Mark Coffeyt/Sun Photo One of the many improvements to Ironhorse Golf Club is the rock along the creek to stop erosion.
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After 18-month wait, Ironhorse almost ready to open
By: Philip Batson, Staff writer
Ironhorse Golf Club, 15400 Mission Road, Leawood, is almost ready for the public to come back after being closed for almost 18 months for renovations and improvements.
Ironhorse’s practice area, driving range and at least part of the clubhouse should open May 9 and the grand re-opening for Leawood’s public course is scheduled for the first part of June.
Ironhorse committee chairman Dick Fuller said the wait caused by winter weather has been difficult, but worth it.
“The people are going to be very pleased with what they see,” Fuller said. “There have been tremendous changes to the golf course. The facility, golf course, design and changes in the greens … the patrons and the people who have played this course are absolutely going to love it.”
Ironhorse shut down Jan. 1, 2007 for work on its greens, creek stabilization and storm water management. The “California greens” the course employed had caused drainage problems and creek erosion.
The total cost with engineering came to $4,866,767, with just over $1 million for reconstructed greens and $1.4 million for creek bank stabilization.
The course shut down to get everything fixed at one time, instead of sporadic changes and repairs, Fuller said.
“You just bite the bullet and get it over with at one particular time,” Fuller said.
Changes included rebuilding all greens to U.S. Golf Association specifications, reshaping the surrounding areas, adding concrete curbs, rerouting cart paths, adding trees, shelling out bunkers and improving drainage systems. Work also stabilized creek banks throughout the course.
The clubhouse also got new carpet, paint, cabinets and fixtures. Eight or nine holes had major changes to their greens.
What patrons will mostly notice is the difference in the greens and their breaks, General Manager Shane Gardner said.
“The greens used to be a little flatter and a little tamer and now they’re going to have a little more movement to them,” Gardner said. “Now a six- or seven-foot putt that somebody might have had in the past that would’ve been fairly flat is now going to have a little break to it one way or another. That will be the thing they’ll really enjoy.”
Fuller and Gardner are confident patrons will return to the course despite the extended closure. Ironhorse hosted events at other golf courses to keep in contact with members and clientele while closed.
Gardner said nobody has been able to play a new hole or even putt on the greens yet. He said he is excited about getting on the course.
“People are very anxious to get back on the golf course,” Fuller said. “It will be like opening a new golf course.”
Ironhorse is prorating membership rates for the remainder of the year. For more information, visit www.ironhorse golf.com.
All greens have been rebuilt with USGA specifications. The surrounding areas have also been reshaped.
Concrete curbs have been added around all teeing areas and greens.
In some areas, concrete paths have been rerouted to provide additional access to players and create a safer travel path.
The teeing area on hole five has been enlarged to accommodate more traffic.
The creek banks running through the property have been stabilized in some areas and the flow of water will be improved.
New trees have been added.
Bunkers have been shelled out and the drainage system within them improved. Additional improvements have been made to the Clubhouse as well.
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Ironhorse’s practice area, driving range and at least part of the clubhouse should open May 9 and the grand re-opening for Leawood’s public course is scheduled for the first part of June.
Ironhorse committee chairman Dick Fuller said the wait caused by winter weather has been difficult, but worth it.
“The people are going to be very pleased with what they see,” Fuller said. “There have been tremendous changes to the golf course. The facility, golf course, design and changes in the greens … the patrons and the people who have played this course are absolutely going to love it.”
Ironhorse shut down Jan. 1, 2007 for work on its greens, creek stabilization and storm water management. The “California greens” the course employed had caused drainage problems and creek erosion.
The total cost with engineering came to $4,866,767, with just over $1 million for reconstructed greens and $1.4 million for creek bank stabilization.
The course shut down to get everything fixed at one time, instead of sporadic changes and repairs, Fuller said.
“You just bite the bullet and get it over with at one particular time,” Fuller said.
Changes included rebuilding all greens to U.S. Golf Association specifications, reshaping the surrounding areas, adding concrete curbs, rerouting cart paths, adding trees, shelling out bunkers and improving drainage systems. Work also stabilized creek banks throughout the course.
The clubhouse also got new carpet, paint, cabinets and fixtures. Eight or nine holes had major changes to their greens.
What patrons will mostly notice is the difference in the greens and their breaks, General Manager Shane Gardner said.
“The greens used to be a little flatter and a little tamer and now they’re going to have a little more movement to them,” Gardner said. “Now a six- or seven-foot putt that somebody might have had in the past that would’ve been fairly flat is now going to have a little break to it one way or another. That will be the thing they’ll really enjoy.”
Fuller and Gardner are confident patrons will return to the course despite the extended closure. Ironhorse hosted events at other golf courses to keep in contact with members and clientele while closed.
Gardner said nobody has been able to play a new hole or even putt on the greens yet. He said he is excited about getting on the course.
“People are very anxious to get back on the golf course,” Fuller said. “It will be like opening a new golf course.”
Ironhorse is prorating membership rates for the remainder of the year. For more information, visit www.ironhorse golf.com.
All greens have been rebuilt with USGA specifications. The surrounding areas have also been reshaped.
Concrete curbs have been added around all teeing areas and greens.
In some areas, concrete paths have been rerouted to provide additional access to players and create a safer travel path.
The teeing area on hole five has been enlarged to accommodate more traffic.
The creek banks running through the property have been stabilized in some areas and the flow of water will be improved.
New trees have been added.
Bunkers have been shelled out and the drainage system within them improved. Additional improvements have been made to the Clubhouse as well.