Thank-You, Hyde Park

HP Grounds Team

What began as a conversation in late 2020 with John Gartner, Grounds Chair became a reality when the golf course closed on July 14, 2025, for the most significant restoration project in Hyde Park's history. This past weekend, we proudly welcomed members back to a restored Hyde Park Country Club.

Like any project of this size and scope, there were challenges, setbacks, and countless decisions along the way. Through it all, the support, patience, and encouragement of our membership never wavered. On behalf of the Grounds Department, thank you for trusting the process and allowing us the opportunity to bring this vision to life.

I would like to thank President Mike Misleh, Grounds Chairman Chuck Madden, and Golf Architect Tyler Rae for their kind words during opening weekend. Their comments were greatly appreciated and served as a reminder of the tremendous effort, dedication, and collaboration that made this restoration possible.

While many people contributed to the success of this restoration, none deserve more recognition than our Grounds Team and our partners. This project was truly built on their backs. Through long days, difficult conditions, and an unwavering commitment to excellence, they along with our partners transformed plans on paper into the golf course our membership enjoyed this past weekend.

I would also like to recognize our leadership team: Arron Garrett, Jared Marshall, Brad Leitz, Bobby Schenkel, Zach Neuhaus, Bryan Miller, and Sandi Wessendorf. Large projects require sacrifices that often extend beyond the workplace. This team devoted countless hours to the restoration effort, often at the expense of time with their families. To each of them, and to their families who supported them throughout this journey, thank you.

Our interns and H-2B team were also instrumental to the success of this project. Their energy, dedication, and willingness to embrace the challenges of a restoration of this magnitude were remarkable. Their hard work helped us reach this important milestone.

On a personal note, I would like to thank my wife, Jen, and our daughters, Brynna and Maeve. Restoration projects demand an extraordinary amount of time and focus, and their patience, support, and understanding throughout this process meant more than words can express.

I would also like to recognize Larry Drehs as he approaches his retirement. Larry has been a tremendous resource, mentor, and friend over the years. His insight, guidance, and commitment to Hyde Park have positively influenced countless decisions and people along the way. Thank you, Larry, for everything you have done for this club and for those of us fortunate enough to work alongside you.

While we are proud to have reached this milestone, our work is not finished. There is still much ahead as we complete the remaining construction items and continue the grow-in and maturation of the golf course. We remain committed to delivering the best possible playing conditions and will continue to keep the membership informed as progress is made.

Most importantly, thank you to the members of Hyde Park Golf & Country Club. Your patience, encouragement, and support throughout this journey made this achievement possible. Seeing golfers back on the course this past weekend made every challenge worthwhile.

This reopening marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. We are excited about the future and honored to steward this special golf course for generations to come.

Pat O'Brien, MSc

Grounds Superintendent
Hyde Park Golf & Country Club

Course Update

Bunker Repair Update

We are pleased to report that the Hyde Park Grounds Team, alongside McDonald & Sons, was able to complete repairs to the affected bunkers and restore playing conditions.

Today, our team completed moving and leveling bunker sand while continuing work to restore the affected areas. Due to recent rainfall, the bunker sand may not be as firm as we would prefer initially. However, we will continue working on sand compaction and detail work over the coming days.

McDonald & Sons continues to make excellent progress on remaining restoration punch list items, including sodding along cart path edges and moving soil behind the 1st green to complete final shaping work.

We were also fortunate to receive support from the grounds team at The Camargo Club. We are grateful for their assistance and willingness to help during a challenging day.

A special thank you goes to Marshall, the Golf Shop staff, and several members who generously provided refreshments and meals throughout the day. Their support and thoughtfulness helped keep our crews energized and focused during a long day of repairs.

Our teams will continue working into the evening to complete final details, and we are excited to welcome everyone back to the golf course.

Thank you for your patience, encouragement, and support throughout this process. We look forward to seeing you on the course very soon.

Pat O'Brien 

Grounds Superintendent

Extraordinary Rainfall Leads to Bunker Face Failures

 

Last night, Hyde Park received approximately 4 inches of rain, including nearly 1.5 inches in less than 30 minutes. The severity of the storm prompted multiple National Weather Service Flash Flood Warnings throughout the night, highlighting the unusually intense rainfall and runoff conditions across our area.

As a result, several bunker faces on Holes 9, 11, 14, and 17 were damaged by the heavy runoff. While disappointing, this was an extraordinary weather event.

This morning, the Hyde Park Grounds Team and McDonald & Sons began repairs. The work includes:

• Removing contaminated sand
• Removing wet and unstable soil
• Rebuilding bunker faces using compacted clay soils for added stability
• Re-shaping affected slopes
• Re-sodding damaged areas
• Installing stabilization stakes and wire mesh
• Replacing contaminated bunker sand at the proper depth

There is no question this is a setback and not something we wanted to see. However, we have experienced teams on site, a repair plan in place, and work is already underway.

The repairs are focused not only on restoring the damaged areas, but also on improving long-term stability where these washouts occurred.

We will continue to keep the membership informed as repairs progress.

Pat O'Brien, MSc

Grounds Superintendent

Almost in Sight

The Finish Line

As we approach opening weekend, it is hard to believe that the planning for this restoration began back in late 2020. After nearly a year of construction, grow-in, and preparation, the Grounds Team and I are excited to welcome everyone back to the golf course following last July’s closure.

You will notice many changes throughout the property, and part of the fun will be getting reacquainted with the course and discovering the strategic enhancements that have been made along the way.

Over the past several weeks, the McDonald & Sons team has completed repairs to the bunkers impacted by the heavy May rain events. To help protect several of the steeper bunker faces while the zoysia continues to establish, temporary stakes and protective grid fencing remain in place. These measures will remain in select locations a little longer to allow the sod seams to fully knit together and mature.

Stakes and Wire Mesh

A few final detail items remain, including shaping behind the 2nd Ross tee, completing cart path work on Holes 2 and 8, and finishing sod installation along select cart path edges and other minor areas throughout the property.

The Hyde Park Grounds Team has been focused on the finishing touches—correcting minor settling, completing seeding projects, detailing playing surfaces, and preparing the course for its return to play.

Many of you will remember Adam Moeller from our Member Education Town Hall in May. Adam recently returned to Hyde Park to conduct an independent pre-opening agronomic review of the golf course. His assessment confirmed that all major construction work has been completed, the restoration features look outstanding, and that the scheduled opening remains appropriate from an agronomic and turf health perspective. He noted that the new bentgrass greens, tees, and approaches are maturing nicely and are ready for play, while the Meyer zoysiagrass fairways will continue to improve as summer temperatures increase.

As expected with a project of this scale, some rough areas, bunker faces, and peripheral turf established late this spring remain younger and will continue to mature throughout the summer. Adam emphasized that careful traffic management and member cooperation will be critical during the first season to protect the club's investment and allow the course to continue improving throughout the growing season.

While opening day marks a major milestone, the work for our team is just beginning. The primary playing surfaces are ready for golf, but many of the peripheral areas remain in earlier stages of establishment. Throughout the summer, our focus will be on growing in new turf, refining details, addressing minor settling, strengthening bunker faces, and continuing to improve the overall conditioning and presentation of the golf course.

This restoration represents far more than a construction project. It is a generational investment in Hyde Park Golf & Country Club and the future of our golf course. The patience, support, and enthusiasm shown by the membership throughout this process have been greatly appreciated by everyone involved.

On behalf of the entire Grounds Team, thank you for your trust and support. We are proud of what has been accomplished and look forward to welcoming you back this weekend.

See you on the first tee and please enjoy this video of the course outlining many of the changes!

Pat O'Brien,
Grounds Superintendent