TPC River Highlands is a par 70, 6,844 yard course in Cromwell, Connecticut, 10 miles south of Hartford. Holes 15-17 are noted for playing beautifully around a four-acre lake. ASGCA staff recently sat down with architect Bobby Weed, ASGCA to discuss the course he renovated and the upcoming tournament.

Hole 15, a Bobby Weed favorite

ASGCA Staff: Good afternoon, Bobby. There is a lot of excitement on the TOUR right now and we certainly are in the thick of it here for tournament season. As such we look forward to hearing a bit more about the upcoming Travelers Championship held at a beautiful Connecticut course you renovated, TPC River Highlands.

Bobby Weed: It’s really my pleasure. I’m excited to talk about River Highlands and the tournament. They really do a fantastic job over there and I’m sure the course will come across quite well to both players and spectators.

ASGCA Staff: Very well then, let’s get right to it. When you redesigned the course in 1989, what was your vision for the final construct and how did it differ from what was currently in place?

Bobby Weed: Well that’s quite the introductory question! As I recall, the project was comprehensive, both in scope and overall land-use plan. The original design dated back to 1928 as the Edgewood Country Club and was sold to the Pierson family when Pete Dye was called in for course upgrades. Pete worked with a very limited budget and altered a couple of holes on the front nine and basically reversed the routing on the back nine. The two nines were distinctly different and needed to be upgraded to attract a better field for the PGA TOUR event.

ASGCA Staff: And that’s where you came in I’m guessing?

Bobby Weed: Exactly. Our design intent centered on creating development pods without sacrificing the quality of golf. As a result, the front nine utilized the higher, plateau’d ground and the back nine traversed along the bluff overlooking the Connecticut River.

ASGCA Staff: In the golf world River Highlands is particularly known for its reverence for nature. Can you talk a little bit about how that shows through in your redesign efforts?

Bobby Weed: The course was the 49th course to become fully-certified in the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for golf courses, and everyone is quite proud of that fact. The PGA TOUR places a very high priority on blending the golf course back into the natural surrounds and at River Highlands, this is no exception. Native areas of fescues abound around the perimeter with great diversity of wildlife that co-mingles with the development parcels.

ASGCA Staff: Audubon certification certainly is quite the accomplishment for any course. Many pundits and publications consider River Highlands one of the best in Connecticut. What specifically do you think makes the course so attractive to players?

Bobby Weed: The easy answer is that River Highlands is playable. The renovated golf course was universally accepted by the TOUR players as well as the membership, catering to all calibers of players. Being one of the shortest courses on TOUR today at 6844 yards and playing to a par 70, the defense of the course would be the small green complexes, a mix of half-par holes, varied topography with a number of blind to semi-blind holes and strategic bunkering.

ASGCA Staff: Let’s talk about some of those holes then if you don’t mind. Which do you think will “show well” for television during the upcoming Travelers Championship?

Hole 17 at River Highlands

Bobby Weed: Traditionally, the finishing holes, starting at #15, provide great drama and exciting finishes. The CBS crew really enjoys the short, drivable 15th par 4 as most players are “making a go of it” and can score an eagle to a double bogey and is a great half-par hole.

ASGCA Staff: And the others?

Bobby Weed: Well, the last three holes are situated in a natural amphitheatre – actually a former sand and gravel quarry and present quite a finish. The 16th is a one-shotter over water with some tenuous pin placements. The 17th is a two-shot, banana fairway with water along the entire right side and is very distinct and recognizable. The finishing hole is slightly uphill and is surrounded by some of the TOUR's largest galleries providing a great finish for the golf fans of New England.

ASGCA Staff: And how about you, Bobby? Do you have a particular hole that you enjoy the most?

Bobby Weed: Well, the politically correct thing to say as the architect would be “all of them”, but I’ll answer truthfully. I tend to favor the 15th as it seems to really challenge the players from the tee on a hole that is less than 300 yards. In today's game, it is nice to see a hole where length is not the determining factor and is instead mentally stimulating creating both multiple options and great interest. All calibers of players have a choice, and to me that makes for a great hole, regardless of length.

ASGCA Staff: Bobby, thank you for opening up about River Highlands. It sounds like the Travelers Championship should be a great tournament.

Bobby Weed: Absolutely, and again, it’s my pleasure.