing the fairway line over closer to the bunker, as this bunker has no impact on longer hitters in any case. The right hand fairway bunker was not built as close to the centerline as the Forse plan proposed it, and it was not given sufficient support mounding to make it visible from the tee. It should be expanded towards the green and centerline, and given more support. Hole #2 The Forse plan called for three new fairway bunkers on this short slightly uphill hole, but only the first right side fairway bunker was built. That bunker is of little consequence to the better golfer and only tends to catch the short fade, leaving a very difficult approach. This driving area should be substantially toughened by adding two bunkers on the left side of the fairway, one in the hill about 275 yards from the tee and one about 250 yards from the tee. Two large trees on the left side of the fairway should come out. We should consider lowering the right side of the green here to make the upper shelf more playable. Hole #3 The back tee on this par 3 gets too much play for its size and should be enlarged and lengthened as much as possible, about 12 yards, by lowering the existing tee without losing visibility of the pond. Hole #4 The 4 th tee shot currently belies the hole s name, Gentle Bend, as it is more like a hard hook around the existing trees. There is an opportunity here to move the tee well to the right, straighten the tee shot somewhat, and add almost 70 yards to the golf hole. It is my understanding that the pump station is to be relocated in any case to allow that new tee that was called for but not implemented in the Forse plan. That new tee will dramatically change the landing area for the hole and open up the visibility from the tee. A strategic bunker on the left side, into the hillside just past the landing area should be added. There may be an opportunity here to add closely mown green surrounds behind the green, although the area may require some softening of the grade in order to give the ball a chance to stop properly.

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7 Hole #5 There is an opportunity to build a new tee back and to the right, making the dog-leg a little less severe and adding about 20 yards to the hole, but the committee does not recommend that addition at this time. The plan indicates the tee with a dashed line and has not included the new tee in the added length to the course. The bunker on the right side of the fairway is visually weak and is limited by the existing trees there. At least three, and possibly more trees should be removed on the right side of this bunker, and the bunker should be enlarged and given better support. Hole #6 The best place to add length on a Ross course is on the longer holes, as he was a big fan of the long par 4. We can add about 20 yards to this tee by extending the tee back behind the 2 nd green; the area that used to be the 3 rd tee. That is an important 20 yards as it will keep many golfers from hitting over the hill cleanly and gaining additional roll. The front of the current back tee should be lowered and softened for easier walking and visibility. The fairway bunkers here are not tight enough to the centerline or the fairway lines, so the fairway cut should be taken closer to the bunkers. The left side bunker near the green should be removed as it hampers mainly the high handicap golfers. Hole #7 This is a very strong par 4, which is a real Ross favorite. Although there has been some talk of adding a back tee and making this a par 5, the committee s consensus is that the hole should remain a strong par 4. In fact we should toughen the hole in keeping with the original design, which had the left side bunker short of the green about 40 yards much closer to the centerline and out from under the large tree. This is the key bunker on the hole and should impact the second shot significantly. The right side bunker should move away from its tree as well and closer to green with a steep face. Future consideration should be given to widening the fairway to the left by yards at the first landing area, which would require the removal of the first row of pine trees. Hole #8 The 8 th hole, currently a par 5, is, like the 7 th, really a par 4.5. There is really no opportunity to lengthen this hole, and the thinking is that at some point it should become a par 4 from the back tees, lowering the course par to 71, certainly not something Ross would have objected to. For now the hole will remain a par 5, but the fairway bunker on the left side just over the road will be expanded to about 275 yards from the tee as shown on the Forse plan. The right side of the landing area now presents no real obstacle and the plan proposes adding a large bunker in that open area. The grass bunker on the left side near the green should be softened to make it easier to maintain. Hole #9 This is a very good looking hole, but again the fairway lines and the bunkers are too far apart. The second existing bunker on the right side of the landing area extends almost to the 1 st fairway and crosses a natural drainage swale, making it a drainage problem. That bunker should be reduced in size, keeping only the part closest to the 9 th hole. A third bunker should be built on the right side just passed the landing area, into the slight hillside. Hole #10 This is another spot where adding about 22 yards to the back tee, extending it into the existing putting green, would make a real difference in where the tee shot lands into the hill instead of on top of the hill. The putting green could co-exist with the tee in the short term, with a fringe border, until the permanent putting green is built near the range in conjunction with the improvements to the practice area. The right side fairway bunker was not built as close to the centerline of the hole as Ross had it or as the Forse plan showed it. The Ross plan had it crossing the centerline by about five yards. The bunker should be rebuilt in the Ross position and the fairway should be taken closer to the left hand bunker, which has already been expanded. The bunker on the left side of the green should be expanded to guard the front left pin position, and there is a good opportunity for a fairway cut chipping area to the right of the green.

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10 Hole #11 This is a good par-3 that could be lengthened by about 15 yards with a new tee back to the left, and lower than the existing tee. The first right side bunker is penal for weaker golfers and blocks view of the other bunkers closer to the green; it should be removed. Hole #12 A great rolling par 5 that could perhaps be at a later date if equipment continues to demand more length. A new tee could be built adding as much as 30 yards to the hole, but it would require cutting a large number of trees so it is not part of this recommended plan. Hole #13 The original Ross plan made extensive show of an open ditch across the fairway about 35 yards in front of the green. While today that would penalize only weaker golfers, this may be an opportunity to bring the small existing pond closer to the fairway and green. That excavation would also provide some needed fill for work elsewhere on the course. The two front bunkers should be extended to guard the forward pin positions more effectively. Hole #14 This is another strong rolling hole with a great second shot, but it could use a bit more defense against longer hitters. There is no opportunity for lengthening at the tees, so the plan recommends adding two more fairway bunkers, one on the left side beyond the landing area, at about 280 yards from the tee, and one on the right side in the slope just before the landing area, which would greatly enhance the strategy from the tee. At least one tree will need to be removed and possibly some some earth will need to be shaved off the right side of the rough to make that bunker visible. The green area already has the more closely mown surrounds on the right side, per the Forse plan. Hole #15 There is an opportunity to lengthen this already long par-3 by as much as 38 yards, which for most golfers would bring back the fairway wood club selection that Ross was trying for. The bunker on the right side is controversial as it is difficult for weaker golfers, but it seems pretty integral to the Ross design. The face of this bunker should be softened if possible without creating a drainage issue. At the same time, the bunker to the left of the green should be extended a little closer to the green. Hole #16 This short hole should offer more risk-reward on the tee shot. Many of the trees on the right side of the landing area have been taken down, and we should consider adding a bunker in that area if we can make it visible from the tee. Ross clearly envisioned a very serious bunker just at the edge of the hill about 40 yards short of the green. This bunker should be deep enough to require a blast shot out. The green front corners should be softened and expanded some for maintenance considerations. At the same time, the first bunker off the tee is quite penal for the higher handicapper and should be removed in favor of a grass bunker that keeps some of the visual aspects of the bunker. Hole #17 The restoration of the Ross bunker on the right side of the fairway is not strong enough visually and seems to punish the wrong golfers. It is of no consequence to longer hitters, and the short carry allows them to hit away from the left side bunker. The bunker face should be softened to allow higher handicappers a chance to recover. The Ross plan calls for a cross bunker directly in front of the green; by the 1998 survey this was two small bunkers on the left front and one on the right side of the green. Forse showed a partial restoration of the Ross bunker, but this was not implemented. Given the new left side fairway bunkers, we should restore at least a portion of the Ross bunker guarding the right front of the green, so that golfers are encouraged to challenge the left side fairway bunker from the tee. Shorter hitters will not be able to reach that left side fairway bunker and will want to avoid the right side fairway bunker, so will tend to play up the left side and have an opening to the green. The green itself was rebuilt in the Forse plan, but was not successful and should be rebuilt, probably as a push-up green, keeping the chipping slope on the left but softening the false front enough to make the

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14 make the green more pin-able and playable at the desired green speeds. It is recommended that we consult with a soils and turf expert, such as Norm Hummel from Penn State, in the construction of the 17 th and the 18 th greens. Hole #18 There may be an opportunity here to add a new tee and about 30 yards, if the club s entry drive were slightly re-aligned in the future per the existing entry and parking reconfiguration plan. In the meantime, the plan proposes to add challenge in the landing area. The first fairway bunker on the left is too far removed from the fairway; bring the fairway over closer to the bunker. The newer left side fairway bunker at the landing area should be extended to the centerline of the hole per the Forse plan, and we should consider adding a new bunker on the right side about 275 yards from the back tees to really tighten the fairway for longer hitters, removing the tree(s) as needed. Consider adding a strategic bunker to the right front of the green if and when the green is rebuilt. This green was also rebuilt during the Forse restoration, and again was not very successful. It should be re-built, probably as a push-up green, with more pin-able area. Both the 17 th and 18 th greens would be subject to more detailed survey, design, and construction drawings if the decision is made to proceed with the work. Added Length If all the added tees were implemented the yardage of the course would be an additional 176 yards for a total of 6,700 from the back tees, keeping the par at 72 for the time being. That would be a significantly stronger statement for many golfers looking at potential golf clubs to join. Together with the added strategic bunkers and Kahkwa s bold green complexes, the added length would make a very challenging golf course. Practice Facilities The Kahkwa Club already has better than average practice facilities for an older club. The short game practice area is potentially a real asset and should continue to be improved agronomically as the maintenance budget will allow. The Forse plans included improvements to the range that require the relocation and reconfiguration of the club s parking areas, so that may be some time in the future. In the meantime, there is an opportunity to build a good new putting green to the right of the existing tees by relocating the drive into the tennis parking area. This would allow more contained practice and would eliminate the double use of the proposed back tee on #10. Some priority should be given as well to enhancing the target greens on the range, making it more visual for golfers. Future Work The next step in the process will be for the Committee to prioritize the work in terms of timing and budget. Much, if not all, of the work can be accomplished in-house with the club s experienced crew. IMG Design will provide more detailed drawings of specific projects, particularly the 17 th and 18 th greens, on an as needed basis, and will make site visits to inspect the work as requested.