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Linville Ridge wins Golf Inc. magazine's annual Renovation of the Year competition

Media Contact: Ann Schleyhahn, ann@premiermail.net, 239.213.7438

June 23, 2010 – The editors of Golf Inc. magazine announced that Linville Ridge Country Club, in Linville, North Carolina, has been selected as the winner in the $1.6 Million-$4 Million project category of the 2009 Golf Inc. “Renovation of the Year Competition”.

This year's entries for Renovation of the Year were exceptional," said Katina Cavagnaro, publisher of Golf, Inc. "We are honored to highlight these outstanding renovation projects from some of the world's most distinguished operators and notable courses."

All winners and finalists will be recognized in the summer issue of Golf Inc. magazine.  Judges for the competition were John Harbottle of John Harbottle Design, Jeff Brauer of GolfScapes and Doc Belitz of OB Sports.

This winning entry began 25 years ago when Raymond Lutgert and son, Scott, brought in an engineering firm from Augusta, Georgia to determine how a golf course could be constructed on the mountain. They looked on top of the mountain and then at some lower, flatter terrain along the northern end of the property and after careful examination and consideration, the decision was made to build the course on the Blue Ridge Mountaintop because of the incredible views. However, a few years ago, as the club approached its milestone anniversary, Scott Lutgert began to reassess the course’s conditions.  

"We have a lot of pride in our course, and we want to remain one of the premier courses in North Carolina,” said Scott.  "I really liked the Olde Farm Golf Club near Bristol, VA; which Bobby Weed designed, so I had him examine our course,” said Scott Lutgert, referring to the layout that Golf Digest ranked as the best new private course in America in 2000.

Weed's opinion of the course was mixed. "The decision and investment to build the course right on the mountaintop was inspired, but the details of the layout were showing their age."

In particular, Weed felt the bunkering could be much improved. Most of Linville Ridge's holes had bunkers guarding the front of the greens.  Weed opened up the front of the greens to create an option for shots to reach them by air as well as by ground. Many of the bunkers had evolved into ovals of similar size and shape. Weed established more broken lines in keeping with the rugged mountain terrain and revised their positioning to reflect the modern game.

"When the course was built," Weed continued, "people used persimmon drivers and balata balls. Our objective was to improve the playability and interest of each golf hole to reflect the technology today. We wanted to provide a fun and interesting experience for all golfers by giving them strategic choices. We altered the placing of bunkers, varied their size, shape, depth and location. Some tees were shifted for better angles. We created more options for all calibers of players, thus making for a more fun and interesting round."

Linville Ridge holds the distinction as the highest course east of the Mississippi. "What makes this place so special from the other area courses is that you are looking down on everything,” said Weed. “You are on top of the world and the course tumbles around the ridges. We simply added character to freshen it up."

Linville Ridge’s Chief Operating Officer, Steve Sheets, oversaw the renovation, which was completed in spring 2009.  Concludes Sheets, “When I look down at the dramatic bunkering around number thirteen green, it looks like we have a brand new golf course again, and I cannot help but smile."

About Linville Ridge

Construction began in 1980 by developer Raymond Lutgert and his son Scott, Linville Ridge is a luxury mountain golf course retreat located in the western North Carolina Mountains near Blowing Rock, Boone and Asheville.  Linville Ridge offers exclusive North Carolina real estate with spectacular views of Grandfather Mountain, the Mile-high swinging bridge and 50 miles of mountain vistas. The course has been recognized as one of the Top 25 courses in North Carolina.  Golf Reporter named it one of North Carolina’s favorite courses and Golfweek reported it as one of the Top 50 courses in the Southeastern United States.

About Bobby Weed Golf Design

Bobby Weed began his architect career working under the tutelage of Pete Dye and later as the Chief Designer for the PGA TOUR. Weed worked on a number of TPC courses, including TPC Sawgrass, home of the Players Championship, before establishing his own firm in 1995. Today, Bobby Weed Golf Design is an internationally recognized leader in the development of golf courses and golf course communities. Based in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, Bobby Weed Golf Design offers their clients a refreshing and contrasting style that represents the difference in successful golf development today.

About George Cobb

George Cobb, who had designed several mountain courses in the past, was recommended as the best person to design the course for the Linville Ridge project.  High country golfers are quite familiar with Cobb’s work of over 75 golf courses. Local favorites include Hound Ears, Mountain Glen and High Meadows.  The most notable course in Cobb’s portfolio is the par-three course at Augusta National. Assisted by Bobby Jones, Cobb made several significant design changes at Augusta National's famed Masters Course. Linville Ridge would be Cobb's last course.

Nestled in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Linville Ridge, created by The Lutgert Companies, is a spectacular mountaintop golf community. The private country club retreat features an outstanding collection of residences, eight Har-Tru tennis courts, a European-style spa, a fitness center, hiking trails, an international croquet court, golf and tennis pro shops, a heated swimming pool, a variety of culinary options and a 30,000 square-foot Clubhouse.  For more information, call (800) 898-5150 or online at www.Linvilleridge.com.

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