The Refuge plans full renovation – creates returning nines , resort destination
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FLOWOOD , MS – Since 1998 , The Refuge has been known as the “ Best Purely Public Course in Mississippi ” and ranked annually among the top public courses in the state in various polls . However , the course known for immaculate conditioning was also known for three other things : it was too tight , too short , and featured a “ nine out , nine back ” routing that made it difficult for golfers to play only nine holes . The City of Flowood ( which owns the course ) is about to change all of that beginning later this year with the help of Watermark Golf and golf course architect Nathan Crace , ASGCA Assoc .
“ When the course opened in 1998 , the game was played differently ,” explains Crace , whose design firm ’ s sister company has managed the facility since 2002 . “ In the two decades since , the ball travels further , the trees have grown bigger , and players ’ time is more constrained . Those are a few of the factors contributing to the renovation .”
According to press reports , another factor is a developer ’ s $ 50 million investment in a new 200-room hotel and conference center adjacent to the course — something Crace does not deny plays a part in moving the improvements forward .
“ Our staff and I have spent the last 15 years studying the course and making in-house improvements where we could ,” he says . “ But when the developer offered to partner with the City to make this type of investment in the community , the City [ which owns the course and has a long-term agreement with Crace ’ s management company to operate it ] made the prudent decision to invest in capital improvements that are best made when the course is closed to play for a sustained period of time .”
What are the improvements that are planned ? All new greens with TifEagle hybrid Bermuda to replace the existing TifDwarf , all new and renovated bunkers , irrigation upgrades , the removal of invasive species of trees to drastically open up playing corridors and improve and expand turf along the periphery of the course , removal of some water hazards that slow play , new concrete cart paths , the installation of the Longleaf Tee System , and — perhaps most importantly — the creation of two new holes and the re-alignment of several others to create returning nines back at the new clubhouse .
“ That ’ s going to be a big shot in the arm to the operation of the course ,” Crace explains . “ Our golf professional [ Randy Tupper , PGA ] can tell you that it ’ s a daily occurrence for golfers to walk in asking to play nine and it ’ s currently not a popular option because the 10th tee is on the opposite end of the property . They can play nine , but then they have to walk or ride all the way back . The discussion of having returning nines after the renovation has already stirred up a lot of excitement .”
Crace claims the final four holes of the new routing will be among the best finishing holes in the area with a 191-yard par-3 , a drivable par- 4 with water guarding the green , a 601-yard sweeping par-5 , and a “ strikingly beautiful ” new mid-length par-4 18th hole that framed by a new 12-acre lake with the new hotel tower as a backdrop in the distance . He has already had conversations with the Mississippi Golf Association about hosting top amateur events soon , including the State Am or Mid-Am .
Crace says that he is also going to utilize the Longleaf Tee System as part of the re-design and that the course will have playing options for all skill levels ranging from 4,000 to 7,000 + yards when it re-opens . “ As a member of the ASGCA [ American Society of Golf Course Architects ], we recently adopted the Longleaf Tee System to help grow the game and offer options for more players of all skill levels . It ’ s more than just adding more tees — there ’ s a lot of hard data involved . Rees Jones is currently putting it into place at Medinah Number 2