Oak Tree eyes PGA Tour stop

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July 23, 2009

Renovated course re-brands as Oak Tree National

Eric Spruill

EDMOND — Oak Tree National celebrated its re-opening on Wednesday, after undergoing major renovations which should make it a routine stop on the PGA Tour.

A group of investors, led by Oklahoma City businessman Ed Evans, went into the renovation project looking to return the course to its original condition.

Hear Ed Evans on the history of the course

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They brought in Pete Dye, who designed the course in 1976, and took advice from all the club's touring pros, and the result exceeded expectations.

"Mr. Dye, who is 82-83 years old, walked every hole. All the tour pros had their say. We put new sod in on every fairway with Bermuda U-3 turf, made changes to greens, which makes chipping a premium. Every bunker has been redone and expanded. We added an additional 22 bunkers, and put in a $2 million irrigation system," Evans said of the $6 million renovation, which includes a state of the art practice facility.

Hear Evans on the renovations

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Before, tour pros would have to travel to Titleist Performance Institute in Carlsbad, Calif., to use equipment that Oak Tree National Teaching Facility now owns.

"Oak Tree National has great potential," Mayor Patrice Douglas said. "With great economic potential for the city of Edmond, and the state of Oklahoma.

"People in this state and in this city love golf."

Douglas said that in a recent survey, Oklahomans ages 6 and older played an estimated 4.4 million rounds of golf each year.

Evans said that they expect their club membership to take off.

"It had 550 members at its peak, now we have 240 members. We believe that we can get 300 local members and 100 national members," Evans said.

According to Evans, Oak Tree National can become a routine stop on the PGA Tour, and it will be.

"2006 was very successful," Evans said. "It can host a PGA Tour event, and we've been in talks with the PGA about hosting a PGA Tour event every 2-3 years."

"But there are still some things that need to be worked out," he said.

The owner went on to say that they need some help from the city in making roads such as Waterloo four-lane roads, to handle the traffic of a PGA Tour event.

The course itself is ready. The Oklahoma Golf Association was sent to the course to find out its rating by the USGA, and the results astounded Oak Tree officials and members. With a 179.3 rating from the tips, Oak Tree National is rated as the No. 3 toughest course in North America, behind only The Pines in Bolton, Mass., and The Ocean Course in Kiawah, S.C.

"It's hard," Evans said. "It has been interesting listening to the members. Some think it's tougher, while others think it's easier because the fairways and greens are better. It's a shot-maker's course. It's a tough test of golf."