The project begins -- from L to R: Avani and Umesh Patel,
Robert Trent Jones II, Trent Jones, and Mike Gorman
The home course of AmateurGolf.com is on its way to becoming one of the best municipal facilities in the United States.
Located in the island city of Alameda, California in San Francisco's East Bay, the facility was once second in rounds played to another public California public golf powerhouse, Torrey Pines. With today's announcement of the selection of Robert Trent Jones II Golf Course Architects to design the second nine and remodel the North Course, world-class golf will become more accessible to millions of Northern California golfers.
As the home course of AmateurGolf.com, Corica Park has served as the host of the Winter Invitational each December since the South Course was unveiled after a Rees Jones redesign. Now, tournaments like ours and the historic Alameda Commuters will have two amazing courses to compete on. More importantly, the hotbed of competitive golf (Alameda) that has a legacy of producing talented golfers will continue to thrive, and Greenway Golf's vision of making our great game even more fun.
Anyone that has played the South Course, or the first nine of the North Course can tell you that these layouts offer all of the strategy of the modern game, without the hole-after-hole forced carries and errant shot penalties that many public courses -- seemingly designed for Tour players only -- offer. Even better? Corica Park is very walkable, which we love.
Don't wait for the completion of the North Course to visit Corica Park. The South Course is open for play, as is the first nine of the North, the amazing practice facility and fun Mif Albright short course.
The official press release from Greenway Golf Associates follows:
Greenway Golf Associates today announced its collaboration with master architect Robert Trent Jones, Jr., and his golf course design company, Robert Trent Jones II Golf Course Architects (RTJII), to renovate the North Course at Corica Park—including the completion of the back nine holes.
Greenway Golf, the long-term lessee, developer, and manager of the 333-acre golf complex, selected RTJII because of its world-renowned expertise and environmental leadership in golf course design.
“We are honored to work with this living legend, and his talented team, to finish the North Course and make Corica Park one of the premier 36-hole public golf course facilities in the country,” said Avani and Umesh Patel, owners of Greenway. “Our mission at Greenway is to harmonize exceptional golf experiences with environmental and social sustainability. This wonderful big step validates our long-lasting commitment to Corica Park.”
Corica Park is home to the award-winning South Course, designed by famed architect Rees Jones, the brother of Robert Trent Jones, Jr. In a serendipitous first, the RTJII-renovated North Course and the existing South Course will make golf history, as Corica Park will be the only location in the world where the iconic brothers will have their names on side-by-side municipal golf courses.
“The Patels and Greenway have a remarkable vision for municipal golf courses,” said Jones, Jr., “one that evolves the role municipal golf can play in mitigating climate change and creating green spaces for everyone to enjoy. Our goal is to deliver on their vision of a memorable, challenging golf experience for all players, while taking a holistic approach to design and sustainability of the natural environment.”
Robert Trent Jones II is a lifelong golferConstruction on the back nine holes of the North Course, and adjustments to the existing front nine will begin in June. The popular, Golden Age style front nine was designed by former Greenway shareholder Marc Logan with Ron Whitten, Golf Digest architecture editor emeritus, serving as consultant. Completion of the North Course, expected December 2024, will continue the total overhaul undertaken by Greenway over the past 10 years to upgrade and modernize Corica Park, which also includes the award-winning Mif Albright Par-3 Course, the Lucius Bateman Driving Range, and an extensive practice facility.
“What Greenway is doing at Corica Park is impressive and truly different,” says Trent Jones, Chief Operating Officer of RTJII and son of Robert Trent Jones, Jr. “Their efforts to transform the site into a vital ecological habitat and socially inclusive resource are a model for the golf course industry and represent a shared values system and inspiration for our team. We’re looking forward to enhancing the golf experience at Corica Park with purposeful design and thoughtful challenges for golfers of all levels.”
“We are excited to put this essential piece in place,” says Umesh Patel. “Corica Park—like all municipal golf courses and open public spaces—belongs to everybody. Our job—as stewards of this land for decades to come—is to do meaningful, impactful work that provides the highest-quality golf destination and leverages this amazing community asset to create broad benefits for everyone.”
While the front nine holes will remain open for play during the renovation, the grand opening of the completed North Course at Corica Park is scheduled for December 2024.
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About Greenway Golf Associates
Dedicated to providing exceptional golf experiences, the mission of Greenway Golf is to harmonize successful golf course operations with high quality golf, measurable ecological stewardship, results-driven social initiatives, and inspired design. For more information visit
www.greenwaygolf.com
About Robert Trent Jones II Golf Course Architects
With headquarters in Palo Alto, Calif., Robert Trent Jones II Golf Course Architects (RTJ II) is the preeminent golf design firm worldwide, having created 280 courses in 48 countries on six continents. Trustees of a great tradition of golf course architecture, RTJ II is committed to working in harmony with nature to craft the best golf course on each unique site. The RTJ II design team has experience in every aspect of golf course development and the ability to provide support and expertise from conception through completion of any project. For additional information, visit the RTJ II website at
www.rtj2.com.