Latest news with #Invited
Forbes
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
Lanny Wadkins Vision For TPC Craig Ranch's $22 Million Renovation
A D6 Caterpillar tractor bulldozes the practice green at TPC Craig Ranch to kickstart Lanny Wadkins ... More course renovation of the home of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. Invited Ten minutes after the trophy ceremony at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson wrapped, a Caterpillar D6 rumbled across the practice green at TPC Craig Ranch—breaking literal ground on a $22 million renovation with a roar. It was a high-octane show of force from country club giant Invited, which is doubling down on one of its flagship properties and has clearly tired of those ho-hum photo ops with gold-plated shovels. After 21 years, the McKinney, Texas, course was due for a major makeover—one that promises sharper teeth, revamped bunkers, and reimagined green complexes to elevate the experience for both members and top-tier pros. Lately, the latter had grown used to torching the place. On Sunday, world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler went so low he could've won a limbo contest. The Dallas native steamrolled the field, his 31-under 253 tying the PGA Tour's lowest 72-hole score on record (since 1983). Overseeing the renovation of the 21-year-old track is World Golf Hall of Famer Lanny Wadkins, who, fittingly, notched 21 PGA Tour wins during a career that also included eight Ryder Cup appearances. The former player, TV broadcaster, and now architect's focus is on refining the course's character without compromising its core identity. In practical terms, that amounts to reshaped and, in some cases, repositioned greens, upgraded sand traps, and new turf varieties. Rowlett Creek, which crisscrosses the course over a dozen times, will also factor larger. The net effect, Wadkins hopes, is a course that requires increased shot making prowess for professionals while keeping things a lot more copacetic when attacking the course from more forward tee markers. While the original routing by Wadkins' longtime friend and fellow major champion Tom Weiskopf will largely remain intact, the upgrades are intended to create a more engaging experience. 'I think we are going to give them something unique. This is a big, big property and we would like it to feel a little more intimate,' Wadkins explained. 'The routing is staying the same—so you'll have the same golf course, it's just going to be much improved and the bunkering and green complexes are going to be different.' 'I think it will be something they will never get tired of playing. That's what I'd like to see, a golf course where the members really have fun, every single time they go out there,' he added. As far as the pros go, they'll need to do their homework and study up on TPC Craig Ranch as if they were cramming for a calculus quiz. 'They are going to have to play some serious practice rounds and pay attention to some things because we are moving a few of the green complexes—No. 3 and No. 4 off the bat and No. 5 probably. No. 7 is going to be moved a little bit left. They're basically the same overall holes but when you start moving green complexes and changing the shot quality—the greens will be smaller and the bunkers tighter—that's one thing they'll notice right off the bat. They're going to have to be a little more exact with their approach shots.' As for scoring expectations for the 2026 edition of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, Wadkins isn't turning Craig Ranch into a player slayer—he is simply tightening things up and making the view from the tips no picnic. 'I would love to see the winning score 12 to 15 under. That would be what I would hope for, but with today's guys I don't discount anything. I hold the tournament record at Riviera which is one of the hardest courses, at 20 under, so stuff happens. When guys get going like Scottie did, nothing slows them down. If they hit every fairway they're going to shoot some numbers.' Go-To Designer Wadkins has become Invited's go-to architect, having already put his indelible stamp on Westlake Country Club in Austin, Braemar outside Los Angeles, and the Hills Course at Stonebridge Ranch. But Craig Ranch marks his highest-profile assignment yet. 'As he's been getting into it more, now that he's retired from being a commentator on the Golf Channel and before that CBS for many years, he's really done a lot more than just putting his toes in the water, Bob Morse, president and chief operating officer of Invited, said. 'I think he's going to get a lot of accolades for when we are done Craig Ranch and I think that will be his most high-profile golf course due to the fact that it's a tour stop.' When the course reopens in November, the initiation fee for new members will jump to $125,000—making Craig Ranch the priciest club in Invited's extensive portfolio. Does that high price tag add pressure to deliver a showstopper? 'Not really,' Wadkins says. 'We know what we're doing, and that's Invited's gauge, not mine. I've been tasked with making sure it gets done—and gets done right. My partner Kurt Bowman and I have high goals and high hopes for what we can accomplish out here.' Wadkins isn't trying to reinvent Craig Ranch, but he is putting serious spit-shine on the rolling land to take it to the next level. It's an approach he believes his ole buddy Weiskopf would have truly appreciated. 'I hope he would be happy with what we're going to do,' he said. 'I wish I could sit and talk to him about it. He was a special, special friend.'
Malaysian Reserve
25-04-2025
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
Graze Robotics Partners with Invited to Launch Autonomous Mowing Pilot at Gleneagles Country Club
DALLAS, April 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Graze Robotics, a leader in autonomous mowing technology, is proud to announce a strategic partnership with Invited (formerly ClubCorp), the largest owner and operator of private golf and country clubs in North America. This collaboration will introduce Graze's innovative robotic mowing solutions to Gleneagles Country Club in Dallas, TX, as part of a groundbreaking pilot program running through 2025. This initiative marks a significant step in the evolution of golf course maintenance, leveraging cutting-edge robotics to optimize turf management while enhancing sustainability and operational efficiency. The pilot will focus on demonstrating the capabilities of Graze's robotic mowers in maintaining the rough and fairways, key areas that demand precision, consistency, and efficiency in high-end golf course operations. 'We are always seeking innovative solutions that enhance the quality and sustainability of our course management practices,' said David Pillsbury, CEO of Invited. 'Graze's technology represents an exciting advancement in how we can maintain pristine playing conditions while reducing our environmental footprint. We look forward to seeing the impact of this partnership at Gleneagles.' Graze's autonomous mowers offer numerous benefits, including lower fuel consumption and consistent course conditions—all while contributing to environmental sustainability through electric-powered operation. The pilot at Gleneagles will provide critical insights into how robotic mowing can complement and enhance traditional maintenance practices. 'Our partnership with Invited is a testament to the growing demand for intelligent automation in golf course management,' said Logan Fahey Franz, Chief Executive Officer of Graze Robotics. 'Gleneagles provides the perfect environment to showcase the capabilities of our technology, and we're excited to demonstrate how robotic mowing can help elevate course conditions while optimizing labor and resource efficiency.' As the pilot progresses, Graze and Invited will collaborate closely to evaluate performance metrics, refine operational strategies, and explore opportunities for broader deployment across Invited's extensive network of premier golf courses. For more information about Graze Robotics and its autonomous mowing solutions, visit Media Contact:Francie Holmes fholmes@ 972.598.9753 About Graze Robotics: Graze Robotics is a pioneering company in autonomous mowing solutions, specializing in sustainable and efficient robotic technology for large-scale landscaping and golf course maintenance. About Invited: Since its founding in 1957, Dallas-based Invited has operated with the mission of Building Relationships and Enriching Lives®. The leading owner-operator of membership golf and country clubs and city clubs in North America, Invited is relentless in its pursuit of providing extraordinary experiences, meaningful connections, shared passions, and memorable moments for approximately 350,000 members. The company's mission is supported by nearly 20,000 peak-season employees and a portfolio of over 160 owned or operated golf and country clubs and city clubs in 26 states. Invited creates communities that cater to an aspirational lifestyle through its championship golf courses, workspaces, handcrafted cuisine, resort-style pools, tennis and pickleball facilities, golf lounges, fitness centers, and pioneering programming.
