AUSTIN, Texas -- The Crenshaw Cliffside Course at the Barton Creek Resort & Spa is undergoing renovations this summer and is scheduled to reopen Sept. 15, resort officials have announced. Many improvements are underway and the scope of work includes the greens, bunker and tees.
Perhaps the largest component of the makeover is re-grassing the greens to provide a uniform and consistent turf. This project consists of replacing the upper five inches of the greens with new mix and grassing with Champion Bermuda grass, the same grass that is on the greens at the adjacent Fazio Canyons and Palmer Lakeside courses.
The contours of the greens will remain very similar to the existing contours, while a few areas will be softened enough to preserve those hole locations at consistently faster putting speeds. A total reconstruction of the bunkers also will occur in which all the existing sand and internal drainage will be replaced.
Also, a fourth set of tees will be added. Currently, the Crenshaw Cliffside is the resort's only course with only three sets of tees, When all work is completed, there will be five sets of tees on both Fazio courses and four sets of tees on both the Crenshaw Cliffside and Palmer Lakeside courses.
Recipient of the 2006 "Reader?s Choice Best Course to Play in Austin" (4.0 rating) in Golf Digest, the Crenshaw Cliffside is reminiscent of a links-style golf course with wide fairways and the opportunity to run the ball up to the green from the fairway as opposed to having to fly the ball onto the green.
Designed by Ben Crenshaw and design partner Bill Coore, the 18-hole course sits on gently rolling hills, providing elevation changes and beautiful views. The greens are large and well contoured, offering a challenge for even the best putters, and the course features numerous large fairways and greenside bunkers.
The resort also is at the forefront of state-of-the-art instructional techniques, and is home to the Chuck Cook Golf Academy, featuring ultra-modern facilities and innovative programs designed to improve all aspects of the game. The Academy is led by PGA Professional Chuck Cook, the instructor to four U.S. Open champions, a U.S. Amateur champion and five NCAA champions, who all three top golf magazines named as among the top 10 teachers in the world.
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