Dear Members,
With all of the exciting things happening here at West Hills Country Club, we wanted to reach out with details about what to expect for the 2021 season and beyond. Our goal has always been to provide the best golf and country club experience in the Hudson Valley to our members. In order to further enhance the golf course we need an additional revenue stream and about 25 more members. The Residences at West Hills project will bring 158 luxury rental apartment units ranging from the smallest 800 SF one bedroom unit to 1650 SF three bedroom units. Some features include an underground parking garage, fitness center, wellness studio, clubhouse, board room and private zoom meeting rooms, indoor golf simulator, outdoor amenity deck and dog park. Along with the construction of the building we will rebuild the 12 hole completely, 10th green, 1st hole and install a state of the art irrigation system on the entire property. We know you have questions about the timing, how golf will be impacted for 2021 season and what will this all look like when it is done.
Barring some unforeseen issue, construction on The Residences at West Hills Country Club should begin in the Spring of 2021. Once construction begins, the golf course will have a temporary re-routing but rest assured the Bridge Course at West Hills Country Club will offer 18 Holes of Championship Golf.
Once construction begins and for the remainder of the 2021 Golf Season, the Approach and Green on the first hole will become a practice area for chipping and putting. The first three holes on the temporary routing of the course will bring back memories for our members that were at Orange County Golf Club. The temporary first hole on the Bridge Course will be the Second Hole from Orange County Golf Club. Tee off the existing second tees to the green of the first hole on the River Course. The temporary second hole on the Bridge course will be the existing 6th hole on the River Course – also remembered as the 5th hole at Orange County Golf Club. The temporary third hole on the bridge course will be a par four that is played from a temporary tee near the green on the 8th hole of the river course for the black and sometimes for the blue tees. The blue tees will occasionally be played from the existing tees of the 9th hole of the river course along with the white and red tees. That tee shot will be toward the current 2nd green of the Bridge Course. The hole will play in a very similar manner to the old 7th hole at Orange County Golf Club, but as a Par-4 instead of a Par-5. The 4th through 12th holes of the Bridge Course will be the existing 3rd through 11th holes. Holes 13 to 18 remain unchanged. The temporary routing will result in a Total Par of 71, 34 on the Front and 37 on the Back. The image below illustrates the temporary re-routing.
2021 Season Temporary Routing
Simultaneously, construction will begin on golf course improvements.
The new practice area, re-designed first hole, and re-designed 12th hole will all be constructed as early as possible in 2021 so that we are able to play on them as early as possible in 2022. Once we near the end of the 2021 golf season – after Labor Day and all major tournaments, a temporary green will be established for the 10th hole – in a location near the 10th Green from Orange County Golf Club – so construction can begin on the re-designed 10th Green Complex. The images below depict the re-design for the aforementioned areas on the golf course along with the explanation from our golf course architect, Dave Heatwole. We have also included a copy of Dave’s resume for your review. We want you all to know that this re-design is not being imagined by just anyone, but by an incredibly well-credentialed, experienced golf course architect.
Thank you all for your trust and support through the trying 2020 season. 2021 and beyond are bringing exciting changes for West Hills Country Club – we look forward to sharing them with you.
Hole #1
- Playing to a similar yardage from the Black Tee (and a bit short from the other tees), the remodeled par 4 golf hole now plays slightly uphills with a dogleg left, as opposed to the current downhill and straigt-away tee shot.
- The valley crossing midway down the fairway will be partialla filled and sofened to allow for a more level fairway lie for a shorter tee shot, while also improving drainage to keep the area drier.
- The deep low at the back left of the green will be softened to allow for a bit of an easier recovery shot from that area.
- With bunkers guarding each side of the fairway, the opening tee shot will prove to be a little more challenging that in the past.
Hole #12
- The new par 3 golf hole plays a club or two less than the current hole. The yardage is shorter, and the uphill elevation change from tee to green is reduced in half.
- The picturesque green is well-defined by a large waterfall, located directly behind the putting surface, and a flowing open channel, extending from the back of the green along the left side, emptying into the pond in front of the green.
- A fairway pad collects shots that end up short and right of the green.
- A small bunker is splashed into the slope to guard the back right of the putting surface.
- The tee shot to this well-guarded green places a premium on accuracy.
#10 Green Reconstruction
Dave Heatwole, ASGCA
Dave Heatwole brings over three decades of design, planning and construction experience, with a wide variety of golf course design projects ranging from large multi-course master planned communities to small renovation projects. His career designing, renovating, and restoring golf courses has taken him throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia.
His company, Heatwole Golf Design, focuses mainly on course design work throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. Dave’s client list consists of several golf clubs in the New York Metropolitan area including: The Saint Andrew’s Golf Club, Bonnie Briar Country Club, Old Oaks Country Club, Leewood Golf Club, Metropolis Country Club, and The Golf Club of Purchase.
As a Senior Design Associate with Nicklaus Design, many of the courses received awards and recognition for design standards. Several courses both domestically and worldwide have hosted professional tour events. Locally, Dave was the lead designer on both The Golf Club at Mansion Ridge in Monroe, NY, and Great Bear Golf Club in Marshalls Creek in the Poconos.
Dave was elected as a member of the American Society of Golf Course Architects in 2000.
Professional Experience
2002–Present
Heatwole Golf Design – State College, PA
President and Lead Designer
Heatwole Golf Design focuses on the renovation and restoration of existing courses, master planning, practice area and short game area improvements, as well as the design of new golf courses. Heatwole Golf Design has worked on numerous golf course projects throughout the Midwest and Eastern United States.
2002–2010
Heatwole Golf Design – State College, PA
Golf Course Design Consultant
Dave started Heatwole Golf Design in 2002 for the opportunity to design courses independently; for eight years, he continued to work as a consultant to Nicklaus Design to complete several ongoing projects.
1986-2002
Nicklaus Design – North Palm Beach, Florida
Senior Designer, Design Associate, Production Coordinator, Draftsman
Dave began his career at Nicklaus as a Draftsman and was promoted to Production Coordinator, Design Associate and finally served for 9 years as a Senior Design Associate. Throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia, he was responsible for golf course design from the initial site review through all phases of the design, approvals, construction and grow-in of projects. Additional responsibilities included interfacing with clients, contractors, project management, and other design disciplines to assure that the golf course was built to proper design standards, on time and on budget. While working for Nicklaus Design Dave had the opportunity to live and work in several regions of the country including Arizona, Florida, and Hawaii, as well as living internationally in Monaco and London.
1985-1986
Wadsworth Golf Course Construction – Buckeye, Arizona
Crew Leader
Dave was involved in all facets of golf course construction including irrigation, drainage, features construction, layout and as-builts on new golf course construction projects in Arizona and Colorado.
1984-1985
Ronning Landscaping – Scottsdale, Arizona
Assistant Project Supervisor, Crew Foreman
Worked as a construction supervisor and job foreman on commercial and residential landscaping projects.
Education
Bachelor of Science, Landscape Architecture – 1983 The Pennsylvania State University
Professional Memberships/Affiliations
American Society of Golf Course Architects
American Society of Landscape Architects
Golf Course Superintendents Association of America
United States Golf Association
Environmental Institute for Golf