Revamping Shady Oaks: Ben Hogan's Stomping Grounds

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Renovating Shady Oaks Country Club: A Tribute to Ben Hogan and Golf Design Evolution

Shady Oaks Country Club, deeply intertwined with American golf history and once the training ground for Ben Hogan, recently underwent significant renovations. This iconic club in Fort Worth, Texas, served as a pivotal project, marking our first endeavor in the U.S., and was particularly special given its connection to Hogan, a founding member who spent countless hours practicing at the club.

Originally a classic Parkland course, Shady Oaks presented a challenging terrain with 24 acres of narrow fairways, extensive ravines, and a river that sliced through several holes. Despite these features, or perhaps because of them, Hogan once remarked to developer Marvin Leonard that the land was too severe for a golf course. However, our team viewed the undulating contours as an ideal canvas for modern golf architecture.

Our renovation, which began in mid-2019 and concluded as the COVID-19 pandemic emerged, focused on expanding the playable areas and enhancing the strategic options available to golfers. We doubled the amount of short grass and introduced more generous fairways connected by this feature, a departure from the classic rough-bordered greens. This design philosophy not only preserved the natural beauty of the landscape but also offered a variety of shot choices around the greens, enriching the playing experience for golfers of all skill levels.

The redesign also featured a mix of interesting greens and transformed the practice area where Hogan once honed his skills into a smaller, nine-hole course, maintaining the site's historical essence while adapting it to contemporary golfing needs. Our approach was appreciated by club members, who enjoyed new playing strategies enabled by the redesigned spaces.

As our first U.S. project, Shady Oaks holds a special place in our portfolio. Spending time at Hogan's home club, interacting with members who had personal connections to him, and hearing stories from the club's pro, Mike Wright, enriched our understanding and appreciation of the site's heritage. This project not only revitalized a significant piece of golf history but also set a precedent for how we approach golf architecture in culturally rich environments.