James River Country Club
Newport News, Virginia

A prominent club which has hosted many state amateur and open championship tournaments, James River Country Club retained George Golf Design to renovate the original 1931 course layout, designed by James McMenamin. This course has existed in its original routing since 1931, and Lester George was entrusted to renovate and restore the putting greens.

George believes James River Country Club is "replete with classic design features," offering that he restored, rather than changed, much of the course. James River Country Club made the decision to improve the design and turf quality of their greens last year. They converted to A-4 bentgrass on their greens, which is a new and superior putting surface, mowed at 1/8" high. George designed four new greens and rebuilt the remaining 14 greens according to USGA specifications. The new green complexes are on holes 11, 12, 15 and 16. Construction began in August of 1996 and was completed in October of 1996 by Quality Grassing of Lithia, Florida. The new greens opened for play on May 17, 1997.