Courtesy of Robert McNeil
Robert McNeil, ASGCA, has recently completed the reintroduction of Donald Ross-designed features at Kernwood Country Club in Salem, Massachusetts.
Kernwood is an original Ross design from his early years, featuring nine holes completed in 1914 and additional nine in 1916. For nearly 15 years, McNeil, has been guiding the club toward a vision to recapture the original essence of the routing and reintroduce pieces of the course that had been lost to tree overgrowth, planting and wandering mowing lines. Aerial photography dating back to the 1930s as well as original Ross sketches were studied and utilized to give direction to the improvements.
The recent work included recapturing and restoring the Ross bunker styling throughout the property, which involved constructing 44 new bunkers, removing a few, bringing back original grassing lines in the fairways, expanding green perimeters to their intended edges and introducing grass catchment and tightly mown pitch areas.
More than 800 trees were removed to open sight lines through the property from hole to hole and to capture the vista along the Danvers River running along holes 5-7. The tree management program has resulted in the opportunity to develop framing turf, expand fairways and offer new lines of play.
The work began in 2006 with the task of “putting Kernwood back together” following the installation of a 48-inch gas line routed directly through several holes. The club has since been committed to an historical vision led by McNeil, greens chair Frank Cole and club professional Frank Dully. Along with the restorative work, new tees have been constructed, including a new first tee complex and new putting green. The vision for the work was shaped and executed by Country Golf Inc. led by Jerry and Jim Demers and the incredible maintenance team at Kernwood led by superintendent John Eggleston.
