El Niguel Country Club Completes Extensive Golf Course Renovation With Architect Todd Eckenrode – Origins Golf Design
Industry: Sports
Club creates dramatic championship course maximizing beautiful natural surroundings with classic golf course architecture
Laguna Niguel, CA (PRUnderground) September 5th, 2018
Laguna Niguel, CA (September 5, 2018) – The membership of El Niguel Country Club proudly announces the completion of a major renovation of its golf course led by Irvine-based architect Todd Eckenrode – Origins Golf Design. With overwhelming approval of its membership, the renovation project reinforces El Niguel’s commitment to championship golf and a best-in-class member experience.
“This renovation has created a course that our members will enjoy for years to come,” said Club President Vic Memenas. “Our goal was to re-establish a championship test of golf that maximizes the tenets of great classic golf design, providing our membership an array of strategic choices and increased playability while maximizing the natural beauty of our incredible coastal setting. The end result has greatly exceeded our expectations.”
The renovation has preserved the existing character of the golf course, its gently rolling hills and a beautiful meandering creek. Elements of the plan included a full bunker renovation, adding and removing bunkers to improve strategy, variety and accessibility. The addition of short-cut chipping areas brings great variety to shot-making around and on the approach to the greens. There are also three new and improved green complexes.
Numerous fairway realignments and widening not only improve playability and strategic options but also better integrate the natural features of the creek. Minor re-routing and removal of cart paths has helped naturalize the golfing experience and showcase the recent drought-tolerant landscape work that has matured beautifully. Finally, there are tee modifications and additions benefitting both the scratch golfer as well as the average golfer.
“This is a dream project, as we’ve always felt there is great potential in the golf course at El Niguel that has been untapped. The Club has been committed to executing our Long Range Master Plan with a very clear mission for the renovation, beginning with the turf reduction landscaping as the first phase, and now some really significant improvements to the golf course features with improved strategies, playability and variety for all levels of play. This is going to be a golf club I personally would be thrilled to play every day when it is complete.” said Todd Eckenrode.
About El Niguel Country Club
Established in 1963, El Niguel Country Club is a private, member-owned club providing exceptional golf, dining, social and entertainment activities for its members, their families and guests. The club’s coastal location provides a dramatic, natural setting for the membership’s enjoyment. Our championship course is 7,208 yards of beautiful terrain that poses a challenge for golfers of all skill levels.
About Todd Eckenrode – Origins Golf Design
Our goal at Todd Eckenrode – Origins Golf Design is to deliver a golf course of the highest quality that is reflective of our intense level of dedication, our beliefs in time-tested classical design, and our love for the game of golf. We believe that every golf course must have its own personality and identity, creating a sense of place that is unique. We work diligently to expose this underlying identity through our design, allowing it to shine through in the end. Our belief in crafting all features of the golf course in the field, from the ground up, brings a high level of detail to our design work and further distinguishes each course.
