Though the 6,601-yard, par-71 layout is short by tour standards, head professional Carlo Borunda points out that the “sticky” Kikuyu grass makes the course play up to 200 yards longer because it significantly reduces the roll on tee shots. “Newport Beach Country Club is such a special place, and they want to make it even better.” “The new owners are interested in making the golf course as good as it can be,” O’Callaghan said, adding other planned improvements include turf reduction, tree removal, rebuilding bunkers throughout the course and rebuilding and/or reshaping selected greens. 1 is now a relatively straight 325-yarder with two new bunkers in the middle of the fairway that tempt long hitters to carry them and go for the green.) (Previously a 339-yard dogleg-left par-4, No.
In the past two years, those changes have included rebuilding the water hazard on the course’s signature hole – the 191-yard, par-3 17th – and redesigning the par-4 first hole so that a new short-game area could be built where the original tee box was located. New CEO Kevin Martin says he has been working with Newport Beach-based architect Casey O’Callaghan and that “subtle” course changes will be phased in over the next several years – improvements that will be “respectful of the current design and traditions of the club.” There have been periodic course upgrades and enhancements over the years – by Harry Rainville in 1973 and by Ted Robinson in the 1980s and 1990s – and the improvements will continue under the current owners. Enhancements at Newport Beach Country Club golf course should keep the ball rolling – Orange County Register Close Menu