Redlands Country Club, Redlands, CA (Alister MacKenzie 1926; Phases 1 + 2 of Todd Eckenrode renovation 2016 + 2017)
The first hole at Redlands as viewed from the best angle into the green. Image courtesy of Todd Eckenrode, Origins Golf Design.
Halfway between Los Angeles and Palm Springs, the city of Redlands is one of the more historic among the Inland Empire. It is also home to a golf course that Alister MacKenzie redesigned in 1926. Architect Todd Eckenrode has been brought in to bring back some of the MacKenzie character and intent as well as open up some of the many vistas across the valley to the nearby San Bernardino Mountains. The work scope is similar to Orinda but smaller in scale.
The first phase involved greens expansions, bunker relocation, and bunker rebuilding on the adjoining 1st and 4th holes. The second phase involved a similar scope for the 2nd and 3rd holes with the exception of the 2nd green, which was totally rebuilt but in the same style as the existing original green. The idea was to preserve the strategy, playing characteristics, and drama of the previous green while adding more hole location possibilities, which will make it more dynamic on a day-to-day basis.
Working at this delightful site has been a very fun opportunity to emulate the style of one my design heroes, Dr. MacKenzie.
The first hole at Redlands just after re-grassing and sand installation. The bunker style is meant to both flow with the existing landforms and emulate some of MacKenzie's styles found throughout California.
The first hole from the far landing area with the new bunkers just shaped.
Another view from further down the fairway not long after grow-in. (Image courtesy of Todd Eckenrode, Origins Golf Design.)
The right greenside bunker on the 4th hole needed to look right from not just the 4th fairway but also the 1st fairway, which plays right up toward it.
The 4th green was once guarded by trees, but now they are gone with the green surface pushed to the edge and softened to create nerve-wracking left and back hole locations. The two short bunkers left and right are new additions. Image courtesy of Todd Eckenrode, Origins Golf Design.
Hole 3 MacKenzie bunkers during shaping--aligning all the high points.
Hole 3 shaped with sand placed in the bunkers
Restored right side bunkers up close after grassing.
The view from the forward tee shows how the hole sets up and finishes with a big view out to the right.
A view of the bunkers and approach highlighting the left to right angle angle of the opening to the green and the slopes that have been built up to help balls onto the green.
The long, skinny, angle bunker restored per the aerial on the left of the 2nd green.
The 3rd hole after the final bits of shaping. To the right foreground is the new approach bunker 50 yards short right of the green.