La Costa Resort and Spa, Carlsbad, Calif., home to one of golf’s iconic venues, is about to embark on a dramatic renovation project on its award-winning courses, restoring the legendary destination to world-class standards.
Under the direction of Pascuzzo & Pate Golf Course Design, the remodel will impact all 18 holes on the current North Course and four holes on the South Course. Significant alterations to the fairway contours, combined with a modernized drainage system, will improve water flow throughout the golf courses.
While the South Course routing is to remain the same, four greens on the South Course will be relocated, all other greens on the North Course will be replaced. All of the bunkers on the golf course will be renovated. More than 30 acres of the current turf will be eliminated to conserve water, with the remodel to incorporate more native grasses. Fairways will be planted in 419 Bermuda with paspalum, a drought and salt-water tolerant turf, planted in roughs and native areas. Greens will be bentgrass. New lakes also will be added. The project is scheduled to continue through October.
Dick Wilson designed La Costa’s first 18 holes in 1965 and his design partner Joe Lee added nine holes in 1973 and the final nine holes in 1984. Since it opened in the coastal foothills north of San Diego, La Costa Resort and Spa has a long, distinguished history with the greatest players in golf, dating back to the Tournament Of Champions in 1969. La Costa’s list of winners includes legends from various eras, from Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player to Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. La Costa hosted the Match Play Championships for seven years until 2006, and in 2010 was home of the inaugural Kia Classic on the LPGA Tour.
“We are excited to begin a new chapter in La Costa’s legacy,” said Paul McCormick, general manager at La Costa Resort and Spa. “La Costa has been synonymous with the top echelon of golf for more than 40 years, hosting 37 PGA Tour events. It is important that we keep its championship spirit alive.”
Work on Phase I (nine holes of the North Course) is to begin the first week in February, followed by Phase II (the other nine holes of the North Course), and then Phase III (four holes on the South Course). Aspen Construction of West Virginia has been selected as the contractor. Aspen, which recently completed renovation work at The Greenbrier, in White Sulphur Springs, WV, is taking on its first project on the West Coast. Full play is expected to resume in November.
“We have a lot of respect for La Costa’s original design and intend to maintain its integrity,” said award-winning golf course architect Damian Pascuzzo, who is partnered with PGA Tour veteran Steve Pate in their design firm. “We do a lot of research before starting a project like this.”
The duo is collaborating on the design with Jeff Brauer, former president of the American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA).
“This is a technically complex project,” Pascuzzo added, “to be accomplished in a narrow time window. Our goal is to unveil an ideal combination of championship challenges within a user-friendly golf facility appealing to members and resort guests.”
Pate, who won the 1988 Tournament of Champions at La Costa, is well suited to reflect on the legacy of La Costa.
“I always thought La Costa was one of the greatest places in the world,” said Pate, who grew up in Santa Barbara, played his college golf at UCLA and actually saw his first professional golf tournament at La Costa. “I know that this project will do justice to Dick Wilson’s work here and it will be a fitting tribute to La Costa’s legacy.”
The golf course renovation project is part of an overall $50 million ongoing investment in the resort by its owners, KSL Resorts.
"Unlike many courses in today's day and age, we're actually investing in the property,” McCormick remarked. "There are very few new courses being built or renovated this year, so from our standpoint, this is a great opportunity to restore the luster to La Costa’s courses during a down business cycle and when things turn around, we’ll be ready with a fresh new product.”
