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THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy or connect-LinkedIn/Facebook/Instagram
Tot Hill Farms-by Mike Strantz. The vision is back at Tot Hill Farms.
I SPOKE EARLIER THIS YEAR that in the last couple years, I finally got exposed to work by architect Mike Strantz.
Sadly, Strantz passed away from cancer at age 50, in 2005. His career cut short, after only 7 original designs and two major renovations.
What I have learned from seeing three of his courses, is that they are all good. So next week as the 2024 winter trip begins, I will see the fourth edition of Mike Strantz.
But since Strantz never designed any projects up north, many Midwest golfers are not familiar with his work. Which is something I am slowly doing, is trying to see what Strantz did before his passing. Tot Hill Farm sits in Asheboro North Carolina, about 50 minutes northwest of the famed Pinehurst resort. Another Strantz design Tobacco Road, is about 25 minutes northeast of Pinehurst. So I predict U.S. Open week this June, that plenty of golfers looking to get a round in, may venture out of Pinehurst to see a Strantz design. If you are in the Pinehurst area, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to go play Tot Hill Farm or Tobacco Road. RS.
Mike Strantz was known as a designer ahead of his time, those words are very accurate.
Mike Strantz was part of Tom Fazio’s design team, when Fazio had all the big golf design projects.
But in time Strantz, realized his time was now, so he went out on his own. When you look up Strantz designed courses, you find them in North and South Carolina, and Virginia.
However if Strantz was still designing courses years after he passed away, it seems like he would have been a fit to work with Chicagoan Mike Keiser. It seems likely that Strantz could have fit in at places like Bandon Dunes, Sand Valley, or Streamsong.
Unfortunately we will never know.
So while Tot Hill Farm was opened in the 1990’s, and is not an old course per-say, but 25 years takes it’s toll on any golf course. So last summer the restoration work started at Tot Hill Farms. The new clubhouse is a barn that dates back plenty of years-over a hundred says Tot Hill Farms GM Greg Wood.
Photo Courtesy of Tot Hill Farms.
So the clubhouse was not the only part of the restoration project.
Green sizes were restored, to the tune of over a 1/2 acre of space.
There was native grasses that had to be trimmed back. But with any form of restoration these days, there are trees that have to go.
So in this case the number was over 1200 trees that came down. Sight lines were restored, two non-original bunkers were removed. With two more bunkers being added. The bunkers were redone for better drainage and a new strain of grass was installed in the greens.
The 18th hole at Tot Hill Farms. Photo’s for this story were provided by Tot Hill Farms, and pictures were taken by Ryan Barnett and Jeff Marsh.
Cart path work was done out on the golf course, and around the clubhouse area.
So what has emerged is the restored vision of what Mike Strantz created back in the 1990’s.
The terrain of Tot Hill Farm is not very farm like.
In the Midwest farm land is usually flat with no character. But this is not the case at Tot Hill Farm. Because elevation change runs over 250 feet. Rolling hills that have been compared to ski slopes-comprise the fairways of Tot Hill Farms.
CLICK HERE to hear the full interview with Tot Hill Farm Gm Greg Wood.
THERE IS A SAYING when it comes to Mike Strantz designs. “Expect the Unexpected.”
So in a year with plenty of new courses coming online-and others coming back form renovation. Go and see a course that did it’s work last year, Tot Hill Farm in Asheboro North Carolina. Tothillfarm.com or call (336)-857-4455. A course that would be part of a Mike Strantz Trail-if there was one, maybe there will be one someday.
