Searles, Stromski, Associates, Architects Planners to complete $60m renovation

Recently, senior executives at the newly christened Baiting Hollow Club, formerly Fox Hills Golf and Country Club, celebrated the first of many milestones associated with the multiphase redevelopment of the golf facility. At the gateway to Long Island's lush agricultural and burgeoning wine region, the 138-acre golf course was designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr. in 1966. "Watching our plans go from the drawing board to reality has been tremendously exciting, as it embodies so much more than your typical golf course revitalization," said Barry Beil, general manager and co-owner of Baiting Hollow Club. "I couldn't be more proud of our progress and the clubhouse will set a new standard - with all the luxury amenities one would expect, but will also complement the natural setting of the surrounding landscape." "The North Fork is an incredibly beautiful place," Stanley Pine, Beil's partner, added. "There are very few areas on Long Island or in the United States that can compare to this as far as overall beauty throughout the year." Conceptually designed by Hart/Howerton, a renowned global architecture and design firm, the clubhouse at Baiting Hollow Club will span 24,624 s/f across three stories. Searles, Stromski, Associates Architects Planners, PC (SSA) of Rocky Point, N.Y. were brought on board to develop the original design into a set of working drawings and further develop the interior plan and layout. The facility, to be completed by the summer of 2008, has been created in a style reminiscent of the late 19th and 20th centuries. Distinctive design features include exteriors of cedar shingle and masonry, accented by a powerful roofline with multiple gables. Brick water tables on the building blend into the lower walls surrounding the stone terrace and connect the building to its landscape. On approach, a scenic tree-lined boulevard (Club Dr.) and exquisitely landscaped mall provide exclusive access to the golf course and club. "We are delighted to be part of the development team," said Robert Stromski, partner, SSA. "The conceptual design by Hart/Howerton, allowed us the design flexibility to create some interesting volumes to the main spaces, such as the Grille Room. We then took the simplistic, yet elegant, shingle-style design into the interior. The wood trim detail of the Grille Room, Bar/ Lounge, and Pro Shop have strong and meaningful presence within the inviting spaces and frame the fantastic views of the golf course." Inside the clubhouse at Baiting Hollow Club, luxurious amenities will be woven throughout the interior. On the main floor, the men's and women's lounge areas will feature fireplaces and flat screen televisions. The upper level will house a pro shop and the Grille Room, an intimate 56-seat restaurant and adjacent 22-seat bar and lounge. To accommodate the new facilities, minor changes to the golf course are planned. Premier golf course design team Hurdzan-Fry provided counsel on restoring the course to its original design, which had been modified over the years. The 7th hole with 420 yards, returns to a challenging par 4 design; while the former 14th hole becomes the finishing hole, returning also to a par 4 with 465 yards. Following completion of the clubhouse and minor course changes, 30 luxurious homes commensurate with the new facilities will be built. Built on the bluffs of the Long Island Sound, the course is known for its beautiful vistas, featuring many elevated tees and greens. Extraordinary management of turf and soil infrastructure has resulted in manicured greens and fairways, which offer the luxury of playing under the best conditions. "It's the best of links and woodland holes intertwined, and is a phenomenally interesting course to play," said Pine. Once the changes are in place the course will measure 6,850 from the back tees, and play to a par of 70 with a likely slope rating of 135 presenting a difficult, but fair challenge to golfers of all levels. Three other sets of tees test golfers with total yardages that range from 5,500 to 6,450. The course has hosted many outstanding tournaments. Some of these include the 2006 New York State Open qualifier, the 2002 U.S. Open qualifier, the 2001 Met Open, the 2000 U.S. Amateur qualifier, the 1999 Long Island PGA Championship, the 1998 Met Open qualifier, and the 1996 Ike qualifier.