ALAMEDA, California – Greenway Golf Associates recently announced its collaboration with master architect Robert Trent Jones, Jr., and his golf course design company, Robert Trent Jones II Golf Course Architects (RTJII), to renovate the North Course at Corica Park, including the completion of the back nine holes.
Greenway Golf, the long-term lessee, developer, and manager of the 333-acre golf complex, selected RTJII because of its world-renowned expertise and environmental leadership in golf course design.
“We are honored to work with this living legend, and his talented team, to finish the North Course and make Corica Park one of the premier 36-hole public golf course facilities in the country,” said Avani and Umesh Patel, owners of Greenway. “Our mission at Greenway is to harmonize exceptional golf experiences with environmental and social sustainability. This wonderful big step validates our long-lasting commitment to Corica Park.”
Corica Park is home to the award-winning South Course, designed by famed architect Rees Jones, the brother of Robert Trent Jones, Jr.
In a serendipitous first, the RTJII-renovated North Course and the existing South Course will make golf history, as Corica Park will be the only location in the world where the iconic brothers will have their names on side-by-side municipal golf courses.
“The Patels and Greenway have a remarkable vision for municipal golf courses,” said Jones, Jr., “one that evolves the role municipal golf can play in mitigating climate change and creating green spaces for everyone to enjoy. Our goal is to deliver on their vision of a memorable, challenging golf experience for all players, while taking a holistic approach to design and sustainability of the natural environment.”
Construction on the back nine holes of the North Course, and adjustments to the existing front nine will begin in June. The popular, Golden Age style front nine was designed by former Greenway shareholder Marc Logan with Ron Whitten, Golf Digest architecture editor emeritus, serving as consultant.
Completion of the North Course, expected December 2024, will continue the total overhaul undertaken by Greenway over the past 10 years to upgrade and modernize Corica Park, which also includes the award-winning Mif Albright Par-3 Course, the Lucius Bateman Driving Range, and an extensive practice facility.
“What Greenway is doing at Corica Park is impressive and truly different,” says Trent Jones, Chief Operating Officer of RTJII and son of Robert Trent Jones, Jr. “Their efforts to transform the site into a vital ecological habitat and socially inclusive resource are a model for the golf course industry and represent a shared values system and inspiration for our team. We’re looking forward to enhancing the golf experience at Corica Park with purposeful design and thoughtful challenges for golfers of all levels.”
“We are excited to put this essential piece in place,” says Umesh Patel. “Corica Park—like all municipal golf courses and open public spaces—belongs to everybody. Our job—as stewards of this land for decades to come—is to do meaningful, impactful work that provides the highest-quality golf destination and leverages this amazing community asset to create broad benefits for everyone.”
While the front nine holes will remain open for play during the renovation, the grand opening of the completed North Course at Corica Park is scheduled for December 2024.
