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Holyoke, CO – Ownership at Ballyneal Golf & Hunt Club is proud to announce the decision to add a second, 18-hole course at the private club in the sand hills of northeastern Colorado. Bruce Hepner, lead design associate of Tom Doak’s Renaissance Golf Design for the original Ballyneal course, has been chosen to design the new course. Construction will begin this year.
“Ballyneal is a world-class golf course, and we expect the new course will put Ballyneal in the category of Royal Melbourne and Winged Foot with respect to the best 36-hole private clubs in the world,” says Ballyneal founder Rupert O’Neal. “Naturally, the second course will enhance Ballyneal’s appeal as a golfing destination.”
Heralded for its all-fescue playing surface and a firm-and-fast style that rewards creative play, the original course at Ballyneal will remain walking-only and will be uncompromised by the addition of the new course.
The land for the new course sits to the southeast and south of the existing 18. While the site for Ballyneal's original course reminds golfers of the Irish west coast links, the new course's land will be more reminiscent of the East Lothian linksland in Scotland
“The site for the new 18 is a quieter piece of ground, so nothing needs to be forced,” Hepner says. “My goal will be to peel away the layers and let the best golf course evolve and reveal itself. We will be seeking a similar playing surface to the existing course at Ballyneal while accommodating limited cart play on the new 18.”
Hepner, vice president and senior design associate at Doak’s Renaissance Golf from 1994, formed Hepner Golf Design in June 2010 while continuing to do contract work for Doak. Highlights of Hepner’s career include lead design associate on Ballyneal and Cape Kidnappers (New Zealand) and design associate on Pacific Dunes and Old Macdonald in Oregon.
“In the building of Ballyneal, no one spent more time here than Bruce Hepner,” O’Neal says. “He knows our land. He’s worked long hours side-by-side with our crew. He enjoys our members. He gets the Ballyneal vibe, loves that we don’t have tee markers. He will deliver what our members want – an equally exceptional, equally fun complement to what we already enjoy. Bruce has great affection for this place and I know he will pour his heart and soul into the project.”
Ballyneal is located in the sand hills of northeastern Colorado, 2.5 hours from Denver. The Ballyneal land is referred to by locals as the “chop hills,” due to the unique characteristics of its dunes. Ballyneal was Travel + Leisure Golf’s Best New Course of 2006 and currently is ranked #6 Best Modern by Golfweek, #48 in the United States by Golf Magazine, and one of Golf Digest’s America’s 100 Greatest Courses. The intimate setting at Ballyneal includes the golf shop, a fine-dining restaurant and three lodges with private suites. To learn more visit www.ballyneal.com or call 970-854-5900.
Ballyneal to Add a Second 18-hole Course
4/14/2011
Holyoke, CO – Ownership at Ballyneal Golf & Hunt Club is proud to announce the decision to add a second, 18-hole course at the private club in the sand hills of northeastern Colorado. Bruce Hepner, lead design associate of Tom Doak’s Renaissance Golf Design for the original Ballyneal course, has been chosen to design the new course. Construction will begin this year.
“Ballyneal is a world-class golf course, and we expect the new course will put Ballyneal in the category of Royal Melbourne and Winged Foot with respect to the best 36-hole private clubs in the world,” says Ballyneal founder Rupert O’Neal. “Naturally, the second course will enhance Ballyneal’s appeal as a golfing destination.”
Heralded for its all-fescue playing surface and a firm-and-fast style that rewards creative play, the original course at Ballyneal will remain walking-only and will be uncompromised by the addition of the new course.
The land for the new course sits to the southeast and south of the existing 18. While the site for Ballyneal's original course reminds golfers of the Irish west coast links, the new course's land will be more reminiscent of the East Lothian linksland in Scotland
“The site for the new 18 is a quieter piece of ground, so nothing needs to be forced,” Hepner says. “My goal will be to peel away the layers and let the best golf course evolve and reveal itself. We will be seeking a similar playing surface to the existing course at Ballyneal while accommodating limited cart play on the new 18.”
Hepner, vice president and senior design associate at Doak’s Renaissance Golf from 1994, formed Hepner Golf Design in June 2010 while continuing to do contract work for Doak. Highlights of Hepner’s career include lead design associate on Ballyneal and Cape Kidnappers (New Zealand) and design associate on Pacific Dunes and Old Macdonald in Oregon.
“In the building of Ballyneal, no one spent more time here than Bruce Hepner,” O’Neal says. “He knows our land. He’s worked long hours side-by-side with our crew. He enjoys our members. He gets the Ballyneal vibe, loves that we don’t have tee markers. He will deliver what our members want – an equally exceptional, equally fun complement to what we already enjoy. Bruce has great affection for this place and I know he will pour his heart and soul into the project.”
Ballyneal is located in the sand hills of northeastern Colorado, 2.5 hours from Denver. The Ballyneal land is referred to by locals as the “chop hills,” due to the unique characteristics of its dunes. Ballyneal was Travel + Leisure Golf’s Best New Course of 2006 and currently is ranked #6 Best Modern by Golfweek, #48 in the United States by Golf Magazine, and one of Golf Digest’s America’s 100 Greatest Courses. The intimate setting at Ballyneal includes the golf shop, a fine-dining restaurant and three lodges with private suites. To learn more visit www.ballyneal.com or call 970-854-5900.
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Hundred Hole Hike
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The Hundred Hole Hike (HHH) is a national-network of golf marathons where participants plan to walk 100 or more holes of golf in one day in order to raise money for various worthwhile charitable causes. Please go to http://www.hundredholehike.com/ for more details. |

Chicago Public Course Rankings

When it comes to Chicago-area golf, we have it covered. Because of this, we can publish the following Top 25 list and confidently call it the Definitive Guide to Chicago Area Public Golf Courses. Just a friendly service to visitors who want to experience the best public golf that this great city has to offer. New! Updated August 2011
1 May 2007 I Read the full story

My Course Rankings
1. Pine Valley
2. National Golf Links of America
3. St. Andrews (Old)
4. Cypress Point
5. Ballyneal
6. Shinnecock Hills
7. Royal Dornoch
8. Oakmont
9. Merion (East)
10. Pacific Dunes
11. Friars Head
12. Sand Hills
13. Tara Iti
14. Pinehurst No 2
15. Royal Melbourne (West)
16. Pebble Beach
17. Chicago Golf Club
18. Riviera
19. Los Angeles CC (North)
20. North Berwick
2. National Golf Links of America
3. St. Andrews (Old)
4. Cypress Point
5. Ballyneal
6. Shinnecock Hills
7. Royal Dornoch
8. Oakmont
9. Merion (East)
10. Pacific Dunes
11. Friars Head
12. Sand Hills
13. Tara Iti
14. Pinehurst No 2
15. Royal Melbourne (West)
16. Pebble Beach
17. Chicago Golf Club
18. Riviera
19. Los Angeles CC (North)
20. North Berwick
27 June 2011 - Click here for full rankings

One Divot at a Time...

My book of golf adventures, "One Divot at a Time...:Diary of a Full-Fledged Golf Addict, Volume 1" is now available on amazon.com for $12.95 $8.06 in paperback or only $1.99 on Kindle. All proceeds go to Ben Cox and his family. Check it out!
10 December 2009 I Click for more details

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Golf Blog 100

Wegoblogger31 is a proud contributor to the Golf Blog 100, a Top 100 golf course rating that is a collaborative view of the top golf bloggers.
Latest Profiles:
18 Sept 2009 I Click here for more

The Ben Cox 108-Hole Golf Marathon

What: A 108-golf marathon to raise money for Ben Cox, a Ballyneal caddie who was paralyzed from a severe skiing accident in March.
When: June 22, 2011 (update)
Where: Ballyneal Golf & Hunt Club - Holyoke, CO
Total Raised to Date: $109,825
Required Reading:
How to Give:
Send a check payable to: Prairie Home Baptist Church (memo: Ballyneal fundraiser)
Prairie Home Baptist Church
P.O. Box 271
Haxtun, CO 80731
P.O. Box 271
Haxtun, CO 80731
In the News:
- Colorado Golf Association website: "Going the Distance for a Good Cause: Ballyneal member gears up for 108-hole marathon to benefit partially-paralyzed former caddie"
- Holyoke Enterprise: "Ballyneal member aims to help Cox family"
- Cybergolf: "Ballyneal Member Invites Others to Join 108-Hole Fundraiser"
- Omaha World Herald: Golf Notes (5/31)
- Denver Post: "Ballyneal golf club brings two together after accident" (6/12)- Holyoke Enterprise: "Ballyneal member aims to help Cox family"
- Cybergolf: "Ballyneal Member Invites Others to Join 108-Hole Fundraiser"
- Omaha World Herald: Golf Notes (5/31)
- Radio interview on 104.3 The Fan in Denver (6/18)
- Colorado Avid Golfer: "Golfer's Charitable Marathon Could Get You on Riviera" (6/24)
- Radio interview on 104.3 The Fan in Denver (6/25)
- Golf Channel: "W18: Patience and Perspective" (6/27)
- Golf World Monday: "Marathon Man" (6/27)
- Holyoke Enterprise: "The Ben Cox 108 (give or take 47) climbs beyond $77,000" (6/30)
- Chicago Tribune: "All-day golf event raises more than $100,000 for paralyzed caddie" (7/8)
- Golf Channel: "W18: Patience and Perspective" (6/27)
- Golf World Monday: "Marathon Man" (6/27)
- Holyoke Enterprise: "The Ben Cox 108 (give or take 47) climbs beyond $77,000" (6/30)
- Chicago Tribune: "All-day golf event raises more than $100,000 for paralyzed caddie" (7/8)

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