DUNEDIN, FL. – Course renovations are commonplace in golf, but the one recently completed at Dunedin Golf Club was far from the ordinary. You don’t just tinker around with one of Donald Ross’ original designs – and this one is even much more than one of those.

Ross did his work creating the course in 1927. Kris Spence, a Ross specialist, guided the $6 million renovation of the municipal course just north of Tampa in 2024.

The Scotland-born Ross was a fine player, having finished in the top 10 in four U.S. Opens and one British Open in his heyday as a competitor through 1910. After that he focused on course architecture. He’s credited with designing about 300 courses from scratch and was involved in the re-design of about 200 others in the U.S. and Canada before his death at age 75 in 1948.

From its beginning Dunedin was considered one of Ross’ best – even by the architect himself. A 1928 newspaper clipping in the club archives has Ross quoted as telling a New York businessman that “the Dunedin Isles (its original name) 18-hole course is my masterpiece.’’

Golf historians will debate that, but few of his courses have the historical significance that Dunedin does.

In 1944 the course was leased by the PGA of America and its headquarters were moved from downtown Chicago to Dunedin. The course, then dubbed PGA National, hosted 18 Senior PGA Championships. The first PGA teaching academy was held there, and the first PGA Merchandise Show was staged in the Dunedin parking lot in 1954.  During those years Dunedin players included legends like Bobby Jones, Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Sam Snead, Louis Suggs, Babe Didrickson Zaharias and Byron Nelson.

The PGA of America left Dunedin in 1962, moved to Palm Beach Gardens, FL., and  made PGA  National the course name of the layout there.

Through it all the course underwent several renovations that gradually changed it from the layout that Ross had created. It remained one of Florida’s top municipal courses and getting added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2014 preserved its legacy.

That didn’t change the fact that the old course needed revitalizing, however, and that’s when the City of Dunedin brought in Spence for the latest renovation that was designed to return the course to its roots. Spence had to literally uncover its past.

“The most pleasant surprise was that I could see the old greens extending out beneath those renovations,’’ said Spence.  “They had never been destroyed – just buried.  We were able to excavate, expose and restore them exactly as Ross designed them.’’

More significantly, Spence  transformed the bunkering to modernize the historic layout.

Don and Grace Goodall, club members who created a comprehensive history of the facility, suggested Ross would have questioned that:

“If Ross saw the course a few decades later he would probably have said, `What did you do with my bunkers?’’

That’s a fair question. Ross’ original design had 114 bunkers. During the time the PGA operated the course that number dropped to 47. Now the course has 86. That’s more a reflection of the changes made to golf in general over the years than it is a criticism of Ross’ layout.

“If Ross saw how far the ball goes today and how fast the greens are I don’t think he’d design exactly the same course,’’ said Blair Kline, Dunedin’s general manager of golf operations.  “Now we have the course that we believe he would have designed. The routing is original, but we adjusted a few bunkers for modern distances and recaptured all the original pin placements.’’

Dunedin is also designated as “Tree City USA,” which made it difficult to remove certain trees.  That was another component of Spence’s renovation effort.

What we found on our first-ever visit to Dunedin was a most playable layout with big, sweeping greens and deep, challenging bunkers. The long gulley that ran through the 13^th green made for a memorable putting experience.

All the holes have names, and Crossing Curlew is our favorite.  Curlew is a road near the course and a distinctive water tower is located on it.  This somewhat controversial hole is a sporty dogleg left par-5. It’s a strategic hole with the placement of the drive critical and a second shot over thick vegetation that seemed more demanding than it actually is.

Kline calls the renovation “an overwhelming success.’’

“People are going out of their way to come here and play it,’’ he said.  From that respect it’s helping to put Dunedin in front of people who may not be aware of this community and how great it is.’’

The par-72 course tops out at 6,766 yards from the back tees and is 4,593 from the shortest markers. Fees for 18 holes range from $85 to $130.  Check dunedingolfclub.com for more information.

 

ORLANDO, FL — The Golf Travel Writers of America underwent a leadership change this year, with George McNeilly taking over as its president.

GTWA is a professional organization for golf travel writers, editors, broadcasters and other media professionals who focus on covering golf destinations and the broader golf travel industry.  Its mission is to uphold high standards of journalism, share industry expertise and deliver reliable, engaging coverage of golf experiences world-wide.

“No press releases or agency content can match the credibility and authenticity of third-party media that have no vested interest in the success or failure of a golf course, resort or sporting event,’’ McNeilly said. “The most important thing is for our members to respect the history and heritage of our organization.’’

GTWA dates back 21 years when it was a labor of love for the creators, Bruce Vittner and John Edwards. They wanted to create a forum for freelance writers. Golf travel writing has changed a bit since the founding in 2005.

“The landscape continues to change rapidly, as most credible storytellers in media centers or on assignment are not full-time employees,’’ said McNeilly.  “I’m not sure those craving amplification for their businesses fully understand the decline in staff and budgets at news organizations and really appreciate the broad reach and dedication of our members.’’

For working media who meet the qualifying criteria, membership provides meaningful benefits, access to a network of experienced peers, opportunities for collaboration, professional development and increased visibility with a dedicated community focused on the craft.  It also connects writers with industry partners, tourism groups and destinations.

“That makes GTWA an ideal place to grow professionally, stay informed and strengthen one’s presence in the golf media landscape,’’ said McNeilly. “Everything starts with a conversation.  We’re moving into a more modern era, and we also want to be seen as the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval for those who travel and write about a sport we all deeply care for.’’

This year’s transition began with the crafting of revised bylaws and a simple mission statement: `To inform and engage golf fans and participants with integrity wherever the sport is played, watched, attended, written about or visited.’’

Some members suggested that the organization needed a new name, but the majority quickly rejected the idea.

“We’ll always be doing something that involves writing,’’ said McNeilly.  “The GTWA is even more relevant, as we distribute on emerging platforms to more people than ever.’’

Incoming vice president Alan Darty, publisher of Golf One Media, led a team that has redesigned the association’s website to better serve the needs of a membership that includes broadcasters, podcasters and credible influencers who share the organization’s mission.

“Golftravelwriters.com is a one-stop hub for golf-related businesses to experience the quality work of our members and to connect with them,’’ Darty said.

McNeilly’s own career experiences should greatly benefit the organization.  For the past 14 years he has taught Sports Business at Full Sail University and writes about professional golf and destinations when he’s not in the classroom

Before that he was a senior executive at ESPN for more than a decade after beginning his career as an award-winning multimedia broadcaster, producer and writer with experience from four Olympics, 17 Super Bowls and many of golf’s biggest events.

In addition to McNeilly and Darty the  GTWA executive committee includes Dan Vukelich (secretary), Joy Sarver (treasurer) and this writer, as president emeritus. The organization is now based in Orlando, FL.  For more information visit http://golftravelwriters.com. Membership information is available there.

“We want to be welcoming,’’ said McNeilly. “So many people are multi-medium now. We’ve got to bring that mindset. The word is continuing to spread.  There’s ample opportunities for all contributors to provide value to the audiences and destinations that we’re serving.’’

Thomas Detry was a stalwart on some of coach Mike Small’s powerhouse teams at the University of Illinois, but he was in a more interesting position as a touring pro over the weekend.

Detry figured to be defending championship in the Waste Management Phoenix Open, one of the most popular PGA Tour events, until he made the decision to give up a full time PGA Tour card  to play on the  lucrative Saudi-based LIV Tour.

In that capacity  Detry made his LIV debut in that circuit’s first tournament of 2026, in Riyadh, Saudia Arabia. It wasn’t just the money that led to Detry switching circuits.  He likes team golf. LIV has it, the PGA Tour doesn’t. He also got drafted by a good team.

Dustin Johnson, captain of the 4Aces, made Detry his top draft choice. The 4Aces also had Thomas Pieters on its four-man roster and Johnson’s caddie and Detry’s bag-toter knew each other.

“I’ve known Thomas since we were 8 or 9 years old,’’ said Detry. Both grew up in Belgium and played collegiately at Illinois.

“Thomas and I grew up playing golf together,’’ said Detry.  “We hadn’t really seen each other the last four-five years so it was nice to finally be back together.’’

The fourth member of the team was supposed to be Patrick Reed, and Detry made friends with him immediately.

“I congratulated him after he won at Dubai (a recent European Tour event),’’  said Detry.  “I practiced with him and had lunch with him last week.  Then I got the news on social media that he had moved on.  It was a shock.’’

Reed, who bolted the PGA Tour to join LIV  for its first season in 2022, decided to follow another LIV original — Brooks Koepka — back to the more established circuit and he followed up his win at Dubai by capturing last week’s Qatar Masters as well.  Definitely a hot player, but Detry was still happy with his switch after Miguel Tabuena, of the Philippines, replaced Reed in Saudi Arabia.

“I always loved the team atmosphere,’’  said Detry.  “When I played in college I was always playing for something more than myself. Playing with DJ and good friend Thomas was a dream start on a new job.’’

Detry, now 33, played at Illinois from 2012-16 and was the Big Ten medalist as a senior.  He turned pro in 2016 and was ranked No. 22 in the Official World Golf Rankings a year ago.  He also got off to a fast start as a LIV player, gaining a share of the first-round lead in the circuit’s first-ever 72-hole tournament after posting a 65 in Saudia Arabia. He wound up in seventh place, which earned him a $2.2 million paycheck, and the 4Aces finished third in the team competition.  That meant the foursome will divide another $900,000.

Australian Elvis Smylie, also making his LIV debut, was the champion in Saudi Arabia, earning $4 million, and Chris Gotterup replaced Detry as the reigning champion in the Waste Management Phoenix Open. He beat Hideki Matsuyama in a Sunday playoff to pocket a $1,656,000 paycheck.

“I enjoyed the week,’’ said Detry.  “I’ve got a team surrounding me and supporting me now.  It was a different environment than what I’d been used to.  I didn’t really know what to expect, or how I’d react to the music playing.  It didn’t bother me at all.’’

Adjustment is no problem for Detry.  He speaks four languages – Dutch, French, Spanish and English – and will use everyone as he splits time with LIV and the European Tour this season.