Tripp Davis to Oversee Restoration of Hurricane Sandy-Damaged Rumson CC


Tripp Davis and Associates has completed a master plan for Rumson Country Club. The Jersey Shore course was ravaged by Hurricane Sandy when flooding damaged several golf holes and some 150 trees were downed on the course.

Originally designed by Herbert H. Barker, the English-born professional at Garden City Golf Club and a disciple of Walter Travis, the course was noted for its unusually shaped fairway bunkers and the traps in front of greens, as well as water hazards on nine holes.

"Golf course superintendent Ben Stover, the golf staff, general manager Mike Kurtas, the Master Plan Committee and the entire membership have been exceptional to work with as we completed the ,aster plan," said Davis.

"Rumson is a great club with a lot of history and I have really enjoyed uncovering the architectural lineage of the golf course, dating back to the original design by Herbert Barker that opened in 1910. Barker also was very involved with helping Walter Travis do the redesign of Garden City Golf Club in preparation for the 1908 U.S. Amateur. The two courses have a lot of similarities and Garden City will certainly be a source of inspiration as we move forward."

Davis is noted for his work with historic courses and is regarded as one of the leading restoration specialists in the U.S. His firm currently is implementing a master plan for New Jersey's Spring Lake Golf Club that will restore the character of the course first laid out by George Thomas and later improved upon by the legendary A.W. Tillinghast.

Davis' restoration forte is to make a course more strategically interesting for modern play so the end result lets golfers experience a step back in time. His firm recently completed a significant Long Range Restoration Plan for Whippoorwill Club in Armonk, N.Y. Other Northeast projects include Engineers Country Club, the Meadow Brook Club and Deepdale Golf Club, all in New York.