Fourth Award in Six Years; 2018 Award for Renovation at Waters Edge in Fremont, Mich.
HOLLAND, Mich. – Raymond Hearn Golf Course Design’s renovation work at Water’s Edge Golf Club in Fremont, Mich. has been recognized by The American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA) with a 2018 Design Excellence Recognition Award.
It is the fourth ASGCA Design Excellence Award won by Hearn’s Holland, Mich.-based firm in the last six years.
“We could not be prouder of our work at Waters Edge Golf Club,” Hearn said. “To win an award for what we’ve done so far is outstanding, and we feel so fortunate to have won this award four times in six years. All awards are wonderful, but to come from my fellow members and peers at the ASGCA always makes it extra special.”
Hearn created a new par 4 and a new par 3 at the 63-year-old public course, took two of the former 18 holes out of play and is creating a new state-of-the-art training facility with a range that includes target greens and fairways, chipping, putting practice areas and bunkers for both greenside and fairway bunker shot practice.
“In addition to training that can take place on all aspects of the game, when the tee is closed it can be played anywhere from three to six holes as a small par 3 course,” Hearn said. “It’s made so the course can use the facility in different and creative ways for its customer base.”
Hearn said the ownership is also considering a performance training center building on the back of the practice center tee area.
“The two new holes we created set the stage for future improvements,” Hearn said. “I’m extremely pleased with how they turned out. People will look and think what a beautiful piece of land. It is now, but it started as a flat farm field.”
Hearn said his goal was to make the holes and the land forms appear as if they have been there forever, and help the course located about 45 miles northwest of Grand Rapids attract new golfers and entice some to return to the scenic venue.
“I feel we did that, but the judge and jury will be the annual members who play and the general public who find what they used to know as Ramshorn Country Club has transformed and improved. I know the golfers will notice that with some of the changes, like the tee at No. 9 where they can now see two of the nearby lakes (three area lakes are known as First, Second and Third Lakes).”
The new holes should open in May of 2019. The practice center is currently under construction and a late fall 2019 soft opening is tentatively planned.
In addition to the Design Excellence Recognition Award for work on Waters Edge, Hearn has also won the ASGCA honors for his renovation work in 2017 on Golf de Club de Panama in Panama City, his renovation of his own design in 2014 at Mistwood Golf Club in Chicago, Ill., and renovation of his own design in 2013 at Island Hills Golf Club in Centreville, Mich.
Since 1996, Raymond Hearn Golf Course Designs has built an internationally acclaimed reputation as a leading golf course architecture and land planning company. The firm features one of the industry’s most innovative design processes perfected on over 150 projects in the U.S. and abroad in the past 22 years. It specializes in course renovation, restoration, remodeling, master planning and new course design.
