Michigan Golf News: August 16, 2025

In Michigan golf news this week are items from Ray Hearn, Knollwood CC and Arrowhead Golf Loft.

Have some Michigan golf news? Send it to [email protected] for consideration.

Michigan’s Raymond Hearn, ASGCA, Selected to Create a Master Plan for the Historic Aurora CC in Aurora, IL, Founded in 1914

1939 Historic Aerial

    AURORA, IL – Award-winning golf course architect Raymond Hearn, ASGCA, has been selected by historic Aurora Country Club for a renovation and restoration of its classic 1914 golf course.

    “What an honor and privilege it is to work with this historic club,” Hearn, founder of Raymond Hearn Golf Course Designs, said. “Our goal is to create a comprehensive Master Plan that involves sympathetic restoration.”

  Sympathetic restoration refers to a process where a course is renovated to restore its original design and character, focusing on the course’s history and respecting the architect’s original design intent, while also synchronizing with the modern-day game and maintenance practices to improve strategy, shot value, playability and sustainability.

  “It’s a careful balance between honoring the past and adapting to the present,” Hearn said.

   The original 9-hole course design was by legendary architect Tom Bendelow in 1914. Bendelow expanded the design to 18 holes in 1915 with a possible collaboration from William Langford according to several published sources. In 1935, the club consulted with legendary golf course architect A.W. Tillinghast for some select course improvements.

  “We could not be happier to be awarded this prestigious assignment as I know the club had significant interest from a wide array of golf course architects,” Hearn said. “We are walking in the footsteps of golf course architectural legends.”

  Hearn said Aurora Country Club has a vibrant membership with outstanding board and committee members.

    “I will be working closely with the club’s Master Planning Committee, which includes PGA head professional Curtis Malm and veteran golf course superintendent John Gurke, CGCS,” he said. “We will be communicating with them in each phase. After the master planning is approved, my next assignment will be assisting the club in project construction phasing implementation that the club feels comfortable with.”

  Hearn said he equates the club’s course to a classic work of art that is ready to reclaim its place among the region’s best.

  “I want the sympathetic restoration work to increase shot value, strategy, playability and beauty for all levels of golfing ability at the club,not just the single digit handicap golfer,” he said. “I will obviously pay tribute and homage to the legendary architects involved with this design in my sympathetic restoration.”

  Tom Cross, Master Plan Committee chairman, said Aurora Country Club has always been committed to providing its members with an exceptional golf experience and that this master planning initiative reflects the ongoing dedication to that tradition of excellence.

  “We’re taking a thoughtful, long-term approach to ensure our course continues to be among the finest in the region for generations to come,” he said. “Our partnership with Ray Hearn, whose award-winning restoration work speaks for itself, demonstrates our commitment to investing in world class expertise as we plan for Aurora’s future. This process will be entirely member driven, ensuring that any enhancements align with our club’s values and our membership’s vision.”

  Gurke said Raymond Hearn Golf Course Designs was a tremendous choice by the club for the master plan and project.

  “I’m thrilled to be working with Ray on this Master Plan for Aurora Country Club,” he said. “Over my 35 years here I’ve immersed myself in the history and significance of this golf course with architects the likes of Bendelow, Langford and Tillinghast behind its Golden Age design. Ray is a renowned veteran designer who brings great passion, knowledge, and respect for our club’s past, and will tap into those qualities to lead Aurora Country Club and its members into the future.”

   Raymond Hearn ( www.rhgd.com ) has developed a national reputation for creating long range master plans for historic and modern day courses such as the Crestmont CC (Donald Ross 1921) in West Orange, NJ; Moon Brook CC (Willie Park Jr. 1919) in Jamestown, NY; Washtenaw GC (Bert Way 1899) in Ypsilanti, MI;  Midlothian CC (Hebert Tweedie 1898) in Midlothian, IL; Metedeconk National GC (RTJ Sr. and Roger Rulewich 1987) in Jackson, NJ; Lincolnshire Fields CC (Larry Packard 1976) in Champaign, IL; White Lake GC (Tom Bendelow 1916) in Whitehall, MI; Flossmoor CC (Hebert Tweedie 1899) in Flossmoor, IL; Inverness CC (Doug Fraser 1925) in Chelsea, MI; Club de Golf de Panama (Jay Riviera 1922) Panama City, Panama;  Savannah CC formerly Wilmington Island Golf (Donald Ross in 1927) Savannah, GA and various Master Planning for several Boyne Resort golf courses in Michigan, Montana and Maine.

  Gurke said the master plan committee members did their due diligence and have experienced the work Hearn has completed on other Golden Age golf courses.

  “He has great passion for what he does, but also for what those before him created at these great courses,” he said. “I love his sympathetic restoration ideas.”

Zinkand Golf Design Completes Extensive Renovation at Michigan’s Knollwood C.C.

New Par-3 17th Highlights Focus on Improving Golden Age Course’s Playability, Aesthetics and Strategy

[CHARLOTTE, N.C.] – Zinkand Golf Design (ZGD) – led by golf course architect David Zinkand and his more than 25 years of experience designing, managing and shaping projects in the field – has completed an extensive renovation of Knollwood Country Club in West Bloomfield, Michigan.

Construction began in August 2024 and followed ZGD’s proposed master plan for the golf course, short-game area and driving range. The 100-year-old course already possessed a strong routing that took advantage of the site’s varied terrain, with more dramatic, rolling hills encompassing its perimeter and gentler grading toward its center. Therefore, ZGD focused on the improvement of numerous course features. They included the creation of a new par-3 17th hole near its original footprint, and shifting the tees and landing areas of the 9th and 10th holes to elevate their strategy and playability.

“The existing 17th hole didn’t fit the charming, Golden Age allure of Knollwood, so a new concept was devised to not only better fit the property’s character, but also provide additional separation from the practice range,” said Zinkand. “Similarly, the ninth and 10th holes were realigned to take better advantage of a subtle valley along a small creek in the middle of the property, while improving player safety by increasing the distance between the holes.”

The project also involved significant bunker work. Many existing bunkers were repositioned and several were removed. Chronic issues of poor drainage, contaminated sand and underwhelming aesthetics were addressed via revamped shaping and the addition of CapillaryFlow liners. 

“The bunkers we removed were generally greenside and eliminated in the name of improving playability and aesthetics,” continued Zinkand. “We also added several, particularly along fairways, to capitalize on and embellish the terrain. All bunkers now exhibit a classic, Golden Age character with meandering lips and low leading edges for ease of entry and expanded visibility.”

ZGD’s brief also included the expansion and recontouring of all 18 greens and their surrounds. The combination of higher modern green speeds and shrinking putting surface perimeters had resulted in too few pin placements and lost strategic interest. Fairway expansions and low-mown green surrounds now increase decision-making complexity for skilled players while providing a greater variety of shot options for all.

Furthermore, ZGD addressed excess tree growth that had narrowed playing corridors. Limbs were trimmed to improve air circulation and turf health, and non-native tree species were removed to enhance sense of place. Off the course, the new driving range’s expanded tee box and new strip of synthetic turf combine to reduce natural turf wear. And the short-game area, which had been showing its age, now offers a more versatile and realistic practice experience with its enlarged green surface and refreshed bunkering.

“Since opening earlier this month, Knollwood members have been raving about the incredible results that Dave and his team delivered,” said Tracy Wilson, General Manager/COO, Knollwood C.C. “ZGD’s deep knowledge of Golden Age architecture, exceptional construction skills and impressive attention to detail have created a private golf experience that now promises to rank among the best in Metro Detroit.”

For more information about ZGD, visit zinkandgolfdesign.com or @zinkandgolfdesign (Instagram).

About Zinkand Golf Design

Zinkand Golf Design stresses three overarching principles – Strategic Options, Sense of Adventure and Genius Loci – to strategically guide clients through project completion. Adapting these principles to each client’s ambitions in a site-specific manner enables the firm to produce results that cost less while elevating artistry and emphasizing realistic upkeep. This perspective was adopted when principal designer David Zinkand, PLA, ASLA, was studying the great golf courses of Great Britain and Ireland as a recipient of the Dreer Award, and then crystallized during his 14 years working for Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. Some of Zinkand’s recent clients include Old Elm Club (IL), Monterey Peninsula C.C. (CA), Sharon Golf Club (OH) and Chechessee Creek Club (SC).

Finally, Arrowhead Golf Course in Lowell, has opened “The Golf Loft.” Grand opening is August 16, 2025.

From their website:

Golf on Another Level.

The Golf Loft was built to bring a whole new experience to the driving range. We’re here to make golf more approachable, more social, and a whole lot more fun. Whether you’re an avid golfer, a first-timer, or just tagging along for the drinks and snacks — you’re in the right place.

The Golf Loft is where golf meets energy, connection, and technology. From casual swings and laughs with friends to focused training sessions with real-time ball tracking, we’ve created a space where everyone feels welcome. Inrange’s premiere tracking system ensures that every game, course, and practice mode brings the best experience to our guests

I haven’t tried The Golf Loft, but you can read GolfBlogger’s Arrowhead Golf Course review at the link.