Bobby Weed Golf Design Completes Renovation of Pleasant Valley Country Club

Bobby Weed Golf Design has completed its renovation of the golf course and practice facilities at Pleasant Valley Country Club, thus concluding its five-year relationship with the private member-owned club in Little Rock, Ark. The project was part of a long-range master plan developed by the design firm in 2011. The 27-hole layout, which opened in 1968, was designed by Joe Finger, with Jimmy Demaret and Byron Nelson as consultants. Weed’s renovation represents the only significant update of the golf course through the years.

“The renovation has enhanced this distinctive course’s exceptional aesthetic appeal,” said Bobby Weed, president & CEO of Bobby Weed Golf Design. “Players will appreciate the parkland appeal and rolling topography of the layout while using discerning, interesting strategy on every hole.”

All three sets of nine holes on this challenging layout converge at the clubhouse. Weed and Chris Monti, his design partner, and their team worked on each nine through the winter, completing the third nine earlier this spring.

Significant components of the overall renovation included: updating the strategy and placement while reconstructing all bunkers, drainage improvements, tree removal and re-grassing of perimeter roughs. In addition, Weed rehabilitated a number of open water channels, adding river rock lining to produce greater aesthetic value while enhancing the practical value for conveying storm water.

Significant redesign of the practice facility also was implemented, including tee expansion improvements to target definition down range and a new short game chipping and bunker green. A separate wedge area with pancake target greens also was constructed. Allowing practice of shots from 35-85 yards, it has a dedicated 10,000-square-foot tee. Said Monti, “The updated practice facilities are the most complete in the Little Rock area. Current members can fully calibrate their games and new members might join on the basis of the new practice area alone.”

In conjunction with the overall renovation project, the club also installed a new state-of-the-art irrigation system for all 27 holes. Contractors on the project included Lepanto Golf Construction of Pomona Park, Fla., and Nutt Irrigation of Tullahoma, Tenn.

About Bobby Weed Golf Design: Acclaimed golf course designer Bobby Weed specializes in design, renovation and repurposing. His work features a balance of visual appeal, sustainability and playability, all informed by an environmentally-sensitive aesthetic and an exceptional hands-on, holistic approach. Bobby Weed Golf Design is a leader in golf course repurposing - a means to update layouts through redesign and reallocation of partial acreage for higher value land uses. Repurposing helps clubs and communities preserve golf while surmounting economic and other challenges. Weed’s skill, vision and business acumen coalesce to result in successful, refined and durable golf course design.

Weed began his professional career with an extended apprenticeship with Pete Dye, launching a collaboration of over 35 years’ duration and a lifelong friendship. Hired in 1983 by the PGA Tour, Weed was the Tour’s in-house designer from 1987-1996. He was responsible for the design of many of today’s best-known TPC venues, which continue as host sites for prominent Tour events.

Weed also was able to collaborate with many of golf’s most familiar names, including Sam Snead, Gene Sarazen, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Raymond Floyd, Jerry Pate and Chi Chi Rodriguez - a rare cross section of experience.

In 1994, Weed’s career reached an apex with the formation of his own design firm, where he continues to “handcraft” golf courses. Today, Bobby Weed Golf Design has amassed an impressive list of new and renovated courses that consistently are ranked at the top of their respective categories, including The Olde Farm Golf Club, Spanish Oaks Golf Club, The Golf Course at Glen Mills, Medalist Golf Club and Timuquana Country Club.

Bobby Weed is a member of the American Society of Golf Course Architects, the Historical Committee of the Donald Ross Society, the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America and the Florida Turfgrass Association.

For more information on Bobby Weed Golf Design, see www.bobbyweed.com.