Happy New Year!

Dear Friends, Fellow Golf Nerds, Golf Course Aficionados, Architects, Superintendents,  Professionals, Golf Nerds, Die Hards, ...etc 

I just wanted to take a minute to wish all of you a Happy New Year!

 Snowy Bunkers at Aronimink

From restoring the work of Ross and MacDonald at Aronimink and The Creek with Hanse Golf Design, to helping create The Cradle, Pinehurst’s new Par-3 Course, 2017 was another fun and busy year! Between all that I became a member of a golf club for the first time in my life, kept up my average of visiting 50 different golf courses this year, wrote an article about "Chunking", and made some more progress at The Village Club of Sands Point.

2018 is shaping up to be another awesome year! The first big project of the year will be back in Pinehurst working on Course No 4, so if you need an escape from the cold, come on down! I am really looking forward to watching the pros negotiate the bunkers at Ridgewood and Aronimink this fall for the FedEx Cup so if you are in NJ or Philly for either tournament please get in touch. Fingers are crossed for some new and interesting projects not too far from home as well. So if you find yourself in the area, drop me a line and bring your clubs! 

I have included a few images of highlights from 2017 as a small token of my appreciation for helping me chase the dream for another year.

Thanks again, and may everyone have a great golfing 2018!

Jaeger Kovich

Proudest Moment of the Year:

Joining one of my favorite golf courses in the world

(anyone interested in a trip to the Chop Hills this year?!)

Most Memorable Round of the Year

Opening day at Streamsong Black with The Cavemen 

Favorite Restored Feature of the Year

The Creek Club's Leven Mound

Hidden Gem(s) of the Year:

Berkleigh Golf Club, Kutztown, PA by Robert White and 

Lakewood Country Club, Lakewood, NJ by Walter J Travis

Coolest GCA Artifact of the Year:

Donald Ross Horseshoe found in the dirt at Aronimink

Most "Can't Wait" for next Year:

BMW Championship at Aronimink Golf Club

New Article: A Guide to Chunking, Golf Course Architecture magazine

Check out Jaeger's new article in Golf Course Architecture magazine's latest issue. A behind the scenes look at building natural looking hazards.

Pictured above is of some of Proper Golf's shaping work for 

Hanse Golf Design on the soon to open Streamsong Resort Black Course, in Florida

Full Issue http://www.golfcoursearchitecture.net/content/issue-48-of-golf-course-architecture-is-out-now

Direct link - http://digital.tudor-rose.co.uk/golf-course-architecture/issue48/#34

... Keep an eye out for more exciting news to come, and more pictures from the completed restoration of Aronimink Golf Club.

On the Drawing Table: Master Plan for The Village Club of Sands Point

As consulting architect for The Village Club of Sands Point, Jaeger Kovich of Proper Golf is now working with the club on a Master Plan to reconnect the golf course to the historic property and the long term improvement of the golf course. The golf course sits on the former estate of Isaac Guggenheim. The beautiful Long Island property sits high above the Hempstead Harbor where Isaac built a mansion called Villa Carola, that looks down on the water on one side, and out to the New York City skyline on the other. On the estate he also built a private 9-hole golf course with its own clubhouse, stables, and incredible gate house. 

Since it's gold coast days, the property transformed into IBM Country Club, and was then purchased by The Village of Sands Point in 90's. The Village Club of Sands Point, as it is known today is home to an 18-hole course designed by Tom Doak of Renaissance Golf Design. 

Over the years, serving so many different roles, and functions, the goal of Proper Golf's Master Plan for The Village Club of Sands Point is to improve the golf course by uncovering the dramatic and historic property. Exposing views into the New York City Skyline, The Mansion, and The Hempstead Harbor are just the jumping off point. There are elements restoration, as well as a few brand new holes, and other features that will help the golf course interact more with the most interesting parts of the property. 

Back in the Press: Jaeger Kovich interviewed by BuffaloGolfer

Jaeger Kovich shaping at Ridgewood Country Club

Jaeger Kovich of Proper Golf is back in the press, this time interviewed by BuffaloGolfer. Picking up from last months GolfClubAtlas Feature Interview with Ran Morrissett, this interview touches on a few other subjects ranging from my first golf memories, to one of my least favorite questions: If you could only play one course for the rest of your life, which course would you choose?

http://buffalogolfer.com/wordpress/2016-interview-series-architect-and-builder-jaeger-kovich/

You can also find Ron M's introduction and link to the interview on golfclubatlas here:

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,62689.0.html

Back to Black.... Streamsong

Streamsong Black is currently under construction

Jaeger Kovich (Proper Golf) is back in Florida working with Hanse Golf Design and The Cavemen on the 3rd course at The Streamsong Resort, in Polk County, Florida. The Black Course, will join two of the best modern courses in the world (Red and Blue). The new course is starting to look pretty cool!


(Check out the nice feature on Golf Channel's Morning Drive)
http://www.golfchannel.com/media/course-routing-released-streamsong-black/

http://www.streamsongresort.com/

Golf Club Atlas Feature Interview with Jaeger Kovich

Golf Club Atlas' February Feature Interview with Jaeger Kovich has been posted!

Ran Morrissett's Introduction:
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,62522.msg1487900.html#new

The Full Interview:
http://golfclubatlas.com/feature-interview-with-jaeger-kovich/

Ran and Jaeger cover a variety of topics ranging from A.W. Tillinghast, to his first solo project at The Village Club of Sands Point, a comparison between architectural icons Gil Hanse and Tom Doak, going inside the mind of a shaper, the future generation of golf course architects, and more.

For those who are not familiar with www.golfclubtlas.com it is the website of golf course aficionados Ran Morrissett, Ben Cowan-Dewar, and Joe Andriole. I have been a longtime poster on the discussion board and am truly honored to have my interview listed along side names like Tom Doak, Gil Hanse, Jack Nicklaus, Mike Keiser and many more. http://golfclubatlas.com/feature-interview/

Stay tuned for another interview coming at The Buffalo Golfer in March!

Streamsong Black Golf Course

(photo from http://www.golf.com/courses-and-travel/gil-hanse-design-third-streamsong-course)

As winter has finally come to the North East, Jaeger Kovich (Proper Golf) is back working with Hanse Golf Design and The Cavemen on the 3rd course at The Streamsong Resort, in Polk County, Florida. The Black Course, which will join two of the best modern courses in world (Red and Blue), is under construction and looking good!


http://www.streamsongresort.com/