ART STRICKLIN Particular to the Tribune-Herald

Waco’s Ridgewood Nation Membership’s 18-hole golf course will shut down Saturday for practically a 12 months because the course undergoes a complete renovation from architect Tripp Davis, one thing members say is critical to retain the premier non-public membership’s standing within the Waco space.

“It is one thing we completely wanted to do,” mentioned 27-year Ridgewood member Jerry Miller. “I like the greens right here, however they’ve reached the top of their life cycle.”

“We’re investing within the subsequent 30 years of Ridgewood with short-term ache for long-term achieve,” added present Ridgewood board member Taylor Bledsoe.

Whereas the clubhouse is closed to all golf, Ridgewood head professional Jimmy Cunningham and common supervisor Invoice Horton have arrange low cost rounds for members at varied native programs across the Central Texas space, together with Cottonwood Creek. They’ve additionally arrange some longer golf journeys.

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Cunningham mentioned the price range for the renovation, which is able to embrace new bunkers, fairways, tee packing containers and fashionable Tift eagle greens, is roughly $5.2 million, with an anticipated completion date of late October or early November 2023, climate allowing.

To pay for the challenge, the privately held course is assessing the a whole lot of members based mostly on age, with older members paying much less and youthful members paying extra. The clubhouse and different membership services will stay open through the golf course renovation.

“We tried to be truthful with everyone the place younger members like me pay the complete quantity and older members like my dad do not pay as a lot,” mentioned Bledsoe, 38.

Waco’s Randy Mull has been round Ridgewood since 1973 when his mother and father joined the membership. Mull mentioned that the redo would assist maintain the course and golf in Waco for a few years.

“We’ve got an opportunity to redo some issues on the course which must be fastened, like including a creek on the ninth and eleventh holes, taking away the lake on No. 3 and redoing the bunkers and fairways,” Mull mentioned. “As you become old, you get set in your individual means, so it will enable us to play completely different programs within the space, after which we’ll have a brand new course at Ridgewood within the fall.”

To commemorate the pending course’s shutdown, Ridgewood is internet hosting a most unusual golf event on Saturday the place the 18-hole course shall be transformed to a dozen par-3 holes for an occasion the place members and visitors play throughout the structure. The membership will award prizes on every gap, and the occasion may also function meals vehicles and two giant barbecue pits.

“Then, when the event is completed, the gamers can have a free-for-all on the course — carts on the greens, use any membership within the greens or bunkers, no matter,” mentioned Cunningham. “We’re not fixing any ball marks, they will take out their frustrations in fact.”

Ridgewood celebrated its seventy fifth anniversary this summer time and has had different course upgrades and fixes over time, together with the set up of recent fairways and greens. However this is among the largest scale tasks within the membership’s historical past.

“We had been going to be shut down for six months for brand spanking new greens, so why not do 9 months and get nearly a very new course?” Bledsoe mentioned. “I feel we’ve got a terrific place right here, however I feel will probably be even higher when it is completed.”

The method for Ridgewood has been an extended one, because the membership authorised the renovation and the hiring of Oklahoma-based architect Davis practically 18 months in the past. Then they’ve to barter with the US Corps of Engineers, which controls the close by Lake Waco water. The lake comes into play on a number of of the holes. Ridgewood members additionally needed to vote on and approve a price range for the challenge.

Ridgewood is a longtime newbie and faculty event host, together with the Texas State Senior Championship and the previous Southwest Convention Championship.

“Renovations like this are a crucial evil for all golf equipment like ours. It may very well be dangerous luck for the older members, however we’ll survive,” mentioned longtime Ridgewood member Johnny Bledsoe.

Total, the sentiment amongst Ridgewood workers and members appears to be certainly one of pleasure.

“I am completely happy to see what the brand new course will seem like. We will be blowing and going January 4th and preserve it going right through,” added Cunningham. “We’re ripping the bandage off the previous course and arising with the brand new.”

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