SCOTTSDALE, Arizona — Staples Golf Design has recently completed renovations at two historic golf courses in the Northeast: Arcola Country Club in Paramus, New Jersey, and Garden City Country Club in Garden City, New York, taking Staples Golf to a new region of the country while bringing renewed life to these Golden Age classics.
Led by Andy Staples, owner and principal architect of Staples Golf Design, the projects focused on restoring the architectural character and strategic intent of each course while making thoughtful improvements to playability, infrastructure, and long-term maintenance. Golf course construction firm LaBar Golf was the general contractor on both projects.
“I’m incredibly honored to have worked with these two historic clubs,” said Andy Staples. “I believe the renovations exceeded their members’ goals and have them well positioned for the next 20 years.”
Arcola Country Club
Arcola Country Club dates to 1909 and was designed by H.H. Barker, with involvement by Walter Travis. The Paramus club has a significant competitive history, most notably serving as a co-host of the 2022 U.S. Amateur alongside neighboring Ridgewood Country Club.
Over the years, Arcola evolved through several renovations, including significant changes associated with the expansion of Route 4 and the Garden State Parkway. The work done by Staples Golf Design sought to instill a more unified character back to the property, bringing together a respect for the club’s Golden Age history and original design intent.
The renovation included a comprehensive bunker refresh, reconstruction of greens on Holes 1, 4, 9, 11, and 16, tee and fairway adjustments, and an impactful rerouting of Holes 1 and 9 to improve circulation and playability while maximizing the club’s view of the New York skyline.
The par-4 16th hole was also entirely reimagined, creating a green inspired by Barker’s design philosophy and realigning the existing creek for a true risk-reward hole to begin the closing stretch.
“What Andy did for our Club is just phenomenal,” said Tim Casper, President of Arcola. “The members have been absolutely thrilled with the upgrades, and this project now reinforces our standing as one of the best courses in New Jersey.”
Garden City Country Club
Garden City Country Club’s 18-hole course was designed by Walter Travis in 1916, one of the earliest designs of his storied career. From the outset, Staples Golf Design’s approach was rooted in extensive historical research of aerial photography and imagery to better understand Travis’ original design philosophy.
The completed renovation included the restoration of all bunkers, and select tee and green improvements, all true to Travis’ strategic intentions. New, diverse tee angles were added back on Holes 3, 4, 8, and 17. The original cross bunkers on Holes 6 and 13 were restored, as were lost pin locations on a number of greens.
Additionally, adjustments were made to fairway width and strategy. Nearly seven acres of maintained turfgrass was converted to native fescue and playable waste bunker features, with roughly 13,000 cubic yards of native sand being harvested on site to ensure these areas tied seamlessly into the Long Island landscape.
The greens on Holes 5 and 12, two holes that were previously altered from Travis’s original design, were completely rebuilt to address playability and architectural character. The result is a course that retains the uniqueness of Travis’ Golden Age design.
“The renovation work on our course that Andy and LaBar accomplished is nothing short of incredible,” said Ollie Holden, former President of Garden City CC. “Our membership is very happy with the improvements, and enthusiasm around the club is at an all-time high. The project has been a major success, and we feel our course now stands among the best in the area.”
For Staples, the two projects represent his continued commitment to historically informed golf course architecture, using research, restoration, and strategic design to ensure that classic courses remain relevant.
“It was an absolute pleasure working with these two clubs. Having the opportunity to work with great people, helping them bring back the historic nature of their courses; it’s all I can ask for as a golf course architect.” said Staples.