CASE STUDY: TPC FOUR SEASONS, LAS COLINAS, TEXAS

    In 2006, TPC Four Seasons Las Colinas, site of the EDS Byron Nelson Championship Tournament, faced major problems. An aging course with failing greens and un-level tees combined with an insufficient irrigation system and bunkers were causing the course’s image and economics to suffer. After poor reviews and weak player attendance following the 2006 PGA Tour tournament, owner BentleyForbes and the Four Seasons resort held a golf redesign competition. As competition winners Weibring-Wolfard Golf Design completed construction drawings in three months in order to break ground directly after the 2008 tournament.
     Working hand-in-hand with all parties involved, Weibring-Wolfard utilized their customary Master Plan Process to define the wants and needs of the owners, operators, customers, members and professionals on the Las Colinas project. With these goals and those of former mentor Byron Nelson as his guide, D.A. Weibring and team redesigned the course with traditional square tee boxes, softer mounding, better sight lines and dramatic white-faced bunkers framing the fairway and green complexes. The team also improved the overall infrastructure of the course, including irrigation and drainage, to ensure the long-term health of the facility.
     In March 2008, the PGA TOUR, BentleyForbes, Four Seasons, and the Salesmanship Club of Dallas announced that the TPC Four Seasons was ready for play at the 2008 EDS Byron Nelson Championship. The course opened to nationwide accolades. The newly renovated course met the exacting standards of the PGA TOUR and its players, while offering resort guests and club members with a playable layout that is both fun and challenging. Four Seasons saw immediate economic results, raising initiation fees from $45,000 to $55,000 in a year with a target of $65,000 by the end of 2008. The resort is able to command higher golf rate both in package and individual rounds and to date is seeing a higher profile golf customer – overall. In January of 2009, TPC Four Seasons received recognition as 2008 Rennovation of the Year by Golf Inc. Magazine.
     The Weibring-Wolfard Golf Design team’s dedication to the project, attention to detail and steadfast determination to finish despite record rainfalls produced a traditional, classic course that met the needs and wants of all interested parties while honoring tournament founder, Byron Nelson.