North Xtra: Pittsburgh National Getting Facelift
GOLF
Thursday, September 08, 2011
Colin Dunwoody plans plenty of modifications and upgrades as he takes over the operations -- and eventually, the ownership -- of Pittsburgh National Golf Club in his quest to restore the course in West Deer Township to its former spot among prestige golf facilities in the Greater Pittsburgh area.
There's one thing, however, Dunwoody won't change.
"There was talk of changing the name, but I think Pittsburgh National has a nice ring to it," said Dunwoody, the owner and president of St. Jude Golf Club in Chicora, Butler County. "Pittsburgh National ... It's like Augusta National."
That's a stately name for a course that hopes to revive its stately history as one of Western Pennsylvania's premier layouts when it was known as Deer Run.
But the course fell into bankruptcy, and the bankruptcy court appointed Edinburgh Golf, L.P. as the manager of Pittsburgh National on Aug. 31. Edinburgh's principal is Dunwoody, who was born in Scotland, raised in Montreal and has more than 30 years of experience in the golf course industry.
Dunwoody spent time in Germany and served as superintendent of some of that nation's top courses. He purchased St. Jude four years ago. That course consistently ranked as one of the 20 most challenging courses in Western Pennsylvania -- as Pittsburgh National is.
"Pittsburgh National has for many years been regarded as one of the best golf courses in the area -- not just from a great course to play on as far as testing the good players, but it was always very highly maintained, as well," Dunwoody said. "I think it just had a lot of bad luck the last couple years, and with a death in the family of the previous owners, it really spiraled downward from there. But the foundation is there to bring it back to its former glory.
"Our intention, in fact, is to make it even more exceptional than it was before."
Among the immediate improvements at the 189-acre, 6,933-yard course include replacement and upgrade of golf carts, restoration of the practice area and driving range -- one of the only public grass ranges in the area -- implementation of an aerification program for the fairways, reconditioning of the greens, increased staff size and updating the restaurant menu.
Dunwoody, who has worked as a consultant specializing in agronomics, renovation, course construction and golf club operations, ultimately plans a full-service restaurant and banquet facility. The executive chef of his St. Jude property is spending time at Pittsburgh National working on developing a new menu and theme, in addition to an updated bar and grille.
Other modifications include the possibility of making Pittsburgh National a semi-private facility, the addition of a new set of tees for senior players, and plans to establish an enhanced practice facility with clinics, a juniors program and an expanded schedule of private lessons.
"Rome wasn't built in a day, but we're very excited about Pittsburgh National," Dunwoody said. "It really complements St. Jude."
Dunwoody said that package memberships for both clubs would be made available for those who live in and around the Butler and Allegheny Valley corridors.
Dunwoody said that other highly regarded area courses have faced the same disease-related problems that plagued Pittsburgh National's greens in recent years, including Oakmont. Dunwoody praised superintendent Mark Bucci's handling of the course.
Dunwoody said that leagues have already begun to sign on to return to the course, which is planning on hosting major local events such as Tri-State PGA tournaments and U.S. Open qualifiers.
"It won't jump back right away, but it will be next year where you will see the results of the work that we're doing to it now," Dunwoody said. "But it's already made great strides back considering the kind of summer we had."
There's one thing, however, Dunwoody won't change.
"There was talk of changing the name, but I think Pittsburgh National has a nice ring to it," said Dunwoody, the owner and president of St. Jude Golf Club in Chicora, Butler County. "Pittsburgh National ... It's like Augusta National."
That's a stately name for a course that hopes to revive its stately history as one of Western Pennsylvania's premier layouts when it was known as Deer Run.
But the course fell into bankruptcy, and the bankruptcy court appointed Edinburgh Golf, L.P. as the manager of Pittsburgh National on Aug. 31. Edinburgh's principal is Dunwoody, who was born in Scotland, raised in Montreal and has more than 30 years of experience in the golf course industry.
Dunwoody spent time in Germany and served as superintendent of some of that nation's top courses. He purchased St. Jude four years ago. That course consistently ranked as one of the 20 most challenging courses in Western Pennsylvania -- as Pittsburgh National is.
"Pittsburgh National has for many years been regarded as one of the best golf courses in the area -- not just from a great course to play on as far as testing the good players, but it was always very highly maintained, as well," Dunwoody said. "I think it just had a lot of bad luck the last couple years, and with a death in the family of the previous owners, it really spiraled downward from there. But the foundation is there to bring it back to its former glory.
"Our intention, in fact, is to make it even more exceptional than it was before."
Among the immediate improvements at the 189-acre, 6,933-yard course include replacement and upgrade of golf carts, restoration of the practice area and driving range -- one of the only public grass ranges in the area -- implementation of an aerification program for the fairways, reconditioning of the greens, increased staff size and updating the restaurant menu.
Dunwoody, who has worked as a consultant specializing in agronomics, renovation, course construction and golf club operations, ultimately plans a full-service restaurant and banquet facility. The executive chef of his St. Jude property is spending time at Pittsburgh National working on developing a new menu and theme, in addition to an updated bar and grille.
Other modifications include the possibility of making Pittsburgh National a semi-private facility, the addition of a new set of tees for senior players, and plans to establish an enhanced practice facility with clinics, a juniors program and an expanded schedule of private lessons.
"Rome wasn't built in a day, but we're very excited about Pittsburgh National," Dunwoody said. "It really complements St. Jude."
Dunwoody said that package memberships for both clubs would be made available for those who live in and around the Butler and Allegheny Valley corridors.
Dunwoody said that other highly regarded area courses have faced the same disease-related problems that plagued Pittsburgh National's greens in recent years, including Oakmont. Dunwoody praised superintendent Mark Bucci's handling of the course.
Dunwoody said that leagues have already begun to sign on to return to the course, which is planning on hosting major local events such as Tri-State PGA tournaments and U.S. Open qualifiers.
"It won't jump back right away, but it will be next year where you will see the results of the work that we're doing to it now," Dunwoody said. "But it's already made great strides back considering the kind of summer we had."
Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11251/1172801-136-0.stm#ixzz1XSnKOJ3B