Blue Monster is Back

MIAMI -- The famed Blue Monster Golf Course at the Doral Golf Resort & Spa has re-opened after a four-month renovation project. One of five championship golf courses on property at Doral, the Blue Monster underwent a series of refinements designed to enhance the overall golf experience at Doral as well as prepare for the WGC-CA Championship, which will move to the course next March.

"As with any golf course that is considered a world-class property, the Blue Monster needs constant refreshing to ensure consistent playing conditions year-round," said Doral General Manager Darrin Helfrick. "Equally important, many of the projects that took place during this refinement phase will enable our team to provide a stellar venue when golf's best players compete on the Blue Monster during the 2007 CA Championship."

Highlighting the refinements to the Blue Monster was the re-grassing of all 18 greens, as well as the practice putting green, with TifEagle Bermuda. This will provide more consistent turf conditions on the greens year-round, and create firmer, faster putting conditions, officials said.

Additionally, the Blue Monster underwent a course-wide landscape renovation, as well as a complete makeover of all the bunkers on the course. The project included a complete cart path replacement, featuring new concrete to help improve overall course management. This was highlighted by the installation of special 10-foot paths, with extra re-enforcement, which were added to a few strategic areas of the course to help in CA Championship tournament set-up.

"Anyone who has played the Blue Monster, including the PGA Tour professionals who compete here annually, know that this is a course defined by character and competitiveness," Helfrick said. "As such, this refinement has enabled us to maintain the Blue Monster's identity, while at the same time enhancing the overall playing conditions, aesthetics and maneuverability of the golf course."

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