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A Golf Course Master Plan for:

United States Naval Academy Golf ClubAnnapolis, Maryland

The United States Naval Academy Golf Club is a national golf treasure. Designed by William Flynn in 1944, it serves as his last design that remains in existence. Flynn

who is famous for his work at Shinnecock Hills, Merion, Cherry Hills, Indian Creek, the Cascades, and numerous Philadelphia area courses, was a master of golf strategy and his design elements are timeless. His work at the United States Naval Academy Golf

Club put it among the greatest academic institution golf facilities. It has the charm and classic nature of C.B. MacDonald’s Yale Golf Course, the strength and strategy of Alister

MacKenzie’s Scarlet Course at Ohio State, and the graceful lines of play of George Thomas’ Stanford Golf Course. All it is missing is a renovation and awakening of it elements.

In early 2013, McDonald Design Group was commissioned by the United States Naval Academy Golf Club to review the Golf Course Restoration Plan completed in 2007. The purpose of this reassessment was to update and enhance the original plan so that it generated the best course of action to completely revitalize the

facility. The result is a comprehensive Master Plan that addresses all the needs of the golfers who play the US Naval Academy Golf Club. Additional considerations were also added for the Midshipmen Golf Teams. Rear Tees have been located to stretch the golf course to over 7,000 yards. Multiple Practice opportunities have been incorporated to allow for exciting and realistic feedback that will give the teams a much needed home for dedicated preparation. The final product provides for all new playing features and surfaces throughout the golf course and establishes a modern standard. The implementation of the plan will set the course up to thrive for decades to come.

Contents: US Naval academy HiStory 2William S. FlyNN 6tHe GolF coUrSe maSter PlaN 8 ThePuTTingSurface 10 TheTeeingground 12 TheBunkerS 14 ThefairwayS 16 Thedrainage 17 holeByhole 18 ThePracTiceground 36imPlemeNtatioN oF tHe viSioN 40

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UNited StateS Naval academy GolF coUrSe HiStory

In 1928, William Richardson and Fred Rhodes, two Washington lawyers, bought the Remsen brothers’ dairy farm on Greenbury Point. Upon this peninsula they placed a golf course that would be called Greenbury Point Yacht and Country Club. The course was designed by Harry Collis, an English immigrant.

Mr. Collis, who began his golf career as the greenskeeper at Indianapolis Country Club, had designed or remodeled a number of golf courses across America by the time he came to Annapolis. It appears that Collis may have been contacted by Richardson and Rhodes because of his 1923 work at Manor Country Club in Rockville, Maryland. The original course at Greenbury had nine holes on the flat coastal plain bordering the Chesapeake Bay and nine holes along the “high ground” to the northwest.

Greenbury Point Yacht and Country Club had a short life before the Great Depression. As economic hard times fell on the country the golf course could no longer sustain its operation. In 1938, the Navy purchased the golf course to expand its radio station complex. As a by product the Naval Academy inherited the remnant portions of Collis’s design. The enlarged radio center destroyed much of what was the front nine, leaving a hodgepodge of golf holes for the Academy. In October of 1940 the Naval Academy Golf Club opened for play on the rough nine hole course.

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After two years of play across the reclaimed golf holes, William Flynn, a well-respected golf architect, was hired to design a proper golf course for the Naval Academy. He was charged with creating a golf course that utilized any usable remnant of the original Greenbury course. He therefore incorporated a number of the original greens into his routing, including today’s 1st, 5th, 7th, and 9th. Flynn’s ability to fit these holes into a quality sequence and then find the remaining holes on the natural lay of the land was critical to the quality of the final layout. He placed 11 holes south of Greenbury Point Road and 7 to the north. The finished product opened for play May 1, 1944.

Much has changed on Greenbury Point since 1944. The Naval radio station expanded periodically from WWII to the end of the Cold War, placing new towers and buildings across the peninsula. In 1954 expansion plans were made for the area in and around the current 2nd green. As a result two holes of the original design were taken out of play. At the time the par 4, 3rd played away from 2nd, along the southern side of Greenbury Point Road and the 4th, a long double-dogleg par-5 played back to near today’s 3rd tee. These holes were removed to make way for the construction and two new holes were built along the northwest corner of the property to fill out the golf course. The resulting reconfiguration and renumbering of the golf course ultimately led to the course that golfers enjoy today.

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Flynn’s work excelled in the 1920’s. Widely considered one of the best decades for golf design, he completed some of the most outstanding golf courses the United States had ever seen. He was a master at routing superior golf holes no matter the site, may it be a pine flat in Florida or a mountainside in Virginia. He

valued all segments of the game but considered accuracy the most important. He perfected the “preferred line of play,” a strategy that forced the golfer to think their way around the golf course and place their shots properly to have an advantage on their next.

“The principal consideration of the architect is to design his course in such a way as to hold the interest of the player from the first tee to the last green and to present the problems of the various holes in such a way that they register in the player’s mind as he stands on the tee or on the fairway for the shot to the green.

The best way to whet the appetite and improve the game of any golfer is to offer an incentive and provide a re-ward for high class play, and by high class play is meant simply the best of which each individual is capable.

Placing a premium on accuracy with due consideration for length should be the aim of all men who design golf courses, for accuracy in the play signifies skill and skill is generally the master of brute force.” -William S. Flynn October 1927 USGA Green Section Record

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theGolfCourseMasterPlan

Project Objective:

The Golf Course Master Plan provides a comprehensive vision for the future of the United States Naval Academy Golf Club. It addresses every need of the Members and Midshipmen. It respects and enhances the original William Flynn design, while making it fit the modern game of golf. The proposed

improvements balance all elements of maintenance, playability, strategy, and aesthetics. It creates Challenge for the best players, Variety for the average golfer, and enjoyment for the high handicap / beginner.

Project Outline:As a comprehensive document the Golf Course Master Plan examines all elements of the US Naval Academy Golf Course and its surrounding setting. The following tasks have provided the basis for this project:

studyallGreenstodefinetheiroriGinalshaPeandreCordtheiroriGinalContoursrecommends the reconstruction of all greens to usga specifications - restoring putting surfaces where feasible

studyteeloCation,size,style,andsetuPflexibilityrecommends a complete rebuild of all tees - relocating, leveling, realigning, and expanding

exaMinebunkerloCation,size,strateGy,andstylerecommends a complete renovation - create a flynn-inspired bunker style that provides a revitalized identity

adjustfairwayGrassinGlinestoiMProVeholePresentation,Playability,andstrateGyrecommends regrassing all fairway turf to a new generation bermudagrass

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recommends adjustments as needed to provide improved circulation, safety, and aesthetics

CreateatreeManaGeMentProGraMrecommendSimPlemenTingalongrangeTreePruning,removal,andPlanTingSTraTegy

addressdrainaGeissuesthrouGhouttheGolfCourserecommendSTheinSTallaTionofBoThlargeSizePiPeSySTemSandSandchanneldrainageToProvideimProvedPlayaBiliTyandmainTenance

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tHe 2013 GolF coUrSe maSter PlaN For:

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tHe PUttiNG SUrFace...

A main focus of the Golf Course Master Plan is the reconstruction of all the putting greens. The original greens have served the golf course well for over 60 years, but are in the need of renovation. The existing turf needs to be replaced to provide improved conditions throughout the year. The soil profile limits

drainage and gas exchange, further stressing the turf. Every green has lost putting space over time through mowing and other maintenance practices. There are a handful of greens that need to have slopes adjusted to allow for adequate hole locations. There are also three holes that are not fully part of the original design and could be improved to provide a better quality of golf. These issues will all be addressed by rebuilding the greens to meet the modern USGA specifications.

tHe tUrFGraSS

The Greens at USNA were originally grassed with creeping bentgrass in the mid-1940’s. Turfgrass research was already well underway at this time and the greens were likely grassed with the most successful variety of the time. Of course, the demands of today’s putting surfaces are exponentially different from those in the 40’s and the old generation turf is limited in its current environment. As the greens at USNA have grown over the years, they have become infested with an aggressive weed species - Poa annua—annual bluegrass. Even though Poa, as it is often referred to, is managed as the putting green grass of choice in areas of the northeast and along the pacific coast, it is not well-suited for the extreme summer stress period of the Mid-Atlantic and is considered a noxious weed.

A new generation bentgrass is the preferred putting surface for the restored USNA. It is a cool season perennial that still requires the proper amount of sunlight, air circulation, moisture, fertilization and pest management to thrive, but was developed to meet the expectations of today’s golfer and is vastly more tolerable of stress throughout the year.

tHe PHySical NatUre oF tHe GreeNS

A majority of the greens on the golf course are over sixty years old, with a number of them actually being in use since 1928. The soil on which the greens were founded is relatively heavy in nature and therefore has a very slow drainage percolation rate. This was not a great concern at the time of construction since elaborate irrigation systems were not in use and water retention helped keep the grass alive during high stress periods. However, over the years, requests for increased putting speeds and a purer roll have greatly increased the amount of stress on the turfgrass. Wet soils now dramatically increase disease pressure and limit turf quality more than any other factor.

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FiNdiNG loSt SPace

Almost every green at the USNA Golf Course has changed shape over the years. The advent of the riding triplex mower is to blame for many of the changes. This three reel mower has a typical cutting width of 60” compared to the more modest walk behind units that average 22”. Because of its size, a triplex mower has a larger functional/comfortable turning radius. Over an extended period of use, this mower tends to round out most green shapes. Depending on the day to day operator the use of this mower can easily over-mow the greens out into the collar or under-mow allowing the green edges to slowly migrate in.

tHe exiStiNG GreeN SloPeS The original putting surfaces at USNA Golf Course were designed when mowing heights were much higher and green speeds much slower than today. Therefore, golf architects could utilize more severe green contours to create interest and provide adequate surface drainage without danger of creating an unusable green surface. Like most golf courses from the Pre-1950’s, the USNA Golf Course has a number of greens that are severely pitched in this manner. While none of the greens are totally unusable today, a number of exciting hole locations have been taken out of play because of the extreme slopes.

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tHe teeiNG GroUNd...

As part of the comprehensive Golf Course Master Plan, all the tees on the golf course have been evaluated. The goal is to provide tee renovations that increase course setup flexibility, maximize efficient tee area, add length, and introduce an additional forward tee system.

tee Size

Tee placement and tee size are critical to the proper setup of a golf course. If the tee that handles 70% of the daily play only makes up 10% of the tee area on a golf hole there can be a substantial amount of tee wear. Tee size should therefore correspond to the amount of play each tee receives. A number of holes at the USNA have poorly distributed tee area based on today’s play. The Master Plan creates locations for additional tee space at critical distances. The overall amount of tee area per hole will vary but should respond to the length of each hole. Par 3’s, short 4’s, and tight driving holes will have more tee area than a long par 4 or 5 where most players will not be taking a divot.

eFFicieNt tee SPace

Efficient tee space is as important as tee size. William Flynn tended to design “formal” tees that were usually shaped like some kind of rectangle. Whether they were slightly rounded (similar to the ones at the USNA) or aligned as perfect boxes they inherently maximized usable tee space. The turf on these uniform shapes were almost totally usable since there were no awkward shapes or edges where a tee shot could not be played. All tee changes on the Master Plan will utilize the existing style of the USNA.

coUrSe SetUP Flexibility

When locating additional tee area, every effort should be made to find it along the line of play. This practice results in a greater range of setup circumstances for each set of tee markers. The range of possibilities allow the day to day conditions or tournament committee to determine the exact arrangement of the course length. If all the tee space was from right to left there would be little opportunity to fit the golf course to the day’s play.

GreeN tee SyStem

The Naval Academy Golf Course currently supports a second forward tee system, the Ladies 9– Hole Tees. This tee set has a separate distinction on the scorecard but share the Red teeing ground and yardage on most holes. The Master Plan has therefore developed a completely new set of Green Tees for these players. The Green Tees will replace the 9-Hole Ladies Tees thereby removing any stereotype for these markers, allowing beginners and juniors to also have an opportunity to play from the most forward tees. In order to accommodate the new tee markers some traditional Red

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Tees will be expanded to handle the Green markers. On many holes, however, a new forward tee will be placed to handle the Green makers. Since a number of holes have extreme terrain between the main tees and the fairway, a few Green Tees will need to be graded into a flat area of fairway. These tees will be built to the same high standards of all the other tees. They will allow the shorter player to have immediate access to the fairway and will reduce the visual impact of the new tee surface on the classic USNA layout.

“tHe elUSive Pill” aNd tHe midSHiPmeN GolF team

William Flynn was one of the first golf architects to address the advances in technology during the early 1900’s. He realized that as new equipment was developed golf holes were becoming obsolete.

More from his article in the August 1927 Green Section Record:

“Again the question of the ball has a great bearing on what type a certain length hole will be. Time was, and not so many years ago, when a hole 400 yards long on average ground was a good two-shothole for the star players; now, the same hole is perhaps a drive and spade for the better class golfers.

In view of this the architect of today plans his full two-shot holes from 440 to 500 yards, depending on the character of the land and if the distance to be obtained with the ball continues to increase it will be necessary to increase the length of all holes on golf courses accordingly if the same standards of play are to be maintained.

“All architects will be a lot more comfortable when the powers that be in golf finally solve the ball problem. A great deal of experimentation is now going on and it is to be hoped that before long a solution will be found to control the distance of the elusive pill.

If, as in the past, the distance to be gotten with the ball continues to increase, it will be necessary to go to 7,500 and even 8,000 yard courses and more yards mean more acres to buy, more course to construct, more fairway to maintain and more money for the golfer to fork out.”

Since golf equipment continues to advance today the Golf Course Master Plan introduces ways to incorporate new rear tees and add length to the course. As the host of a Division I NCAA Golf Tournament, special attention was made to maximize the golf course length. Some new tees will require substantial work while others have been just been stretched to add distance.

Blue: 7,003 yardsCenterlines: 300 yards

White: 6,193 yardsCenterlines: 250 yards

Gold: 5,756 yardsCenterlines: 225 yards

Red: 5,195 yardsCenterlines: 200 yards

Green: 4,478 yardsCenterlines: 175 yards

Junior: 2,138 yards

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tHe bUNkerS...

The United States Naval Academy Golf Course was designed to incorporate a number of well placed bunkers. William Flynn, as discussed previously, was a master at developing strategy across the golf course. He felt that accuracy was the most important golf skill to perfect and wanted the golfer who played along

the best line to have an advantage on their next shot. He often used bunkers in combination with green position to develop these preferred routes to the day’s hole location. Since the bunker locations have changed very little since 1945, almost every par 4 and par 5 on the Naval Academy Golf Course has a preferred line of play.

miSSiNG bUNkerS

The Golf Course Master Plan re-establishes Flynn’s design philosophy by restoring as many of the original bunkers as feasible. Remnants of many lost bunkers can be seen in the current landscape. Any major drainage or agronomic issues that caused the previous removal of these bunkers will be addressed Bunkers that were placed far from the putting surface will be joined with the green surround to eliminate playability issues - with special regard to the higher handicap player. Fairway bunker locations will be adjusted to fit the modern game and landing areas.

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bUNker Style

William Flynn was never known for a particular style of bunkers like some of his successors who seemed to boiler plate a style from course to course. However, Flynn generally wanted to have his sand filled hazards visible from the line of play. It was not too long ago that the bunkers at the USNA were in total disrepair. In order to mend the most dramatic features on the course a renovation program was initiated. The bunker floors were flattened and grass was brought down the faces so that there was less chance for sand to wash during storm events. Zoysia grass sod was placed around the bunker slopes because of its slow growing habit, dense foliage, and heat tolerance. The resulting bunkers were very manageable and playable. The downside of the changes however were the small sand areas that produced difficult lies between the sod and sand, reduced sand visibility and the reduction in the dramatic nature of the golf holes. With a renewed commitment to the golf course and its heritage the Golf Course Master Plan sets forth a program to restore some of Flynn’s original bunker style. The main focus of these suggestions involve lowering the bunker foregrounds to see into the sand, raising sand lines for better visibility, and increasing sand area in critical locations to better frame the golf holes.

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tHe FairWay…

The Naval Academy Golf Course fairways were expertly laid upon the land by William Flynn in 1944. He utilized unique topographic features and well placed hazards to steer his graceful grassing lines. Flynn believed in adequate fairway width that allowed the golf course to be playable for all skill levels. This design

philosophy was not intended to make the hole easy but was used to force a player to pick a location within the fairway that would give them the preferred angle into the green.

As evident by a number of aerial photos the fairway lines have changed from year to year. The Golf Course Master Plan makes suggestions to reincorporate much of the original Flynn fairway width. The goal will be to establish this extra fairway in the key landing areas while not expanding “unused” spots that would waste maintenance resources without improving playability.

The Golf Course Master Plan calls for the complete re-grassing of the fairways. Currently, the USNA utilizes a bermudagrass and ryegrass system where the bermuda dominates during the summer months and the ryegrass covers the fairways through the winter. The two grass system in place at the USNA works well for the property and is recommended to remain.

While this system is functional, the playing surfaces lack a refined quality in the summer time. The Master Plan calls for the introduction of a new hybrid bermudagrass that provide outstanding playing conditions and will benefit the golfer and maintenance staff.

Fairway width increases the strategy oF any golF hole - even short ones. Making the golFer pick their line oF play to a wide target challenges the better player and gives the high handicap golFer a larger Margin For error.

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tHe draiNaGe...

The United States Naval Academy Golf Course rests on a dramatic and beautiful parcel of land. The natural highs and lows provide an outstanding golf experience but also lead to a number of specific drainage issues. Many of the problem areas involve concentrated surface drainage that carry water from on

and off the golf course across critical areas of play. Other important drainage concerns occur along the long somewhat flat approaches that Flynn used to enhance the game.

While Flynn completed a dramatic redesign of the original Greenbury Point golf course, the technology at the time did not allow for complex drainage installation. The Golf Course Master Plan creates a set of parameters to address these wet areas with the best practices available while keeping the classic design of the golf course intact.

All surface drainage issues involving large volumes of storm water will be collected in standard yard inlets. These inlets have been placed whenever possible outside the normal line of play. By situating the inlets above key landing areas water will be collected before it causes a playability problem.

Drainage issues on the traditional flat approaches of holes #3, 4, 6, 9, and 18 will be solved by a variety of design strategies. The Master Plan first suggests to modify the grading in these highly played areas to increase the surface drainage. Once positive drainage is accomplished over the turf, subsurface drainage systems can be applied to amplify the removal of water. All changes in the grading can be accomplished without drastic changes in the quality of golf.

StaNdard yard iNletSaNd cHaNNel draiNaGe

uSingmanydifferenTdrainageSTraTegieSwillProvideTheBeSToverallreSulTSToSTormrecovery.largerPiPeSandinleTSwillcollecTwaTerfromTheSurfaceBeforeiTcroSSeSThelineofPlaykeePingTheclaSSicfeelofThelayouT.SuBSurfaceSandchanneldrainSwillfirmcriTical

PlayingSurfaceSThaToTherwiSewouldhaveToBeSignificanTlyalTered.

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The oPening hole aT uSna will geT TheaTTenTionofThelongeSTPlayerSaT446yardS.ThelandingareawillBeTreaTedwiThSandchanneldrainSToProvidefirmerandfaSTercondiTionS.ThecurrenTgreenSideBunker iSToofarfromThePuTTingSurface.iTwillBeBroughTcloSer,TolockinToThegreen.ThegreenwillBereBuilTwiThSlighTlymodifiedSloPeSandexPanded/reSTored“cornerS”ThaTwillgeneraTeanumBerofnewandexciTingholelocaTionS.

#1

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To make room for a PoTenTial ShorT gamePracTice area and To creaTe The moSTinTriguing ShorT Par 4, The Second willShifTSlighTlyrighT. awidefairwayThaT iS“Pinched”ByalargeBunkerwhenPairedwiThareSToredgreenwillcreaTeaPreferredlineofPlayalongThelefTSide.

#2

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#3

TheThirdiSaBeauTifuldownhillPar5.maximizingiTSlengThandimProvingTheforwardTeeoPTionSwillincreaSe iTS SeTuP elaSTiciTy. reSToring The BunkerSandlockingThefairwayinToThemwillgeneraTemoreSTraTegiclineSofPlay.ThereclaimedgreenareaonThe fronT lefT and rear of The green will creaTe anumBerof“new”andexciTingholelocaTionS.

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#4

adJuSTing The TeeS on #4 willincreaSe The STraTegic naTureof ThiS Par 3. leaving The moreforwardTeeToThelefToPenSThePuTTingSurfaceforThoSePlayerS.adding The miSSing green areaalong The lefT Side and wideningThe aPProach will Balance TheeffecTiveneSS of The new Teeangle.

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#5

exTending The rear Tee Back cloSer To ThewaTerwillcreaTeadramaTicuPhillPar4forTheBeSTPlayerS.SiTuaTingTheforwardTeeSonThegreenSideofTheoldServiceroadwillmakeTheholemorerecePTive.anewfairwayBunkerThaTwaSinSPiredfromflynn’SoriginalPlan will creaTe a Preferred line of PlayalongThelefT SideofThefairway. ShifTingTheoriginalBunkeringaTThegreenTowardSThePuTTingSurfaceandreclaimingThegreencornerSwillShowcaSeThiSelevaTedTargeT.

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#6

Thedownhill6ThhaSallThecomPonenTSof a challenging ShorT Par 4. heavilyBunkering The long landing zone andreSToringTheSmallgreenwillmakecluBSelecTionimPorTanToffTheTeeToSeTuPa chance aT an accuraTe wedge ShoT.The aPProach will Be graded and Sandchannel drainage inSTalled To firm ThePlayingSurfaceSinThiScriTicalarea.

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#7

TheShorTeSTPar3onThecourSehaSadramaTicSeTTing.exPanSiveTeeSPacewillallowTheholeToBePlayedfrom90yardSToamaximumof198yardS. only The BeST PlayerS will Be aBle TohandleThedemandSofThiSholeaTiTSlongeST.The green will Be reSTored will addiTionalcuPPingareainThecornerSandalongTherear“deck.”TheBulkheadSaroundThePondwillBerePlaced.

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#8

TheeighThiSonofThemoSTchallengingonThegolfcourSe.inorderTohavemorefuncTionalSPaceforaShorTgamearea,TheTeeShaveBeenShifTedlefT.ThiScreaTeSmuchimProvedTrafficflowfrom#7andallowSThefairwayToreSTonThenaTural“hog’SBack”.TheBunkeringaTThegreenwill Be Tucked inTo The PuTTing SurfaceandaPProach. ThePreferredline iSmoSTdefiniTely from The lefT Side. addiTionalgreen area along The rear of The greenwilladdafewniceholelocaTionS.

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#9

The Second half of Back To Back longPar 4’S iS dominaTed By The road downThelefTSide.anewrearTeewillmakeTheBeTTerPlayeronceagainhiTalongironinThiSlowgreen.addiTionofSandchanneldrainagewillfirmTheaPProachandallowforrunuPShoTS.TheBunkerSwillBeTuckedSlighTly inToThefairwayand flaShed So ThaT The Sand iS clearlyviSiBle and Provide a dramaTic enTranceToTheTargeT.

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#10

The wonderful 10Th iS one of only afew holeS where a golfer can geT anaPPreciaTion for The adJacenT Bay andcreekS.ThinningandPruningTreeSalongTherighTSidewill imProveTheSeviSTaS.wideningThefairwaywillmaximizeTheuSeofThenaTuralPoinTonwhichTheholereSTS. ThegreenSideBunkerSwillShifT To The PuTTing Surface and helPidenTify The Preferred line along TheinSideofThedogleg.

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#11

The elevenTh TakeS advanTage of The naTuralflowofTheToPograPhywiThaSlighTBendToThelefT. The inSTallaTionofafairwayBunkerShown on flynn’S Plan will generaTe SomeinTereSTandProTecTThe inSideofThedogleg.new Tee diSTriBuTion will Provide a varieTy ofoPTionS.excavaTingThelefTSideofThegreenSurroundandeliminaTingTheBunkerwillcreaTea well Perched PuTTing Surface ThaT exTendSouTofThehillToP.

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#12

The original hole ThaT Played in Thecorridor now uTilized By #12 PlayedTo near The exiSTing 14Th green. ThechangeSmadeToaddThecurrenT13Thand14Th holeS required ThiS hole To BecomeShorTer.SinceiTiSnoToriginal,ThereiSanoPPorTuniTyToaddvarieTywiThalongPar3.TheholewouldSeTuPaSaredanPar3,SuchaSflynn’Samazing7ThaTShinnecockhillS. iT will Play downhill - reducingThe“PlayaBle” diSTance. The aPProach andTargeT will Be wide and BallS ThaT landShorTwillJumPTowardTheBackrighTandfeedonToThegreen.

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#13

TheexiSTing13ThiSnoTanoriginalhole.iTdoeShowever,reSTonagreaTPieceofgroundwhichwouldallowiTToBeTranSformedinToawonderfulPar5ThaTmimicSTheoriginaldouBledoglegwhichwaSoncePlayedaS#4(SeenBelow).TheTeeSwillreSTonTheoTherSideofTheravinefromThecurrenTfairwayformingThefirSTdogleg.TheSecondlandingareawillBewelldefendedByBunkeringandTheaPProachwillSwinginToThegreenTocreaTeThe2nddogleg.ThiSholewillProvideTremendouSSTraTegyandvarieTyToThelayouT.

tHe oriGiNal doUble doGleG 4tH

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#14

The14ThwaSBuilTin1955TorePlaceoneofTheholeSSouThofgreenBuryPoinTroad.iT’SlengThwaSlimiTedByiTSToPograPhyandTighTProPerTyBoundarieS.ThereSulTingShorTPar5iScharacTerizedByarollingfairwayandThelargeSTgreenonThecourSewiThThreeguardingBunkerS.TheSefeaTureSByThemSelveScreaTealimiTedamounTofSTraTegy,SinceTheBigTargeTcanBereachedinTwoBymoSTlonghiTTerSwiThouTriSk.ThemaSTerPlanProPoSeSToTurnThegreenToaTyPicalflynn-likeangleandheavilyBunkerThefronTSloPe.ThiSrealignmenTofThegreencomPlexwiThanexTendedfairwaywillrePlicaTeflynn’SSTraTegyonThe15ThaTShinnecockhillSgolfcluB.evenThoughThaTholeiSaShorTPar4TheShorTPar5,14ThaTTheuSnawouldreceiveSimilarlengThShoTS.

tHe cUrreNt 14tH Hole iN 1977

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#15

STandingonTheTeeonemighTconSiderThe15Thfairly SimPle, BuT iT demandS a good Tee ShoT, aSolidaPProach,andnerveSofSTeelonThegreen.a new rear Tee will Provide a more demandingangle. a new middle Tee will Be large enoughToholdmulTiPleTeemarkerS.TheTworeSToredfairwayBunkerSwillShifTTowardThegreenToBeSTProTecTThemodernlandingarea.ThegreenSideBunkerS will Be renovaTed To See more Sand andTuck cloSer To The green. The PuTTing Surfacewill Be TilTed uSing deTailed Survey daTa. ThereSulTwillBeagreenThaThaSallThecharacTerof The original BuT iT will Be aBle To handlemodernPuTTingSPeedSandProvideadequaTeholelocaTionS.

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#16

The 16Th iS anoTher ShorT Par 4 wherewidThcanaddinTereSTandchallenge.ThecurrenTfairwayreSTSJuSTlefTofanaTuralridge.BywraPPingfairwayoneiTherSideofThiSfeaTureThegolferwillhaveTodecideTo lay Back or hiT inTo TheThroaT. if aBallreSTSToofarThelefT iTwillfeedToThelowandleaveaShoToverTheBunkerSguarding The fronT lefT. if a ShoT landSToofarrighTiTwillrollToaPoSSiBleBlindPoSiTion. Tee ShoTS ThaT are well Placedwill Be rewarded wiTh The Preferred lineofPlay

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#17

The17ThmayBeoneofThegreaTeSTPar3’Sinmaryland.iTiSSimPleBuTSoinTriguing.aS an iSland green wiThouT waTer, onemuSTBekeenlyaccuraTeoffTheTeeToavoidTrouBle.anewrearTeewillmakeTheBeSTPlayerS conSider cluB SelecTion even more.adJuSTing The green Surround aT The rearof The green will allow The STairS To BeeliminaTedwhileleavingallofTheoriginalcharacTerofTheTargeTalone.

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#18

The home hole - a long demandingPar4wiThauniqueridge-linefairway.flynn’S original Plan called formulTiPle fairway BunkerS BuT one onThe road Side will Be moST viSiBle anddirecT Play away from TrouBle. if agolfer iS aBle To negoTiaTe The Sandand noT end uP in The TreeS lefT TheywillBerewardedwillaniceangleinToThegreen.ThePuTTingSurfacewillBeexPanded Back To iTS original exTenTSand The cenTer will Be lifTed andSTaBilizedToeliminaTeTheSlowSeTTlingThaThaSoccurredoverTheyearS.

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Practice GroUNdS...

Golf is increasingly becoming a game of practice. The demands of modern life make it more challenging to spend four to six hours playing a round of golf. In order to best serve the Members and Midshipmen a number of practice areas have been incorporated into the Master Plan. The goal of this was to exhaust

the potential options, show how they would each fit into the fabric of the golf course, and create opportunities for one or more areas to be implemented.

tHe driviNG raNGe

The United States Naval Academy is blessed to have so much area for a large game practice field. The driving range must support not only the Members, but also the Midshipmen Golf Teams, Classes, and Students. Improvements to the target greens will provide improved feedback and realistic practice for all groups. Resurfacing of the practice tee could also improve the quality of the grass surface throughout the golf season.

TranSformingTheoPenfieldaTuSnavalacademyinToanulTimaTePracTiceareawillBenefiTallgolferSThaTuSeThefaciliTy.

realiStic tarGetS create PoSitive Practice

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creatiNG a GolF team Practice tee aNd PUttiNG GreeN

Excess soil from recent projects around the Brigade Sports Complex has provided an opportunity for a rear driving range tee. While this tee does not allow for safe use of drivers and fairway woods, it does create a fantastic opportunity to hone iron shots. The new targets in the range will allow for receptive shots from both directions. An additional wedge target that snakes its way from 30 to 100 yards can be accessed from any point on this new Team tee. The improvements to this section of the practice ground will give the Midshipmen one more opportunity to practice as a group.

A new putting green located outside of the Midshipmen Golf Team Room at the Brigade Sports Complex will be a dedicated area for the Golf Teams to practice putting without disruption from any other USNA golfers. It will fit nicely within the fabric of the facility and be ultimately convenient.

iNStallatioN oF a team bUildiNG aNd covered HittiNG StatioNS

The Midshipmen Golf Teams would greatly benefit from a covered hitting building. This structure does not have to be overly complicated but should provide for good all weather practice and give them the ability to learn from some of the best digital golf instruction aids available. The schematic design provided in the Master Plan calls for four hitting bays that would be heated and situated to best allow for all length shots during the winter months.

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SHort Game Practice

There is no more critical practice than that within 100 yards of the green. Scoring is dominated by the ability to get up and down from a variety of postions and lies. Both the Golf Teams and the Members will benefit from the introduction of one or more Short Game Practice Areas. Designing these practice areas to replicate the conditions on the golf course will provide the most realistic practice available.

As part of the Master Plan, four different sites have been located and designed for Short Game Practice. Each area has its own benefits and drawbacks. Key evaluation points on each area are as follows:

diStaNce From tHe Pro SHoP - there is limited space close to the existing golf operation for a large practice area. The incorporation of a new putting green and two chipping greens between the new 8th Tee and 9th Green is the only option within legitimate walking distance of the Brigade Sports Complex. It also creates the only functional option for golfers who are playing the course to warm up prior to their round.

Size oF tHe Facility - Of the four options, the one to the right of #12 and #13 has the most potential to provide an endless opportunity to practice. It has four pitch greens and a large putting surface making it the ultimate Golf Team Practice Center. Not only could both teams practice safely at one time, there is also an opportunity to play the area as a short course with infinte golf holes left to the imagination of the player.

tHe Ultimate GolF team Practice area (sga 3)

tHe cloSeSt oPtioN aNd beSt For GolFerS (sga 1)

mUltiPle GreeNS iN oNe area SPread oUt Play aNd oFFer Greater variety to Practice

Wilmington CC - Wilmington, DE

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balaNce - Short Game Areas are most successful when they maximize hitting area and the variety of shots that can be recreated. The area left of #2 provides the best balance between available shots and the overall size of the facility. It would allow for every shot inside 100 yards to be replicated, provide safe space for multiple golfers at one time, and fit seamlessly within the layout.

Privacy - A square parcel behind the Brigade Sports Complex offers a private setting for Golf Team practice that is convenient to the other facilities. By fencing this area and buffering with plant material this Short Game Area would allow for dedicated practice by the Midshipmen in a location that may maximize their available time. It would provide a variety of shots and safe usage by multiple players.

Glen Oaks Club, Long Island, NY

Chartwell Golf and CC, Severna Park, MD

deSiGNiNG tHe SGa to rePlicate oN coUrSe coNditioNS iS crUcial to Good Practice

tHe moSt balaNced oPPortUNity

(sga 2)

a Private oPtioN

(sga 4)

SHotS oF diFFereNt diStaNceS From oNe locatioN are available iN a mUlti-tarGet SHort Game area

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Cost Projection of Golf Course Improvements

64 Greenbury Point Road

Annapolis, Maryland 21402

Estimated Costs

Mobilization 25,000.00$

Site Preparation 110,000.00$ rototill or strip existing sod over 34 acreslayout of all golf featurestree clearing

Erosion Control 100,000.00$ 25,000 lf of silt fence, tree protection, etc

Excavation and Earthwork 185,000.00$ 14,000 cy of topsoil management

20,000 cy of earth moving (includes existing green mix)

Greens Construction 655,000.00$ 18 greens totaling 104,000 sf of putting surface16,000 lf of drainage pipe8,700 tons of gravel and sand

Bunker Construction 350,000.00$ 57 bunkers totaling 63,100 sf12,000 lf of drainage40,000 sf of bunker liner1,700 tons of bunker sand

Tee Construction 125,000.00$ 76 new tees totaling 96,000 sfutilize existing greens mix for tee tops

Drainage Installation 220,000.00$ 20,100 lf of sand channel drainage10,000 lf of large scale drainage52 yard inlets

Cart Path Installation 425,000.00$ 12,100 lf of cart path

Retaining Wall / Bulkhead 140,000.00$ 660 lf of bulkhead replacement and installation

Irrigation 1,600,000.00$ All new heads, pipe, wire, and controllers

Grassing 575,000.00$ 104,000 sf of greens276,000 sf of bermuda sod720,000 sf of tall fescue sod30 acres of bermuda sprigs on fairways120,000 sf of native fescue area

Design and Engineering Fees 110,000.00$ worked need to bid, permit, and build project

Task

Complete Reconstruction of the Golf Course (does not include Practice Areas)

The United States Naval Academy Golf Course

7/12/20133:08 PM

United States Naval Academy Golf ClubEstimated Master Plan Construction Schedule -utilized calander year 2014 and 2015 for perspective - no construction dates have been set

Golf Course ClosedGolf Course Open on Temp Greens

Irrigation Installation

Sprig Fairways

MobilizationGreens ConstructionBunker Construction

Tee ConstructionDrainage Installation

GrassingClean Up and Demobilize

Mar

ch

April

May

2014

Wee

k of

Sep

tem

ber 1

Wee

k of

Sep

tem

ber 8

Wee

k of

Sep

tem

ber 1

5

Wee

k of

Sep

tem

ber 2

2

Wee

k of

Aug

ust 4

Wee

k of

July

7

Wee

k of

July

14

Wee

k of

Aug

ust 1

8

Wee

k of

Aug

ust 2

5

Wee

k of

July

21

Wee

k of

July

28

Wee

k of

Aug

ust 4

Wee

k of

Aug

ust 1

1

Wee

k of

July

28

2015

Janu

ary

Febr

uary

Mar

ch

April

May

June

June

Wee

k of

Sep

tem

ber 2

9

Oct

ober

Nov

embe

r

Dec

embe

r

Janu

ary

Febr

uary

Wee

k of

Aug

ust 1

1

Wee

k of

June

30

imPlemeNtatioN oF tHe viSioN

The completion of the Master Plan for the United States Naval Academy Golf Course will create a special place for the Navy, the Academy, the Alumni, and the Members of the Golf Club. Annapolis has deep historic roots and the revitalization of this classic gem is only fitting. By balancing the strategy and design

of William Flynn with the modern game of golf, all the needs of the golfers will be addressed for the coming decades.

To implement the project, it will take substantial resources and time. There are many different ways to tackle the job. The work can be accomplished in any array of phases spread of multiple years. The best way to provide the ultimate product, with the least disturbance, is to do the entire project at one time. This would require the course to close beginning just after the July 4th Holiday. Once the construction is complete and sufficient grass is growing there will be an opportunity to open with temporary greens beginning in mid-Fall. The grand opening of the golf course should be possible in late April or early May the following year. This will, of course, depend on the weather during the grow-in.

A step that would improve the time line could be the up-front installation of irrigation. This is a fairly painless process during the winter months and only requires brief closures of individual holes (if any at all.) Improvements to the driving range and short game areas could also provide golfers with improved practice grounds while the golf course is closed.

Regardless, this project will be a great success for the United States Naval Academy and all of its partners!

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Estimated Costs















Task



7/12/20133:08 PM




Estimated Costs















Task



7/12/20133:08 PM

total eStimated coSt oF imPlemeNtiNG tHe GolF coUrSe maSter PlaN: $4,620,000.00




Estimated Costs















Task



7/12/20133:08 PM

betWeeN #2 aNd #3 (sga 2)

$235,00.00

GreeNbUry PoiNt (sga 4)

$320,000.00

riGHt oF #12 aNd #13 (sga 3)

$580,000.00

briGade SPortS comPlex (sga 1)

$275,000.00

eStimated coSt oF coNStrUctioN For tHe GolF coUrSe maSter PlaNdoes not include practice area improvements - see below

HittiNG bUildiNG:$250,000.00tarGet GreeNS:$60,000.00

rear GolF team tee:$80,000.00team PUttiNG GreeN$75,000.00

S h o r t G a m e P r a c t i c e a r e a o P t i o n S

Prepared by:Andrew H. Green

McDonald Design Group

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