TUXEDO PARK, NY – The Tuxedo Club has announced that it has completed a renovation of its historic Robert Trent Jones, Sr.-designed golf course. The project included the creation of a new short game practice area, a new ninth hole, the renovation of all fairway and greenside bunkers, and the re-grassing of all necessary green surrounds.
The Club tapped renowned golf course designer Rees Jones, son of Trent Jones, Sr., to lead the renovation. Considered one of the finest golf course designers working today, Rees Jones along with his Vice President and Senior Designer Bryce Swanson created a master plan for the renovation of The Tuxedo Club’s course.
The newly completed renovation is the most comprehensive project done on the course since its creation in 1957 and marks a major step towards the completion of the master plan.
Jones explains that his goal with the renovation at The Tuxedo Club was to restore the course’s classic mid-century look, while at the same time making the entire layout of the course more modern.
“When I was younger, I remember my father’s excitement when he was given the opportunity to design the golf course for The Tuxedo Club,” said Jones. “It’s been an honor for Bryce and me to work with such an historic club. I know my dad would be proud to see how the restored course honors the spirit of his original design from the 1950s.”
LaBar Golf Course Renovations managed the project’s construction and Casey Klossner, the Club’s director of agronomy, provided daily direction and oversight.
“It’s been a privilege to work hand-in-hand with Rees and Bryce to renovate the course and bring back Robert Trent Jones, Sr.’s original vision for golf at Tuxedo,” said Casey Klossner. “This project has not only allowed us to make the course more relevant to the modern game, but it’s also provided an opportunity to improve the agronomic health of the course which will ensure better playability for our members and their guests for years to come.”
Highlights from the project include:
- Repositioning and reimagining all the bunkers to make them relevant to the modern game and restoring them back to the original Trent Jones, Sr. style
- Bunker construction using modern techniques to improve drainage and playability
- New greenside chipping areas to provide more shot options for recovery shots
- Widening of fairway lines to tie them back to the bunkers and green complexes
- Creation of a new short game practice area
- Creation of a brand-new ninth hole
- New tee complexes on holes 1, 2 and 6
Opened in 1957, the current golf course at The Tuxedo Club was created when construction of the New York Thruway required that the existing golf course be moved.
Over the years the 18-hole Trent Jones, Sr.-designed course has proved itself to be one of the most beautiful and challenging courses in the New York metropolitan area. In 2019, the Club received the ‘Club of the Year Award’ from the Metropolitan Golf Writers Association.
Founded in 1886 by tobacco heir Pierre Lorillard, The Tuxedo Club is one of America’s oldest private clubs. Originally designed by Lorillard to be a fishing and hunting retreat, golf was quickly added to the Club’s offerings and since 1889 has been an integral part of The Tuxedo Club experience. In fact, it was at The Tuxedo Club that the country’s first inter-club match took place between The Tuxedo Club, St. Andrew’s Golf Club, Shinnecock Hills and The Country Club (Brookline).
In October 2022, The Tuxedo Club will host the Metropolitan Golf Association (MGA)’s Mid-Amateur Championship, making it one of only a handful of top MGA clubs to have hosted the Met Junior and Mid-Amateur along with the MGA’s three major championships – the Met Amateur, Ike and Met Open.
In addition to golf, The Tuxedo Club offers six distinct racquet sports, boating, fishing, swimming, ice skating, dining, and multiple annual social events.
