Saddle Creek Resort Completes Front Nine Bunker Project
Award-Winning Carter Morrish Design Sparkles with Enhancements
(2nd January 2006) (COPPEROPOLIS, California) – Saddle Creek Resort – the gated, 900-acre Castle & Cooke community in the scenic California Foothills – today announces that Johnson Golf Course Construction, Inc. has completed a redesign the bunkers on the front nine of the award-winning Carter Morrish designed course.
Work on the back nine will commence immediately, and the entire project is slated for completion by early spring 06. All told, more than 99 bunkers will be re-cored and new liners, sand and drainage will be installed. The course remains open throughout the project, and disruption to play on the back nine will be minimized by limiting construction to one hole at a time and when feasible, one side of the hole.
“Visitors and members are raving about the new-look bunkers on the front nine, and we expect the back nine enhancements to draw similar, rave reviews.” says Al Martell, Vice President of Golf Properties for Castle & Cooke. “Once the entire project is completed, we hope to continue adding to the numerous accolades and awards the course has received over the past nine years.”
Since opening in 1996, Saddle Creek has emerged as one of the most decorated golf courses in the Western U.S. For the second consecutive year, it ranked among the Top-10 courses in California in Golfweek’s “America’s Best Courses 2005” ratings, appearing at No. 8 on the prestigious list and moving past the famed South Course at Torrey Pines – site of the 2008 U.S. Open Championship.
Saddle Creek was also included on Golfweek magazine’s Top-100 listing of “America’s Best Residential Golf Courses.” The resort placed No. 40, ahead of esteemed residential courses Reynolds Plantation, Desert Mountain, Lake Nona, Ocean Hammock, Troon North and others.
In its December 2005 issue, Fairways and Greens magazine rated Saddle Creek as one of the “Top Golf Experiences” in the Western U.S., citing its exquisite course conditions, top quality service, meticulous attention to detail, high-end residential opportunities and comfortable and convenient bungalows. Most recently, Saddle Creek was included in the 2006/07 ZAGAT listing of “America’s Top Golf Courses.”
Morrish’s strategic-yet-playable design is framed by the Sierra Mountains and challenges players of all levels with five sets of tees, more than 99 bunkers and an ethereal collection of shimmering lakes. To create an atmosphere of tranquility and isolation, Morrish devised a routing in which no two holes run parallel to each other. Tipping at over 6,800 yards, Saddle Creek has staged numerous competitive tournaments and events, and was recently selected as the host course for the 2006 Northern California Open.
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