Boy, it\u2019s hard to make sense of this stuff. The upshot, I believe, is that the environmental review process went well for Sandpiper. Nothing disqualifying was found\u2014no previously undetected habitat for an endangered species, no site of historical significance to the local native tribes. And now it\u2019s up to Goleta\u2019s city council to decide whether the project should go forward.<\/p>\n
The Sandpiper renovation has been stuck in permitting purgatory for almost two decades. The owner, Beanie Baby billionaire Ty Warner<\/strong>, commissioned Doak to create a master plan back in 2009. The prospect of a Doak renovation at Sandpiper is tantalizing. The course sits on a remarkable stretch of cliffs above the Pacific Ocean, but the design, created by William F. Bell (of Torrey Pines fame) in 1972, leaves a lot to be desired. With a makeover by Doak, Sandpiper would instantly become one of the best public courses in the U.S.<\/p>\n Some details of Doak\u2019s plan can be found on this promotional webpage<\/a>. His new routing maintains many of Bell\u2019s playing corridors while making a few tweaks to take better advantage of the property\u2019s natural assets. For instance, Doak keeps the clifftop holes more or less in their existing footprints, but he turns the par-5 13th into a par 4 and a par 3, and he reverses the uphill 14th to create a downhill, more visually striking 17th.\u00a0<\/p>\n Doak\u2019s biggest proposed changes are concentrated around the clubhouse. By relocating and shrinking the driving range (which currently occupies a large, handsome piece of land), he opens up space for a few brand-new holes. Sandpiper\u2019s famously disappointing finisher\u2014a mid-length par 3 playing over a pond\u2014would be replaced with what looks like a short-game practice area.<\/p>\n Oh, and the proposed new clubhouse, designed by Santa Barbara-based Winick Architects, is\u2026 provocative.<\/p>\n When will all of this get underway? Your guess is as good as Doak\u2019s. \u201cThere is still no timetable for it,\u201d he wrote on Golf Club Atlas<\/a>. \u201cThat\u2019s California for you!\u201d<\/p>\n \u2192 After shutting down on September 2 and losing the PGA Tour\u2019s 2026 Sentry event because of water restrictions, the Plantation Course at Kapalua Resort<\/strong> on the island of Maui will reopen on November 10<\/a>. \u201cTurf health and course conditions have improved to levels to allow for public play but are still not to PGA Tour standards,\u201d stated a press release from the resort. The agronomy team is still working to recover the first and 18th greens, so only 16 holes will be available for play in the short term. Green fees will be set at a promotional rate of $399. Meanwhile, Kapalua\u2019s Bay Course \u201cwill remain closed until further notice.\u201d<\/p>\n I understand the resort\u2019s urgency to bring golfers back to the Plantation Course, but I wish Kapalua had waited until all 18 holes were ready for play.<\/p>\n \u2192 For Golf Digest, Derek Duncan details<\/a> the modifications the R&A, with the help of Mackenzie & Ebert<\/strong><\/a>, will make to the Old Course at St. Andrews<\/strong><\/a> in preparation for the 2027 Open Championship. (See Jamie Kennedy\u2019s visual summary<\/a>.) The changes will largely be too subtle for viewers to notice, but I\u2019m excited for the restoration of the fairway left of the Principal\u2019s Nose bunker complex on the 16th hole. The left-hand option depicted in Alister MacKenzie\u2019s<\/a> 1920 illustration of the par 4 will once again be viable.<\/p>\n \u2192 Kyle Phillips<\/strong> will design a \u201cheathland-style\u201d course<\/a> for private equity-backed Pandion Club<\/strong> in Estero, Florida.<\/p>\n \u2192 Brian Curley<\/strong> will oversee renovations<\/a> of the two Tom Fazio-designed courses at Pelican Hill Golf Club<\/strong> in Newport Beach, California.<\/p>\n \u2192 Small win: Royal Manchester Golf Links<\/strong> in Mt. Wolf, Pennsylvania, will not be rezoned<\/a> for the development of a data center. Stay vigilant, folks!<\/p>\n \u2192 Social roundup:<\/p>\n {{inline-course}}<\/p>\nIllustration of the 16th hole at the Old Course at St. Andrews<\/p>\n
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