Omni La Costa Opens Gil Hanse Renovated “North Course”

Gil Hanse may one day be recognized as this generation’s Tillinghast, C.B. Macdonald, or MacKenzie. With a resume that includes Streaming Black, Pinehurst’s The Cradle, and the Olympic Course in Brazil, as well as renovations of Sleepy Hollow, Baltusrol, and Fishers Island Club, it’s clear that he’s blessed nearly every timezone with top-tier, modern golf.

Omni La Costa Resort & Spa’s North Course is the newest beneficiary of Hanse’s touch.

Formerly known as the Champions Course, the esteemed layout will revert to its original name, the “North Course,” and open for resort guests and member play beginning June 1.

Originally designed by Dick Wilson and quickly becoming one of golf’s treasured destinations after debuting in 1965, Omni La Costa’s North Course previously served as a home to notable PGA Tour events. For thirty years, the resort hosted the Mercedes Championships (originally called the Tournament of Champions) from 1969 – 1998. In 1999, Omni La Costa hosted the inaugural WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship as well as six additional occasions. In 2010 and 2012, the resort hosted the Kia Classic, a popular LPGA Tour event.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The North Course will feature six sets of tees creating flexibility to play from 4,500 to 7,500 yards in order to accommodate players of all skill levels. Additional portions of the completed project are environmental in nature, like transitioning irrigation lines that will continue to use reclaimed water, man-made ponds, and the reintroduction of natural barrancas composed of drought-tolerant and native species.

The Legends Course at Omni La Costa is also going back to its original name, the “South Course.” An ideal complement to the North Course, the parkland style 18 features mature trees and gentle doglegs and places a premium on accuracy off the tee. Holes Nos. 10 – 18 on the South Course were used for the Mercedes Championships tournament routing over the decades. The impressive number of victories by the greats of the game at Omni La Costa includes Gary Player, Tom Watson, Phil Mickelson, and Tiger Woods.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Set to play 7,500 yards from the back tees, the par-72 North Course will add to Omni La Costa’s rich history by returning the property to prestigious tournament golf when hosting the NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Championship (May 17 – 22) and Men’s Golf Championship (May 24 – 29). The North Course is also scheduled to host the NCAA golf championships in 2025 and 2026 as well.

Hanse and his team implemented significant design changes with the NCAA’s match-play format in mind as well as fashioning a layout ideal for the best players in the game to test their skills at the highest level moving forward. Chief among the impressive new aspects is challenging players with more risk-reward decisions throughout their rounds. Specific changes include the creation of a drivable par-4 on No. 11, a repositioned green on the par-3 16th hole reminiscent of Augusta National’s iconic 12th hole, and a stout finisher with the par-5 18th now playing over 600 yards from the back tee into the prevailing wind with water lurking on both sides of the fairway.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Craig Martin, Managing Director, said:

“Working with the ‘best of the best’ course architects like Gil Hanse and his design team is a prime example of our continued commitment and investment to be in the highest echelons of U.S. golf destinations. This transformation signals a full return to championship glory at Omni La Costa and joins the now completed renovation of the property as a whole, resulting in an elevated experience for our members and resort guests to enjoy for decades to come.”

Gil Hanse said:

“The North Course is now positioned to return to its stature as one of the top venues for championship golf in Southern California. We were able to combine a respect for the natural contours, landforms, and vegetation with an emphasis on strategic design. This combination of beauty and interest should prove enjoyable for everyday play by members and resort, guests, while asking compelling questions to be answered by the best players in the world during championship events.”

Cover Image via Omni Hotels