The most recent Golf Course Refinements Project at Poppy Hills has been completed. Book a tee time soon to check out the following:
#12 (Par 4): The left fairway bunker was adjusted and reshaped to provide a wider fairway landing area. The first right fairway bunker was also reduced nominally to improve the fairway landing area. These subtle changes increase the strategy and shot values presented by the tee shots.
#1: The back right corner was raised slightly. Additionally, an intermediate cut of grass was incorporated behind the green adjacent to the penalty area. These changes allow better playability for golf balls releasing through the putting surface.
#13: While the design characteristics remain substantially the same, the back right corner was reshaped and expanded to provide additional pinnable hole locations and support. The large slope in the middle right portion of the green was reduced to allow the expanded back right corner to blend with the rest of the green.
#14: To increase the playability and number of hole locations available, the back right corner was expanded. This change improves the shot value for the approach by providing more opportunity for aggressive play over the bunker to back right pins. In addition, the back-right bunker was reshaped.
#17: A slight change was made to the back right portion. Although the majority of the green still slopes away from the par-3 tee shot, the back portion was built up to allow golf balls to stay in play. This increases playability for the everyday player while still maintaining challenge for elite players.
#10: Jones tee enlarged and resodded to provide options during the multiple NCGA Championships hosted at Poppy Hills each year. #14: The championship tee enlarged and resodded. #16: The Jones tee was extended to allow play up to 460 yards.
In early 2022, other refinements were performed including the re-shaping of the greens on holes Nos. 2 (the green was smoothed out to make it more transitional with less contour) and 7 (similar reduction in contours to improve playability), a renovation of the primary practice green (near the snack shack) that resulted in less contours with more hole locations and the addition of five new championship tee boxes.
Said original course architect Robert Trent Jones Jr., "I'm very happy with the course. It remains perfect."
The previous changes were covered in the 2022 Winter edition of NCGA Golf Magazine.