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In The Press...
Release:
Redesign & Renovation of CC of Spartanburg is Complete
Release:
Spence Opens Lake
Toxaway
GolfWeek May 2008 -
Bradley
Klein - Ross Restorations
(PDF)
CGA May 2008 -
Spence Lands
New Projects (PDF)
Wyndham Championship -- Most Improved Event
Despite the challenges of moving to a new course, the
Wyndham Championship put on a first-class presentation
for players, spectators and sponsors. Players heaped
praise on the
Donald Ross-designed Sedgefield Country Club and
spectators were treated to convenient parking, improved
on-site experiences and enhanced fan viewing areas. The
title sponsor exposure and product display at the
Wyndham Championship was also cited as a top reason for
the "Most Improved Event" award.
The 2009 Wyndham Championship, captured last year by
Carl Pettersson, will be held August 17-23 at
Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, N.C.
"It is a real honor to be recognized by the PGA TOUR,"
said Tournament Director Mark Brazil. "This award is a
tribute to a total team effort by the tournaments Board
of Directors, committee, staff, sponsors, volunteers and
our many fans in the Piedmont Triad region. It is also a
reflection of our partnership with Wyndham Worldwide and
a bold move to Sedgefield Country Club, which I think is
one of the best courses on TOUR."
Runner Up: RBC Canadian Open
What They Are Writing About Kris Spence...
" 'Ross to Spence'
may sound like the beginning of a great double-play
team, but passionate golfers recognize this as an
architectural blending of the ages. Kris Spence
appears to be 'the man' to modernize and polish up
old Ross courses. In 2007, he morphed Cape Fear
Country Club into one reminiscent of the shotmaking
requirements of Pinehurst No. 2."
-
Michael Dann,
Carolinas Golf
“I
had a mid-afternoon tee time at the Donald Ross-designed
Grove Park Inn Golf Course, itself reacquainted with
lost youth after a $2.5 million restoration by
Greensboro-based architect Kris Spence … What I liked
most about the 1924 layout was its use of the site’s
natural features, the drama of creeks and abrupt angles
to create a constantly fresh shotmaker’s dilemma.”
–
James Dobson, Links Magazine
“He
loves working with courses built to take advantage of
the natural landscape, rediscovering their hidden edges
and angles and fitting them to today’s game.”
–
Ron Green Jr., Charlotte Observer
“Here’s proof that good restoration brings a course into
better shape than ever before. A mediocre Donald Ross
routing shoehorned onto 88 acres, then left to rot for
years, now stunningly brought back to a life it never
knew by Greensboro, N.C.-based course architect Kris
Spence.”
– Bradley S. Klein, Golfweek
“Kris Spence has spent countless hours pouring over
original design sketches from Donald Ross and Ellis
Maples. He’s consumed numerous books on golf course
architecture and can recall the smallest details about
Alister MacKenzie’s bunkers and A.W. Tillinghast’s
greens.”
–
Shane Sharp, Golfdom Magazine
“Kris Spence has done it again. The renowned golf
course architect who worked wonders on the restoration
of The Golf Course at Grove Park Inn has just completed
a similarly impressive redo of another Donald Ross
classic design – Mimosa Hills Country Club.”
–
Keith Jarrett, Asheville Citizen-Times
“Spence is creating a name for himself in the
restoration of golf courses, particularly those designed
by (Donald) Ross and (Ellis) Maples … Spence has studied
the masters and is almost reverent in discussing them.”
– Howard Ward, Golf Record of the Carolinas
“Like the old Scottish master before him, Spence makes
no apologies. ‘We’re going to get criticism from certain
quarters,’ he says. ‘But this is Donald Ross bunkering.
This is the real deal.’ ”
–
Trent Bouts, Carolinas Golf
“The
work that was carried out by Kris Spence … is as good as
I have seen anywhere. I give the restoration an A+.”
–
Michael Fay, executive director of the Donald
Ross Society
“Kris’ unique approach to design was fostered by his 18
years as a golf course superintendent. He’s been around
golf courses his whole life, doing everything from
cutting greens to supervising day-to-day maintenance to
new construction.”
–
Elsa Bonstein, The Brunswick (N.C.) Beacon
“Spence is holding out for a client willing to spend the
time and effort to produce a thought-provoking,
traditional course that emphasizes brains over brawn.
Until then, he is more than content to keep on keeping
on with his restoration work.”
–
Shane Sharp, TravelGolf.com |