(LAKE WALES, Fla.) – Mountain Lake, a residential community located in central Florida’s lake district, has officially started the extensive restoration project to its Seth Raynor designed golf course.
The project, led by renowned course architect Tyler Rae, will focus on three main components: the reconstruction and redesign of the putting surfaces, design enhancements for every hole using archival photos and newly discovered historic information about the course, and the restoration and placement of bunkers.
Rae, who was the lead architect at courses in New York, Illinois and South Carolina, has restored other Seth Raynor original designs at Lookout Mountain Club in Georgia and Wanumetonomy Golf and Country Club in Rhode Island.
The multi-million-dollar restoration project began on April 20 and has shut down the golf course. The golf course will reopen in November 2026. NMP Golf Course Construction Corp. from Williston, Vt. is the general contractor.
“Any work on the golf course must first and foremost be work that will enhance enjoyment and playability for our members,” says General Manager and Chief Operating Officer Eric von Hofen. “Viewing this infrastructure-driven renovation project through the lens of Seth Raynor’s vision for Mountain Lake will set the community up for its next 100 years.”
A major aspect of the golf course restoration plan will focus on modernizing and improving the greens and bunkers. Many of the current greens were built in the early 2000s as part of a redesign project and were nearing the end of their functional life. The materials in the subsurface layers of the greens have gradually hardened over time, which has limited drainage. In addition to updating the infrastructure, changes will be made to the TifEagle Bermuda putting surfaces to match the sizes, shapes and characteristics shown in historical photos. There have also been underlying issues with the bunkers; therefore, they will be updated to help manage the rising costs of repairs and maintenance.
In evaluating the design enhancements for the course, Mountain Lake reviewed historical information, which included Raynor’s 1915 sketch of the first nine holes, revision drawings dating back to 1929 from Raynor’s protégé Charles Banks, an engineering drawing from 1935 and aerial photographs of the grounds from 1941. Rae and his design team meticulously studied these documents, which offered insights into the golf course’s evolution from its inception to its current state.
Notable design enhancements include:
- Recreating the original punch bowl green at the third hole that was seen in Raynor’s 1915 routing and in early 1917 photos.
- Reconfiguring the fairway bunkering at the fourth hole to match the design seen in Raynor’s 1915 routing. A large, dominant bunker on the left will replace the multiple ones currently found on that side, forcing golfers to decide how much they want to bite off from the tee.
- Moving the sixth green more than 20 yards to the right to open up views of the green from the tee.
- Rebuilding the greenside bunkers at No. 11 to make them more sizable and dramatic, which will make this Redan hole truly one of a kind.
- Dubbed the “Road Hole,” the 13th will feature reconstructed bunkers aimed at promoting strategy off the tee. A fairway bunker about 100 yards from the green also will be recreated, emulating the strategy and location of the Scholar’s / Progressing bunker complex on the original Road Hole at The Old Course at St. Andrews in Scotland.
- The green on the finishing hole will be restored to its original concept as seen in Raynor’s 1915 routing. It will feature a large false front and a kidney shape surrounding a deep right bunker.
- Relandscaping many key areas on the golf course with native Live oak trees, grasses and native plants will also be a priority. These plantings will add texture and depth to the golf experience.
“The goal of this project is not to reinvent the golf course; rather, we will take the most current iteration of the course and make it better, while also paying homage to Seth Raynor’s original design,” says Rae. “This restoration project will maintain the playability of the golf course, as well as emphasize and reintroduce the features of the golf course that will make Mountain Lake a stalwart on Top 100 lists for many years to come.”
Founded in 1915 and designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr., Mountain Lake spans over 1,000 acres of rolling hills and numerous lakes, offering panoramic views of the surrounding central Florida landscape and neighboring Bok Tower Gardens. The secured enclave boasts a wide assortment of residences, including historic homes built by legendary architects for some of the country’s most recognizable names. Current homeowners are stewards of their home’s history while maintaining the captivating exterior of these charming residences and updating the interior with accoutrements and furnishings.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Colony House is the social hub for the community, offering sophisticated dining options in 1916 and casual cookouts by the pool. A fitness center, library, 37 guest suites and full-service concierge services also are available at the Colony House, with croquet lawns situated just steps away and a racquet sports facility located to the right of the first fairway. Mountain Lake also boasts a shooting range nestled in an old clay mine on the outskirts of the community.
For more information: www.mountainlakeflorida.com.
