HERITAGE OAKS is open for play, 27 holes and the new clubhouse. Heritageoaks.com

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy or connect on LinkedIn and Facebook.

The third time is the charm for this historic hole at the Calvary Club in New York-Dick Wilson’s final design.

When golfers go to Cog Hill in Palos Park, to play Dubsdread or Cog Hill Course #4, they are playing one of the great designs by architect Dick Wilson and Joe Lee.

But in New York the Calvary Club is another one of those classic Wilson/Lee designs. Wilson died shortly after the club was completed. But it was also a career launcher for Joe Lee.

The Calvary Club opened on June 26, 1965, with all the looks of a Wilson design including flanking fairway bunkers, green complexes with large putting surfaces surrounded by strategic bunkers. But for Lee the club was his first solo routing, and supervising during construction.

The Calvary Club name comes from the land once being a host to a Calvary troop in the early 1900’s after the Spanish American War. Later the troop became Company D of the 104th Machine Gun Battalion, a unit of the 27th Division of the New York National Guard.

Leading into WWII the Calvary became the 101st Battalion of Company C., which played a key role in the development of the golf course.

Construction will begin next month, and for architect David Ferris, it’s the chance to renovate the course he grew up playing golf at.

“I am extremely excited about the opportunity to return home to Calvary. A place that holds so may wonderful memories and where golf became part of my life,” Ferris said. “When I played Calvary as a kid, I had no idea who Dick Wilson and Joe Lee were. I’m convinced my fascination with the golf course design, and Wilson’s work is rooted in that early immersion. So I have never been more excited about a renovation project.”

The project will include restoring all the bunkers, collection area’s around the greens, restoring fairway widths in the landing area’s. But most of all bringing the original feel of the course by removing trees. Drainage in the practice area, and developing a short game venue. But learn more about John Sanford and Derek Ferris Sanfordgolfdesign.com.