Revamped design, new turfs will yield competitive course for home of The CJ Cup Byron Nelson
McKINNEY, Texas – Invited, the worldwide leader in private clubs and formerly known as ClubCorp, is pleased to announce the start of several significant reinvestment initiatives at TPC-Craig Ranch.
These initiatives are part of an ongoing reinvestment campaign that spans Invited’s portfolio of private member clubs and seeks to fashion a comprehensive lifestyle experience that caters to the diverse interests and needs of today’s members.
These renovations will completely overhaul the existing course, incorporating new turf varieties that will enhance turf conditions and durability, bringing them on par with those seen at the nation’s top facilities. In turn, this will significantly elevate playability for TPC-Craig Ranch members, delivering premium conditions for the course year-round that can challenge the world’s best players, while also maintaining a member-friendly golf experience.
Golf legend Lanny Wadkins, a long-time design partner for Invited, will lead the redesign efforts on select holes.
“I am excited and honored to be doing the redesign of Craig Ranch. It is a great site for a world-class golf course with gently rolling terrain that features Rowlett Creek which meanders through the property and provides great strategy for multiple holes,” said Wadkins, a winner of 21 tournaments on the PGA TOUR and head of Lanny Wadkins Design Group.
“My goal is to build a golf course that will challenge the best golfers in the world for The CJ Cup Byron Nelson, but more importantly be a great club for the members to call home the other 51 weeks of the year. The new course will include entirely redesigned bunkers, greens complexes, new irrigation, drainage and improved turf varieties.”
The course’s fairways, tees and rough will now feature TifTuf, which is a studier grass that stays green deep into the winter months and re-greens earlier than other varieties. TifTuf can be maintained to ensure a firm, fast course that is both challenging and exciting to play.
The conversion of the roughs to TifTuf will create thicker, denser grasses for players to navigate, while also creating greater flexibility for course management. During The CJ Cup Byron Nelson, the fairways can be mowed narrower to challenge the game’s best players, while they can be mowed wider throughout the year for member play.
The greens will be converted to ultradwarf Bermuda, which will deliver consistent speeds throughout the year and reduce varying fluctuations in play. The new greens will offer firm, fast approaches with strong collars, and they are resilient in the Texas heat, eliminating the need for hand-watering and fans.
“Upgrading TPC Craig Ranch and collaborating with Lanny Wadkins on the course redesign is a testament to Invited’s unwavering commitment to providing premier facilities,” said David Pillsbury, CEO of Invited. “This project exemplifies our dedication to reinvestment, ensuring our clubs remain among the world’s leading destinations for our members.
“By constantly enhancing our offerings, we uphold our promise to deliver exceptional experiences and maintain our position at the forefront of the industry.”
Additionally, the existing 20-year-old irrigation system will be replaced with 2,000 new sprinkler heads and a more efficient pump station that maximizes the amount of water distributed in a shorter period of time. This will reduce water usage and ensure consistent playing conditions throughout the year.
A revamped drainage system will ensure more playable conditions and fewer cart path-only days.
Invited’s portfolio of private member clubs is designed to meet these expectations by creating refined yet welcoming environments with top of the line facilities combined with programming that promotes a sense of community and belonging.
In addition to TPC-Craig Ranch, Invited also owns and operates 14 other clubs in the Dallas area, including several that have either completed or are in the midst of significant reinvestment initiatives, such as Brookhaven Country Club, Canyon Creek Country Club, Gleneagles Country Club and The Clubs of Stonebridge Ranch.
