September 23, 2021 — NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The Yale University Department of Athletics is pleased to announce that it has retained leading golf course architect Gil Hanse and his company, Hanse Golf Course Design, to create an architectural restoration master plan for its iconic Charles Blair Macdonald and Seth Raynor designed Yale Golf Course.
 
“From the moment I stepped on campus three years ago, our Yale leadership and alumni from all over the world made it abundantly clear how important the Yale Golf Course is to not only Yale University, our teams, and the surrounding community, but to the game of golf. With our leadership team of General Manager Peter Palacios and superintendent Jeff Austin working closely with Gil Hanse, I am confident we will be able to give a golfing experience as exceptional as the university that bears its name.” said Victoria M. “Vicky” Chun, Thomas A. Beckett Director of Athletics.
 
“Gil’s experience, creativity, foresight, intellect and passion make him the ideal candidate to take on this responsibility,” said Peter Palacios, Yale Golf Course General Manager. “His considerable resume includes restorations of some of the most renowned golf courses in the world: Fishers Island Club (Raynor), Merion Golf Club (Wilson), the L.A. Country Club (Thomas), Sleepy Hollow Country Club (Macdonald & Raynor), and The Creek (Macdonald & Raynor).”
 
“The restoration of Yale Golf Course is the most significant restoration opportunity we have been entrusted with. The tremendous history of the design, the original significance of the course, and the potential that exists within its landscape are truly staggering. In restoring the scale of the design and the property, we have the opportunity to reacquaint the golf world with one of the landmark courses in the history of American golf course architecture,” said Hanse. “Our hope is that when we are finished, we will paint the landscape in the same tones and dimensions that Charles Blair Macdonald and Seth Raynor created. It is a great honor to have been selected to work on this course, and we are excited to do our homework to make it as authentic as possible.” 
 
At the Yale Golf Course’s inception, the canvas spanned over 700 acres, immersed with massive boulders, ledges of rock, swamps throughout and heavily wooded areas. The final creation was seen, in construction and character, as one of the finest golf courses in the world, created by Macdonald and Raynor.
 
Over time the Yale Golf Course has seen many changes to its original design. However, it has always maintained a solid foundation that continues to provide enthusiasm and excitement for regulars and newcomers alike.
 
The master plan includes significant investment into the maintenance of the course and the development of a fiscally sound business model. The increased capital into the maintenance endowments and the move to a daily-fee model provide the necessary support to keep Yale the No. 1-ranked college golf course in the country and elevate its standing as one of the best courses in the nation.
 
Yale Athletics is proud and excited to share plans with Yale alumni and the local community as it continues its mission of providing an exceptional golf experience for many years to come.

View the full announcement here.

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