Major face-lift for country club

The grass is now greener at the Fort Lauderdale Country Club in Plantation.

The course is in the midst of a $6 million beautification project, overseen by golf architects Karl Litten and Lorie Viola, said General Manager Michael O'Brien.

In order to keep the course open to players, O'Brien said the project will be done in three phases, one which began this summer on the south course and is expected to be complete in November. A complete renovation of the practice facilities is in progress, including a 14,000-square-foot putting green, a new driving range and chipping green.

The 18-hole championship course, often used for charity golf tournaments for such organizations as Women in Distress, will be groomed to compete with Grande Oaks Golf Club in Fort Lauderdale, O'Brien said.

Golf course Superintendent Bryan Plummer said the course will take on a new striped, manicured look, thanks to the mixture of TiffEagle and Paspalum grasses.

''It's a new trend in putting green surfaces. TiffEagle is cut lower and mimics the superior Northern courses. We're glad that we can use this in Florida,'' Plummer said. ``And the Paspalum, although delicate, makes a nice contrast from the Bermuda [grass].''

The country club, which has not been refurbished since 1980, will see a complete overhaul of the 1926 clubhouse in British Colonial style for Phase II in the spring, Membership Director Caroline Frank said.

The decorators were responsible for redesigning the Fort Lauderdale Yacht Club, she said.

Phase III, scheduled for 2007, the longest phase, will renovate the north course, upgrading the tees, bunkers and, with some cooperation from the city's water management district and nearby downtown Fort Lauderdale, increase the size of some of the lakes to fend off salt water.

The once-public course, which originally sat where the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is located today, was moved to its present site in 1929 and became a private, member-owned club in 1957.

The Fort Lauderdale Country Club is at 415 Country Club Cir., Plantation. Call 954-587-4700 or visit www.

fortlauderdalecc.com.