My friend D.A. Weibring has had a workman like career on the PGA Tour and is continuing his winning ways on the Champions Tour. In 2007 D.A. added another win to his resume along with 12 more top-tens, finishing 5th on the money list with a cool $1,557,622 in winnings.
Perhaps even more impressive is that smack in the middle of his very successful playing career, D.A. has built one of the most successful golf course design companies in the country.
I bring this up not because it is D.A.’s birthday, but because last week PGA officials visited D.A.’s newly redesigned TPC course at the Four Seasons Resort & Club and declared it ready to host the GTE Byron Nelson Championship April 24th through 28th.
Battling a two-month rain delay and more agendas than a meeting at the United Nations, D.A. Weibring’s leadership, along with the clever doing of his lead architect Steve Wolfard, has delivered spectacular results for one of the Tour’s most successful tournaments.
Henry Hughes, Executive Vice President and Chief of Operations for the PGA TOUR, said it best, “D.A. Weibring has been the driving force with tremendous support from both BentleyForbes and Four Seasons.
The Salesmanship Club will undoubtedly continue to produce record charity dollars to benefit the less fortunate in Dallas. The PGA TOUR is proud to congratulate all involved in this huge accomplishment."
Immediately following the 2007 EDS Byron Nelson Championship, D.A.’s company Golf Resources Group embarked on an $8 million redesign of the TPC Four Seasons. “In redesigning the course, our goal was to honor the legacy of Byron Nelson,” D.A. said. “To that end, we created a cleaner, more defined course that incorporates traditional tee, bunker and green elements throughout.”
“PGA TOUR players will be faced with more shot options from tee to green, creating additional drama for spectators and TV viewers. At the same time, for resort guests and Sports Club members, we created a very playable layout for all skill levels,” he said.
Utilizing input from dozens of PGA TOUR players, Weibring and his partner, Steve Wolfard, redesigned every hole on the 186-acre course, including all tees, fairways, and green complexes. The course is now distinguished by traditional square tee boxes, softer mounding, better sight lines and dramatic white faced bunkers framing the fairway and green complexes. PGA TOUR professionals Harrison Frazar and J.J. Henry served as player consultants on the project.
“The changes didn’t require us to dramatically lengthen the course. We added just 200 yards overall,” D.A. said. “Instead, PGA TOUR players will see the biggest impact in the realignment of tee shots and better contouring of greens.”
If you are lucky enough to be able to attend the 2008 EDS Byron Nelson Championship you will notice that the changes start at a redesigned 20,000 square foot putting and chipping green and culminates on the beautiful and dramatic 18th hole, highlighted by a series of four lakes with cascading waterfalls and a challenging risk/ reward decision by the player. It’s pretty cool looking.
“Each of the PGA TOUR players consulted was united by a desire to honor the memory of Byron Nelson,” D.A. said. “Of Byron’s many accomplishments in golf, he kept the EDS Byron Nelson Championship closest to his heart. It was important to do what Byron would have wanted, and we had him in mind throughout every step of this project.”
After record summer rainfall delayed the project by more than two months, hard work by the Four Seasons Resort, the Golf Resources Group, the PGA TOUR’s agronomy staff and Resort owner BentleyForbes resulted in a positive outcome. The rye grass overseed that was planted last fall is coming in very strong, and Four Seasons golf operations team is working diligently with the PGA TOUR’s agronomy staff to ensure TOUR-quality playing conditions.
“It truly has been an exceptional team effort between all parties,” said Cal Roth, PGA TOUR vice president, agronomy. “Everyone has worked diligently throughout the process to get it done despite the delays and difficulties associated with the rain. In the end, I can honestly say it was one of the greatest success stories that I have seen in the business because what already was a short, compact window to get the work done was further complicated by essentially two months of rainfall. The work that D.A. has done is outstanding and everyone is very pleased with the results.”
“The Salesmanship Club is excited to host the best players in the world as we help introduce this great new facility to the public in April,” said John Nolan, tournament chairman for the 2008 Championship. “It promises to be a great week, and we’re committed to providing a great time for our greater cause.”
The EDS Byron Nelson Championship has been conducted at Four Seasons Resort and Club since 1983 and will be played exclusively on one course for the first time since 1993.
“Four Seasons, in partnership with our owners, has been fully committed to elevating the golf experience for our resort guests, our members and PGA TOUR players through this incredible investment of time and resources,” said Michael Newcombe, general manager of Four Seasons Resort. “We believe it is truly a course that will take us confidently into the next two decades.”
Thanks D.A. for a job well done and happy birthday on May 25th.
