Chartwell Golf And Country Club To Begin Renovation Projects

Chartwell Golf and Country Club has approved a multi-phase, 10-year capital plan to reinvest into the club and its many facilities.

Headlining the changes will be a two-phase renovation project to the 18-hole championship golf course. Late in the spring of 2019, the club plans to begin renovations to the green surround and bunkers. Upon its completion, focus will then shift to re-grassing the fairways.

The board of directors, golf course greens committee, golf committee and finance committee unanimously agreed to remove the Bermuda grass that has covered the fairways and struggled with Maryland’s Mid-Atlantic climate changes. Instead the club has opted for zoysia grass.

“This is a much better playing surface,” said Drew Bauer, president of the Chartwell Golf and Country Club. “It's a better all-seasons grass.”

Low temperatures last winter resulted in about 20 to 30 percent loss of the Bermuda grass. The original plan was to delay laying the new zoysia grass until 2020, but that timeline was accelerated to the summer of 2019.

Zoysia is described as a thick-bladed, hearty grass that stands up straight. That type of grass is more commonly seen on courses throughout the Midwest and South, and Bauer believes it is just the thing for Maryland’s often challenging climate.

“We really believe this is a premier grass. It was an upgrade and we’re paying a premium to do that,” Bauer said. “At the end of the day, we think it's going to give Chartwell a better product and a longer-lasting golf course."

According to Bauer, close to $3 million will be invested in the golf course over the next few years. Design work for the golf course will be handled by architect Andrew Green of A.H. Green Design, while construction of the course will be led by McDonald and Son’s Golf Course Builders.

Along with the planned work on the golf course, Chartwell has also constructed renovation plans for its pool area and clubhouse.

The pool was resurfaced over the summer and now the plan is to redo the pool house while creating a bar and new kitchen area to go along with it. “Chartwell is really thriving right now,” Bauer said.

Beyond the work at the pool house, Bauer spoke about creating new shaded areas by the pool to encourage socializing and having a comfortable place to hang out.

“A lot of people are getting away from the coat-and-tie or sport jacket atmosphere. They want to have a place where families can stop in with kids after a soccer practice,” Bauer said.

Last year, the club’s tennis facility was transformed to include a new health and wellness center.

“We’re really trying to cater to be a family-friendly club,” Bauer said.

Bauer credits the addition of club General Manager Richard Marr to the staff, saying that Marr has brought leadership and great ideas to continue the growth of the club.

Throughout all phases of construction and renovations, the club’s goal is to minimize the impact on the members.

The first phase of the clubhouse renovations will include a new dining room facility, as well as the creation of a more casual grill area. That is expected to be completed next spring.

“We’ve created areas within our club that are more casual for those experiences, but we still have the formal area for a member to come for a nicer dining experience,” Bauer said.

For more information about Chartwell Golf and Country Club or the future renovations, visit www.chartwellgcc.com.