$2.5M Renovation Planned for Abbey Springs Golf Course

Abbey Springs Golf Course is planning a $2.5 million dollar golf course renovation. Work will be led by Lohmann Quitno Golf Course Architects, who have developed a plan that is primarily aimed at completely overhauling green complexes, incorporating fairway drainage & expanding pond retention areas. The project will begin August 2nd, 2021 and will be completed April 30th, 2022, during which time the golf course will temporarily be closed. Property owners of Abbey Springs approved the renovation through a vote earlier this month.

As a gated community located on the south shores of Geneva Lake, Abbey Springs boasts one of the most beautiful golf courses in the state of Wisconsin. The golf course was originally designed by Killian & Nugent in 1971, however no significant renovations or attention to course improvement have taken place since then. Data from recent assessments of the course have shown that the infrastructure of the greens, bunkers & overall course drainage were no longer sustainable or acceptable for today's golf standards, and so the $2.5 million renovation plan was drawn up to address these focal concerns.

The renovation project is aimed at transforming the course into an ascendant & premier top-caliber golfing destination. The scope of the project includes complete reconstruction of 16 green complexes, including greenside features & bunkers, resurfacing 3 greens, installing fairway drainage on 15 holes, regrading & expanding ponds on 7 holes, increasing quality and size of water retention areas, rebuilding 10 fairway bunkers, regrading 5 fairways, & redesigning the short game area.

PGA Professional Jack Shoger, who has been with the golf club for more than 30 years, said that the project would be a game-changer for the club. "The product our team puts together for our members on a daily basis is tremendous, but providing that product has become a lot more difficult as of late. The game of golf has changed a lot since I've started here, as has the climate, and both have affected the viability of the golf course... I think the time is right to make a change and bring the course up to today's standards, and the standards that golfers expect and our members deserve."

Abbey Springs is looking forward to collaborating with Bob Lohmann and Todd Quitno of Lohmann Quitno Golf Course Architects throughout the renovation process. Being in the business for 35 years, and having a combined experience of 67 years, Bob Lohmann and Todd Quitno are highly regarded & qualified architects who have extensive experience, including 30 new course designs and have performed 175 course renovations, including Merit Club, Blackstone Golf Club, Westmoor Country Club & Bishops Bay Country Club. "When I first arrived at Abbey Springs twenty-some years ago, I could see that the property is very special," said Lohmann. "But the game has changed a lot, especially the last couple decades. It's time to make changes at Abbey Springs to ensure it continues to appeal to the future generations that will inherit this great property."

"We are coming up to our 50th Anniversary," said Shoger, "and we've seen some great things happen here at Abbey Springs over the years. But this is the most excited I've ever been about our future. I think it's going to be fantastic and I really look forward to seeing the course grow and thrive over the next 50 years."
Abbey Springs will have regular updates on the renovation project through their website.