CJ Cup Byron Nelson has big plans for future after | Golf News

TPC Craig Ranch has undergone vital transformations forward of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, with bold plans for its future on the horizon.

With PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp developing a new two-tiered schedule, the CJ Cup and the Byron Nelson are positioning themselves to be among the higher-tiered occasions in a few years.

World Golf Hall of Famer Lanny Wadkins and his design workforce revamped the course, addressing the whole lot from the tee-boxes to the greens.

“We needed someone who was going to deliver a golf course that is really unique in Texas,” said David Pillsbury, CEO of Invited Clubs, which owns and operates TPC Craig Ranch. “Where, when you leave, you go, ‘Wow, I’m going to remember that.”

The membership reopened in December and obtained enthusiastic reviews from members, though initiation charges doubled to $150,000, as the course goals to stay on the tour’s schedule.

“It’s a challenge doing a golf course for a tournament, while understanding that the members, it’s their course the other 51 weeks,” Wadkins said. “But we’re proud of the results and think the Tour players will respond like the members have.” Golfers competing this week are keen to expertise how the course performs following last week’s exceptionally difficult circumstances and pin placements at the PGA Championship.

“It was a really tough week last week, especially really hard to play off the tee, and then the rough and greens, everything was really tough,” said Si Woo Kim. “I tried my best, but it didn’t go well. Yeah, it was a great experience. Then happy to be back here, pretty much home course. And playing in Dallas is a huge, exciting part.”

Kim wrapped up T-35 at the season’s second major as quite a few gamers voiced frustrations about the pin placements and the course’s appreciable problem.

“Unfortunately, last week the course being major championship and being very difficult, I unfortunately missed the cut by one shot.” said Sungjae Im.

“We found the golf course severely difficult, and the rough, everything about the greens, the pin positions were really difficult. So it was unfortunate that I didn’t get to play the weekend, but looking forward to playing well here this week.”