National Golf Course Owners Association

Lester George Creating Long-Range Master Plan For Historic North Hills Country Club

Golf Course Architect, Lester George, has been engaged by historic North Hills Country Club in Philadelphia to create a long-range master plan of renovations for the club. The golf course, originally designed by J. Franklin Meehan in 1908, and later renovated by William Flynn, was built around the remnants of three abandoned iron mines.

"We want to help North Hills improve the architectural quality and maintainability of the golf course, while recognizing and respecting the Philadelphia golf architects who came before us," said Lester George. "The campus-wide master plan, which includes the golf facilities and other revenue-generating opportunities, will address the course's greens, bunkers, tees, grassing, drainage, vegetation, and practice facilities. Relocating and repurposing some amenities at North Hills could offer some significant enhancement to the club. We are looking at ways to offer first class amenities to North Hills' current and future members."

"I joined North Hills when I was just out of college," said Bob Garis, President of North Hills Country Club. "A friend of mine was a member, and he loved it. So, when I found out the club had a great deal for junior members, I joined the club without ever having seen the golf course. It was the greatest thing I ever did! I fell in love with the course the first time I played it. That was 36 years ago, and - while North Hills remains a wonderful club with a fantastic membership - we have an aging facility, which is causing us to fall behind the clubs around us."

"To compete in the marketplace, updated facilities are a must," said George. "All too often, we see excellently designed golf courses that have been diluted and altered over the years by a small change here and there that sometimes adds up to a golf course that plays very little like its original design. The course at North Hills was purportedly renovated by Hugh Wilson and William Flynn, as well as some smaller renovations and changes by others over the years."

"We have had very well-intentioned boards making suggestions for changes and additions to the golf course and other facilities. Some were hits; others were misses. Those that didn't work so well are causing problems, and we want to restore the course to its old glory and increase our membership," Garis added. "Our long-range planning committee, while active and dedicated, needs the guidance and vision a golf course design professional brings to the table."

"We are very pleased with Lester; he is really listening to everyone and taking all of our requests to heart while putting together this plan for the club," Garis continued. "We kind of fell into this process. Our club's Vice President and Golf Course Superintendent went to a USGA seminar at the DuPont Country Club, where Lester was speaking about renovating golf ranges and practice facilities. Lester said a club didn't need to be restricted, despite having a small area, so the board decided to invite him to look at our practice facility. One thing led to another, and we are now making a Master Plan for North Hills. Moving forward, we knew it was imperative that we have a plan in place that is assembled by professionals for future well-intended boards to use as a roadmap. If there is an opportunity to make changes, they will have the club's long-range plan right in front of them to follow."

For more information, please contact: Shannon Fisher, Vice President of Communications, George Golf Design, 804-314-3268

About Lester George: A member of the esteemed American Society of Golf Course Architects, internationally renowned golf course architect, Lester George, has quite a versatile resume. In addition to his award-winning new course designs, has developed a niche in renovating and restoring classic golf courses designed by some of the most revered golden age architects. Lester has restored or renovated courses by Golden Age Architects such as Flynn, Ross, Macdonald, Ranyor, Banks, Findlay, Barker, Tull, Wilson, McCarthy, Tillinghast and others. He has worked on everything from plains to steep, rocky terrain to brownfield and environmentally challenging sites, including a course under which thousands of unexploded bombs were discovered once excavation began - and he has become somewhat of a master at designing practice facilities that offer a realistic experience for golfers. George's Kinloch Golf Club is the highest ranked golf course in the history of Virginia, having won countless awards. Ballyhack Golf Club is rated # 7 in the state by Golf Digest and was on several top ten Best New Course lists. The Old White Course at The Greenbrier was honored as Golf Digest's Best New Remodel and now hosts a PGA Tour event; the James River Course at The Country Club of Virginia was the #5 Best New Remodel; and Willow Oaks Country Club was one of Golf Digests' Best New Remodels of 2009. Most recently, Lester's renovation of Independence Golf Club was listed as one of Golf Digest's 2014 Best New Courses.