Interlachen Country Club Embraces a Fresh Vision with Fazio Design

Interlachen Country Club in Winter Park, Florida, is undergoing a major transformation to revitalize its 1985 Joe Lee-designed course. With leadership from Tom Fazio and ASGCA Past President Tom Marzolf, the project blends modern design with a focus on sustainability and member experience.

Tackling the Terrain

The club’s 270-acre property is gently contoured and prone to flooding from seasonal hurricanes. To create firmer, faster conditions, Fazio Design extended existing lakes to provide fill material, raising landing areas and improving drainage. Over 400 catch basins were installed to channel surface water underground, keeping the course playable year-round.

Agronomy Meets Architecture

Marzolf and his team partnered with Turfgrass, the agronomic consultancy behind Adare Manor’s Ryder Cup preparations, to ensure best practices. Together they conducted a full review of construction specifications and turf species, tested sands and gravels, and supported the superintendent with grow-in planning. The result: new playing surfaces featuring TifTuf bermuda fairways, TifGrand surrounds, and expansive 7,000-square-foot TifEagle greens.

A Strategic Redesign

Tree removal and turf expansion have opened vistas, improved sunlight, and made strategy central to play. Bunkers are now larger, bolder, and strategically positioned—pinching landing zones and guarding doglegs. Expansive sandscapes and sand-screened cart paths lend the course a classic “old Florida” feel.

Routing changes add further interest: the eighth hole has become a long par four, while the ninth now plays as a par three into the clubhouse lawn, giving golfers and spectators panoramic views from the patio. Firm sandcapped approaches and low-mow surrounds encourage a ground game, creating reliable bounces and variety around the greens.

Ready for Decades of Play

As the project nears completion, Fazio Design’s vision positions Interlachen for decades of enjoyable, resilient golf. With upgraded infrastructure, agronomic expertise, and strategic flair, the club is set to deliver a member-friendly experience that embraces both tradition and innovation.

About Interlachen Country Club

Located in Winter Park, Florida, Interlachen Country Club is recognized as one of Central Florida’s premier private clubs. Known as “the sanctuary in the city,” it offers members a blend of tradition, privacy, and first-class amenities in a scenic residential setting. The club features a championship 18-hole golf course along with tennis, aquatics, recreation, and a variety of dining and social venues. With its emphasis on excellence and community, Interlachen provides a welcoming environment where members can enjoy sport, leisure, and lasting connections.