A PGA and Champions Tour pro who has also designed hundreds of golf courses is looking to improve the golf course at WeaverRidge Golf Club.
D.A. Weibring met with club members and residents surrounding the golf course Thursday to tell them he is developing a master plan for the golf course.
WeaverRidge recently was sold to Metamora Fields. The par-71, 7,100 yard course there was designed by Weibring, whose company has worked on the design and management of over 100 projects in 25 states and four countries. By comparison, WeaverRidge is par-72, 7,000 yards.
Weibring told the gathering he first wants to develop a master plan toward improving WeaverRidge.
“We really respect the architects who did the golf course,” Weibring told 1470 and 100.3 WMBD. “We’re not here to change just to change. We’re here to improve.”
“Our goal is visibility, playability and maintainability,” Weibring said.
Weibring pointed out there are 80 bunkers currently at WeaverRidge, probably 25-30 too many. And some are too deep.
“The bunkers have been a real challenge and they really haven’t been kept up in a while. Bunkers are to be adjusted every five-to-seven years,” Weibring said. “I think in this day and time to put in 80-90 bunkers is maybe a little excessive, especially the size and the depth.”
Weibring said, “A great golf course should invite you in,” especially to a golfer who may only play one time on a public course.
“The golf’s got to be able to tell them something. This is a dogleg left or right or whatever it does. If they’re really unsure and they hit a pretty good shot and they realize, ‘Well, there’s a lake there,’ that doesn’t leave a very good test,” Weibring said. “There are a couple of holes here that you don’t know there’s a lake at the end of the fairway. I looked up into No. 18 and saw the bunker, I wouldn’t know whether to lay it up or what to do. We have to be a little clearer with that.”
When Weibring asked the crowd for their favorite WeaverRidge holes many of them mentioned holes they have a view of from their house.
Weibring says improvements to WeaverRidge will increase the value of those homes surrounding the golf course.
“They bought because of the views of the golf course. And there are some spectacular views,” Weibring said. “But if the golf course is in disrepair, you’re going to have a hard time selling that house. If we can make this golf course jump out of the ground again and maintainable to the state for years, that’s going to enhance the value of those houses.”
Weibring said he envisions, after the necessary improvements, WeaverRidge and Metamora Fields could host a state amateur and a state open on both courses at the same time.
Weibring said it will take a couple of months to develop his master plan for the golf course and some work could get underway this fall.
