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The following
"Before and After" photos show the dramatic results of the
transformation of the Ole Miss Golf Club during Watermark
Golf/Nathan Crace Design's 2008 golf course renovation
project. |
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AFTER: The above photo shows the new green at the par-4 fourth
hole during grow-in (note the new green on the par-3 fifth hole in
the background). |
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BEFORE: The above photo shows the previously existing green on
the 4th hole--a small and nondescript push up green--prior to the
renovation. |
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AFTER: The new green on the par-3
fifth hole sits at an angle from front right to back left with two
large bunkers guarding the back left pin placement. |
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BEFORE: The previously existing green on the par-3 fifth
hole was too small, lacked definition, and its worn bunkers were too
far from the
putting surface--only coming into play for the worst shots instead
of challenging all players. |
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AFTER: As seen in this photo taken during
grow-in, the new green complex at the par-5 14th hole has been moved
left and benched into the hillside while the location of the old
green has been transformed into a small lake to the right. Now
golfers trying to reach the green in two shots will have to contend
with more than trees--though there is a rumor that a shot played
into the bank left of the green can deflect back toward the putting
surface...or into a bunker...or into the collection area behind the
green. |
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BEFORE: Though the shadows in this photo of the previously
existing green make it difficult to see (the flag stick is in front
of the two carts in the right background), the old green was prone
to flood and the fairway stayed wet because of the natural valley in
which is was located. For reference, the large oak to the
right of the two carts in the before photo is the same tree with
leaves immediately to the right of the flagstick ion the after
photo. |
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AFTER: The two new offset bunkers that front the new green complex on the
short uphill par-4 11th hole offer a challenge to a golfer's depth
perception, forcing you to trust the yardage--and your swing. |
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BEFORE: The previously existing green on the par-4 11th
hole was a small push up green with a small bunker on the left side
that was not visible from the landing area on this uphill hole. |
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AFTER: The new green complex on the par-5 sixth
hole features a long (two to three club lengths) but narrow green
with three bunkers. |
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BEFORE: The previously existing green on the par-5 6th
hole was too small for players trying to reach the green in two
shots and lacked definition. |
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AFTER: Seen from the fairway in this photo taken during
grow-in, the new bunkers on the par-5 6th hole create the illusion
of a double dogleg leading up to green guarded on the left by
multiple bunkers and a large collection area to the right. |
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BEFORE: The previously existing green complex on the par-5
6th hole rejected all but the most perfectly struck approach shots
and possessed little if any visual excitement in an other beautiful
setting with a backdrop of mature hardwoods and pines. |
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BEFORE: Unlike the new bunkers seen in the after photos,
the previously existing sand bunkers were unsightly, unplayable, and
had become costly to maintain--requiring extensive maintenance to
keep them playable. The above photos are of two such typical
bunkers. |