Byron Nelson passed away in September 2006, but his legacy to the game of golf and his community continues vividly today. Nelson was a winner of 52 PGA Tour events, a record 11 of those coming in a row during 1945, a year he won 18 tournaments overall and finished second in another seven. Among his wins were the 1937 and 1942 Masters, the 1939 U.S. Open, and the 1940 and 1945 PGA Championships. In his later years, though, he became proudest of how the EDS Byron Nelson Championship, the PGA Tour stop in Dallas, had generated in excess of $100 million in charitable contributions, more than any other PGA event. The sum represents over 10 percent of the total charitable contributions generated by PGA Tour events.
Played this year from April 24-27, the Nelson tournament will have a new venue in that the host course TPC Four Seasons Las Colinas has been thoroughly renovated in the past year. The ten-month, $10 million project had Champions Tour player D.A. Weibring as course designer assisted by his business partner and course architect, Steve Wolfard. The course originally opened in 1983. The D.A. Weibring/Golf Resources Group has led more than 80 golf course design projects world-wide, including TPC at Deere Run, which plays host to the PGA Tour's John Deere Classic. D.A. Weibring (pictured left) is a 12-time winner on the PGA, Champions and other international golf tours.
"In redesigning the course, our goal was to honor the legacy of Byron Nelson," said Weibring. "To that end, we created a cleaner, more defined course that incorporates traditional tee, bunker and green elements throughout. PGA TOUR players will be faced with more shot options from tee to green, creating additional drama for spectators and TV viewers. At the same time, for Resort guests and Sports Club members, we created a very playable layout for all skill levels."
Utilizing input from dozens of PGA TOUR players, Weibring and Wolfard redesigned every hole on the 76-acre course (pictured below), including all tees, fairways, and green complexes. The course is now distinguished by traditional square tee boxes, softer mounding, better sight lines and white-faced bunkers framing the fairway and green complexes. PGA TOUR professionals Harrison Frazer (pictured right) and J.J. Henry served as player consultants on the project.
"The changes didn't require us to dramatically lengthen the course. We added just 200 yards overall," Weibring said. "Instead, golfers will see the biggest impact in the realignment of tee shots and better contouring of bunkers and greens." The most significant enhancement is the new water feature on the 18th hole, highlighted by a series of four ponds with cascading waterfalls and a challenging risk/reward decision by the player. "No. 18 is more challenging with the pro tee moved left to direct drives into the right-to-left slope of the fairway," said Weibring. "A water feature defined by rocks now guards the left side of the fairway and is in play on the drive and approach shots. The green has been shifted left and lowered by three feet."
"Each of the PGA TOUR players consulted was united by a desire to honor the memory of Byron Nelson," Weibring continued. "Of Byron's many accomplishments in golf, he kept the EDS Byron Nelson Championship closest to his heart. It was important to do what Byron would have wanted, and we had him in mind throughout every step of this project."
The TPC Four Seasons serves as the recreational centerpiece of the Resort and of Las Colinas and annually attracts thousands of local, regional, national and international golfers who enjoy playing at a PGA TOUR site. To play the course, golfers must hold a private membership at the Sports Club or be a guest of Four Seasons Resort and Club, or a guest of either. In addition to the TPC Four Seasons, the Resort features extensive practice facilities, a golf school for corporate entertainment, and a professional golf instruction program. The resort's second 18 holes is called Cottonwood Valley. In 2006, this course underwent a $2 million remodeling including the rebuilding of most all of its tee boxes, bunkers, greens and the redesign of two key holes, No. 2 and No. 14. Visit www.fourseasons.com/dallas.
