*

*

* projects & clients * home | principal | services | experience | environment | projects | quotable | contact

*

*

*

*

Click here to visit our featured project photo gallery,
Copper Mill Golf Club--voted the "Best New Affordable
Public Course in America"
2004 and the "#2 Course Overall in
the State of Louisiana"
2005 by Golf Digest!  And recently awarded Four Stars in Golf Digest's "Places to Play!"

This just in!  Golf Digest has named Hattiesburg CC the "#4 Course Overall in Mississippi" in it's bi-annual rankings released in the May 2007 issue!  Click here to jump to the 1999, 2004, and 2006 Hattiesburg CC project galleries!

The following is a list of key projects our principal, Nathan Crace, has been involved with in recent years:

(Select grey tab to view land planning/athletics)

project | Ole Miss Golf Club
location | Oxford, Mississippi
scope | Greens Renovations/Upgrades
status | Complete/Pending Opening

photo gallery | Click to enter

synopsis | The University of Mississippi has called on Mr. Crace once again to help with the Ole Miss GC.  This time, the scope involves renovating all green complexes on the course, new irrigation system, new cart paths, several large drainage projects, fairway bunkers & new back and forward tees.  Construction began in January 2008 and the course re-opened Oct. 1, 2008.

project | Champion Hill
location | Pending official announcement
scope | New 18-hole golf course/residential
status | Design Studies Underway

photo gallery | Currently Offline

synopsis | A development group has hired Mr. Crace to develop a land plan for Champion Hill--an exciting new multi-use development with a new 18-hole championship course and residential development centered around a sustainable land plan.  Pending official announcement. 

project | Belle Rive
location | Harahan, LA (New Orleans Area)
scope | Total Renovation/Re-Design
status | Design Studies Underway

photo gallery | Click to enter

synopsis | Belle Rive is more than a new golf course--it's a new way of living in the New Orleans area.  The total renovation and re-design of an 18-hole golf course centered around a stunning new 17-story condo tower set on the banks of the Mississippi!  Belle Rive is another step forward in rebuilding New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.  Scheduled opening is 2010.

project | Bay Breeze Golf Course
location | Keesler AFB--Biloxi, MS
scope | Greens Renovation Design
status | Complete/Open for play

photo gallery | Click to enter

synopsis | Prior to Hurricane Katrina, the Air Force planned on repairing the greens at Bay Breeze.  After Katrina's storm surge covered parts of the course with six feet of water, all of the green complexes required a complete renovation and Watermark was called in to handle the re-design.  The new green on the par-4 first hole is shown at left. 

project | Cypress Tree GC (West Course)
location | Maxwell AFB--Montgomery, AL
scope | Greens Renovation Design
status | Complete/Re-Opened for Play

photo gallery | Click to enter

synopsis | Once again, Watermark was been called upon to handle the renovation of greens on an Air Force base golf course.  This time, 18 of the 36 holes at Cypress Tree GC were renovated to "California Green" specs, bunkers were re-designed and re-built, and irrigation was upgraded.  The course re-opened in November 2008..  

project | Old Waverly
location | West Point, Mississippi
scope | Pintelligence® Design Mapping
status | Complete

photo gallery | see Pintelligence.com

synopsis | Ranked the #1 course in Mississippi since opening in 1988, Old Waverly is a special facility located in the rolling wooded hills of northeast Mississippi.  After hosting the Women's US Open and the Women's US Mid-Amateur, Old Waverly turned to Watermark's Pintelligence® division to map their green complexes and provide signature 3D color pin zone charts.

project | Ormond Country Club
location | Destrehan, LA (New Orleans)
scope | Greens Renovation Design
status | Complete/Open for play

photo gallery | Click to enter

synopsis | Ormond CC is a growing private club near the New Orleans International Airport and, following Hurricane Katrina, was one of the first courses in the area to re-open.  As a result, the decision was made to renovate the course's old existing "Purr-Wick" greens to today's design standards.

project | Ole Miss Golf Club
location | Oxford, Mississippi
scope | Short Game Practice Facility
status | Underway

photo gallery | Click to enter

synopsis | Ole Miss has signed on with Watermark Golf/Nathan Crace Design to create a unique short game practice facility for exclusive use by the men's and women's golf teams.  The facility will provide a wide range of shots from 110 yards and in with varying elevations and both a bermuda and a bent grass green.

project | Whispering Pines GC (Ph II)
location | Mississippi Gulf Coast
scope | Back Nine Renovation Design
status | Complete/Open for play

photo gallery | Click to enter

synopsis | After working on the renovation of the front nine in 2001 (see below), our principal is back to design the renovation of the back nine of this public layout on Mississippi's "Golf" Coast.  Construction is now complete and the back nine is open for play.

project | Ole Miss Golf Club
location | Oxford, MS
scope | New Practice Facility
status | Complete

photo gallery | Click to enter

synopsis | The University of Mississippi's  golf teams were in need of a larger and more contemporary facility--for practice and recruiting.  In '05, Watermark Golf was retained to develop a plan with Head Coach Ernest Ross and in '06 to design the facility and oversee construction.  The new facility opened in late 2006.   

project | Copper Mill Golf Club
location | Zachary, Louisiana
scope | Course Consulting/Modifications
status | Underway/Ongoing

photo gallery | Currently Offline

synopsis | On the heels of numerous awards from Golf Digest (see link above), the owners of Copper Mill are not ones to rest on their laurels and have once again called on Mr. Crace and Watermark--this time for consulting/modification services.  Nathan will also be helping to designate new native areas, oversee bunker renovations, and re-design #3 fairway. 

project | Castle Rock Resort
location | Vanderbilt, MI
scope | 36 Hole Resort Land Planning
status | Complete
synopsis | A private developer from Detroit wanted a unique and fresh look at a piece of property in Northern Michigan--and one that reflected his vision of a world class destination resort.  A plan was developed to achieve the best utilization of the property, including a replica of a gigantic medieval castle as the clubhouse and off-season ski trails throughout the property.

project | Crane Harbour Golf Club
location | U.S. Gulf Coast
scope | New Course Design
status | Postponed by Hurricane Katrina
synopsis | A group of investors has entered into an agreement with Watermark Golf to design a unique new 18-hole course and residential development on the Gulf Coast.  Preliminary land study surveys and business planning services are underway.  
Visit:
www.craneharbour.com

project | The Bluffs CC & Resort
location | St. Francisville, LA
scope | 17th Hole Renovation
status | Complete

photo gallery | Click to enter

synopsis | Ranked #34 in the U.S. in Golf Magazine's "Top Places You Can Play,", The Bluffs retained Watermark Golf to renovate the 17th hole, a downhill par 3 that drops some 60+ feet to a peninsula green.  The scope included drainage improvements, landscaping, and the creation of a 400' creek with waterfalls, a recirculation pump and rock ledges.

project | The Bull at Boone's Trace
location | Richmond, KY (Lexington)
scope | Development of a Natural Resource Enhancement Program
status | Pending sale of property
synopsis | In the heart of Kentucky horse country near Lexington, The Bull at Boone's Trace is a wall to wall bent grass beauty that sits on a bluff overlooking an elbow of the Kentucky River.  New owners called upon Watermark Golf/Nathan Crace Design to develop a plan for course beautification and improvements.

project | Hattiesburg C.C.
location | Hattiesburg, MS
scope | Development of a Natural Resource Enhancement Program
status | Complete
photo gallery | Currently Offline
extra | view 2004 HCC project gallery
extra | view 1999 HCC project gallery
synopsis | Once again, Hattiesburg CC has called upon our principal architect, Nathan Crace, to assist their club.  This time the scope is a long-term course beautification plan to enhance the natural beauty of the rolling, pine-lined site in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and the hundreds of trees lost to the effects of the storm. 

project | The Bluffs CC & Resort
location | St. Francisville, LA
scope | Pintelligence® Design Mapping
status | Complete

photo gallery | see Pintelligence.com

synopsis | Overlooking Thompson's Creek about 30 minutes north of Baton Rouge, The Bluffs has long been a favorite of golfers throughout Louisiana.   Watermark's Pintelligence® division (pintelligence.com) was retained to map the course's green complexes and provide signature 3D color pin zone charts and maps for the club.

project | Hattiesburg Country Club
location | Hattiesburg, MS
scope | Course Upgrades & Additions
status | Complete

photo gallery | Click to enter
extra |
view 1999 HCC project gallery

synopsis | With the Men's State Amateur coming to HCC in the summer of 2005, the club wanted to make some minor upgrades in advance of the event, including a handful of bunkers and a new tee.  Given Mr. Crace's work with HCC during the 1999 renovation (see below), Watermark Golf was called in to assist with the design and oversight of the project with rave reviews.

project | Clear Creek Golf Club
location | Vicksburg, MS

scope | Nine Hole Renovation Design
status |
Complete

photo gallery | Click to enter

synopsis | Clear Creek GC was built by Warren County, Mississippi in 1977 as part of a public works project.  It has long been the only public access facility in the Vicksburg market, but was in need of updating to attract and retain players.   Watermark Golf was hired to re-design the front nine, which was renovated in 2004 and re-opened in Oct. of that year.

project | The Bridges @ Casino Magic
location | Bay St. Louis, MS
scope | Drainage Improvement Design
status | Complete

photo gallery | Click to enter

synopsis | The Bridges Golf Club at Casino Magic has been one of the top rated courses on the Gulf Coast since opening for play.  However, time and Mother Nature have required some renovations to be made to this beautiful Arnold Palmer-designed resort course & Watermark Golf was called upon to complete the project design in 2003.

project | The Refuge
location | Flowood, MS
scope | Lake Renovation/Re-Design
status | Pending
synopsis | A number of improvements needed to be made to a key lake on the par 5 sixth hole of The Refuge--the "Best Purely Public Course in Mississippi."   Watermark Golf was called in to handle the design services for the project.   In the photo at left, Nathan Crace (right) is shown reviewing plans with consulting agronomist Richard Woolwine.

project | Short Course at Copper Mill
location | Zachary, LA
scope | New Course Design
status | Pending
synopsis | Following the success and acclaim the championship course at Copper Mill has garnered, the owners felt compelled to move forward with plans for a three-hole short course in Phase II of the residential portion of this upscale development.  Pending approval, design studies should begin shortly.

project | Public Course, Name TBD
location | Columbia, MS
scope | Master Planning/Design
status | Pending/Pending
synopsis | Additional sites are currently being reviewed for the location of a new course to be Master Planned and designed by Watermark Golf in the City of Columbia, Mississippi.  Location A (shown at left) is a spectacular site consisting of open fields and pockets of wooded areas with sweeping vistas throughout.

project | Copper Mill GC *
location | Zachary, LA
scope | Golf Course & Residential Design
status | Complete

photo gallery | Click to enter

synopsis | After nearly six years in planning, this upscale semi-private golf club and residential development finally got off the ground in late 2001 with an opening in 2003.  A mix of classic  styling and contemporary conditioning, the course echoes the detail used in planning the community and has won numerous awards from Golf Digest.

project | Hattiesburg CC *
location | Hattiesburg, MS
scope | Master Planning/Renovation
status | Complete/Complete

photo gallery | Click to enter

synopsis | This private country club in south Mississippi was a PGA Tour stop for over 30 years.  The decision was made to develop a Master Plan that would lead to the subsequent renovation of the entire course.  It proved to be a great success and the result has received rave reviews since re-opening in the fall of 1999.

project | Brookhaven CC *
location | Brookhaven, MS
scope | Master Planning/Renovation
status | Complete/Complete

photo gallery | Click to enter

synopsis | One of the oldest private clubs in Mississippi, Brookhaven CC elected to undergo a two year renovation plan that would result in transforming the historic nine hole layout into one of the most talked-about 18 hole courses in the Magnolia State with a balanced mix of shot-making, aesthetics, and ease of maintenance.

project | Caroline GC *
location | Madison, MS
scope | Master Planning/Course Design
status | Complete/Complete

photo gallery | Click to enter

synopsis | As the centerpiece of the 3,500 acre Lake Caroline development, Caroline Golf Club was destined to be a unique addition to the golf landscape in Mississippi.  The 'links-like" theme of the design is evident on all but a handful of holes and the 850 acre man-made Lake Caroline comes into play on holes 7, 8 & 9.

project | Whispering Pines GC (Ph I)*
location | Mississippi Gulf Coast
scope | Nine Hole Renovation Design
status | Complete

photo gallery | Currently Offline

synopsis | When limited funds were made available for the renovation of the front nine of this public course, it provided the opportunity to field test a derivation of the "California Green" concept of greens construction.  To date, the greens work flawlessly and have helped further the cause for utilizing this technology in future projects.

Country Club of Louisiana -- 17 Tee

project | Country Club of Louisiana *
location | Baton Rouge, LA
scope | Tee Renovation and Bulkhead
status | Complete
synopsis | The Country Club of Louisiana is a perennial member of the Top 5 list of courses in Louisiana.  However, when additional tee space was needed on the par-3 17th hole (shown at left), some creative thinking was required involving the use of a nine foot wooden bulkhead wall to extend the tee surface out into an adjacent lake.

project | Windance CC *
location | Gulfport, MS
scope | Facility Master Planning
status | Complete
synopsis | Windance is a favorite of both local golfers and vacationing golfers visiting the Mississippi Gulf Coast, but it needed to address some "growing pains" and routine improvements.  A Master Plan was developed that encompassed all critical areas of the course from tees and bunkers to landscaping and tree removal.

project | Ole Miss Golf Club *
location | Oxford, MS
scope | Tee Renovation/Master Plan
status | Complete/Complete
synopsis | The University of Mississippi's 18 hole golf course was busy enough prior to the closing of Oxford CC.  When that happened, the influx of play at Ole Miss GC required immediate action to enlarge the tee complexes throughout the course, repair a key lake and address some persistent drainage concerns.  The end result led to the development of a Master Plan that details expanding the facility to 27 holes in the future.

project | Clear Creek GC *
location | Vicksburg, MS
scope | 27 Hole Master Plan & Ball Fields
status | Complete
synopsis | Clear Creek is the only public golf course in the Vicksburg market and a part of the Warren County Parks Commission.  A Master Plan was developed to demonstrate how best to utilize the additional unused land to expand the current 18 hole course to 27 holes and add much needed ball fields for soccer, baseball, and softball.

project | Pearl Municipal GC *
location | Pearl, MS
scope | Nine Hole Addition
status | Complete
synopsis | When the City of Pearl made 38 acres available to expand its nine hole course to 18 holes, careful planning had to be conducted to protect the wetlands on the property and still fit nine sound holes of golf onto the property.  The  result is nine holes of fun, culminating at the striking par-4 18th (shown at left).

project | Smyrna Municipal GC *
location | Smyrna, TN
scope | Short course study & routing
status | Complete
synopsis | In an effort to improve the facility, Smyrna Municipal Golf Course needed to first assess the viability of using a piece of property adjacent to the existing golf course and near the local airport.  Design studies were completed and a routing plan was devised that was used to market what would eventually become a nine hole short course for the First Tee program.

Pencil sketch of proposed 12 green

project | Ormond CC *
location | Destrehan, LA
scope | Greens renovation studies
status | Complete

update | See 2006/07 project above

synopsis | Ormond CC is home to a large number of rounds in the Greater New Orleans golf market and needed to study the possibility of undertaking the renovation of at least nine of its 18 greens to update the course.  Detailed studies were completed including pencil sketches of the proposed greens (#12 is shown at left).

| more will be listed and photos added as time permits |
since golf course contacts are prone to change, please e-mail us for a list of project references


* denotes projects with previous employer as senior design associate

 

home | principal | services | experience | environment | projects | contact

copyright | watermark golf, llc