Staying fresh in SoCal

Omni La Costa Resort & Spa has broken ground on the renovation of its famed Champions Course as it prepares to host three consecutive NCAA Division I Women’s and Men’s Golf Championships beginning in May 2024.

The renovation and ensuing NCAA Championships mark the beginning of a new golf chapter at the 36-hole Southern California resort. The golf course work will be led by Hanse Golf Course Design, founded by Gil Hanse, who recently designed Fields Ranch East at the soon-to-open Omni PGA Frisco Resort in Frisco, Texas.

“We are excited to officially kick off this work with Gil Hanse, Jim Wagner and the rest of their team,” said Kurt Alexander, president of Omni Hotels & Resorts. “We believe that the Champions Course will be one of the marquee courses available to the public in Southern California after this renovation, and is another example of Omni’s commitment to elevating the experience across our golf portfolio nationwide.”

Hanse and team will implement significant design changes with the NCAA’s match-play format in mind, including challenging players with more risk-reward decisions throughout their rounds. Further inspiration for the work will be drawn from classic Southern California courses.

Specific changes planned include the creation of a drivable par-4 on No. 11, a repositioned green on the par-3 16th hole that is reminiscent of Augusta National’s 12th hole, and a reachable par-5 on No. 18 with its putting surface brought closer to the existing creek. The course will play as a par-72 and have the flexibility to play from 4,300 to 7,500 yards to accommodate players of all skill levels. 

Other considerations in this project are environmental in nature. For example, transitioning irrigation lines that will continue to use reclaimed water, removing manmade ponds, and reintroducing natural barrancas composed of drought tolerant and native species. David Smallwood is Omni La Costa’s director of agronomy.

“The setting and surrounds of the Champions Course lend themselves to a golf experience that looks and feels authentic to Southern California,” Hanse said. “Our design work will bring a bit more simplicity and elegance to course aesthetics. This will be accompanied by a strategic focus balancing enjoyment for everyday play by members and resort guests, with shot-making requirements that test the best of collegiate golf.”

The golf course work at Omni La Costa is planned to be joined in the coming months by another project focused on reimagining the resort’s golf practice facility. This project will be led by Beau Welling, and his firm, Beau Welling Design. The focus will be on elevating the practice experience with a newly lengthened driving range and expanded short game area. 

Like the golf course project, the practice range upgrades would incorporate a new irrigation system that will allow the facility to maintain efficient usage of water for sustainability considerations while still exhibiting the highest maintenance standards. 

“Omni La Costa was the site of victories by a ‘who’s who’ of all-time golf champions, such as Gary Player, Tom Watson, Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods, and we look forward to welcoming the next generation of greats to play on the Champions Course," said Randy Zupanski, managing director at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa. "We are thrilled to have Gil and Beau help us take our golf experience to another level and have our resort guests and club members enjoy this highly anticipated redesign."