The Greenbrier's Old White Course was officially re-opened this morning following a four-year restoration by architect Lester George. The ceremony featured remarks from Ted Kleisner, president of The Greenbrier; Robert Harris, the resort's director of sports and recreation; George, and The Greenbrier's Golf Professional Emeritus Tom Watson. The event was highlighted with the ceremonial first drives by Watson and LPGA standout Beth Daniel.

Using aerial photographs from the 1930s and historical accounts from retired Greenbrier professionals and greenskeepers, George recreated the resort's first 18-hole course. His goal was to reflect its original 1914 design by Charles Blair Macdonald, while taking into consideration current golf strategies and equipment.

"Macdonald was a major figure in the birth and growth of golf in America," said Kleisner. "Within a few years the Old White became a playground for people better known for pursuits other than golf: President Woodrow Wilson, Joseph P. Kennedy, the Prince of Wales (who played the course many times in later years after his abdication from the throne of England, when he was known as the Duke of Windsor), magazine publisher Conde Nast, General Motors Chief Alfred P. Sloan, composer Irving Berlin, boxer Gene Tunney, golf writer Grantland Rice, automaker Walter Chrysler as well as Vanderbilts, Pulitzers, Guggenheims and Fords too numerous to mention. But 90 years of rain and wind and snow and hot summer afternoons take their toll on an aging masterpiece. Add to that thousands of rounds of golf played on the course, hundreds of maintenance personnel and their equipment criss-crossing the greens and fairways and you can imagine the wear and tear on the Old White's acres."

The restoration project began in the fall of 2002. After the course closed for the season, work began on holes 9 (Punchbowl), 15 (Eden) and 16 (Cape), three classic Macdonald holes. Over the subsequent three winters, additional holes were done, with the fourth phase completing the final eight holes. In addition to the design restoration, the project also improved drainage issues and accounted for modern golf equipment, such as the flight distance of golf balls.

"The idea of totally renovating and restoring a course that everyone enjoys, and that was the favorite course of golf legend Sam Snead, took some courage. Few players ever said the course needed upgrading, or sprucing up. Everyone liked it just the way it was," stated Harris. "Architects from the east and mid-Atlantic were interviewed. All viewed the restoration in the strictest of terms, meaning rebuild exact what was there originally. But, now we have new roads, hiking trails, carriage trails, new drainage issues, and.did I mention the fact that the golf ball is going 40 yards further for most players? In addition to more golfers being able to enjoy the game the 'Big Bertha era' combined with new golf ball technology has also brought it new challenges for safety, in addition to affecting golf strategy. Lester had an intimate understanding of the Macdonald-Raynor golf strategy as well as the engineering understanding to handle key elements of the restoration. But the most important element that Lester brought was his creative imagination and personality that was so needed in order to bring to life the boldness and striking design elements that must have impressed golfers in the teens and 1920's, but would be required to tell that message in the 21st Century."

"I know our guests will enjoy the course's new challenges and improved quality of the playing surfaces," added Harris.