Pinehurst Resort in Pinehurst, N.C., closed its No. 8 course in June for a series of agronomic and infrastructure enhancements.

No. 8 will retain all its original Tom Fazio design elements and architectural stylings. According to Bob Farren, director of agronomy at Pinehurst Resort, changes will be “subtle yet impactful.”

“We talked to Fazio’s people and Tom even came out twice and visited,” Farren said. “We offered him the opportunity to give us ideas and see if he was interested in making any changes. But he had a fair amount of conviction that what we were doing is enough. Like [Pinehurst Resort President] Tom Pashley says, we don’t have to hit every course with the same hammer.”

The upgrades include new TifEagle greens, bunker restoration and fresh bunker sand, improved drainage throughout the course and the removal of invasive trees limiting views and inhibiting sunlight. Several updates are also planned for the clubhouse interior and grounds, including installing firepits overlooking the 18th green.

The putting surfaces at No. 8 were originally bentgrass upon opening in 1995 and later replaced with champion bermuda in 2013. Over the years, the slopes became more severe via topdressing and other maintenance practices.

“We’re excavating the tops of the greens before we re-grass them to sort of let the air out of them, so to speak,” Farren says. “Ultradwarf bermudagrass has fine blades, is dense and can be cut low and roll as fast or faster than bentgrass. This will help temper the severity of the greens while still maintaining their integrity.”

The course is set to reopen in September.