Fox Chapel Golf Club has successfully completed an ambitious restoration project that brings one of golf's most revered architects back to life. The Pittsburgh-area club has finished renovating its historic Seth Raynor layout, one of only a handful of Raynor courses remaining worldwide.
Fazio Design was brought in during 2014 to develop a comprehensive master plan for the course, which opened in June 1925. What began as a simple bunker renovation evolved into a complete restoration under the guidance of Senior Design Associate Tom Marzolf.
"We are extremely pleased to have restored Raynor's original vision for golf at Fox Chapel," said Robert M. Marsh, the club's President. "Not only is this significant for fans of Seth Raynor, but it is wonderful for fans of golf at all skill levels, which was important to us throughout the process."
The restoration focused on what Marzolf described as "the strictest adherence to Raynor principles possible." Rather than creating an interpretation of Raynor's work, the team committed to authentically recreating the original design. "It is not an interpretation, it's truly putting Raynor back on the ground," Marzolf explained. "Seth Raynor is once and forever the architect of Fox Chapel."
Seth Raynor, who died prematurely in 1926 at age 51, designed approximately 50 courses during his career. Many of his layouts have been lost to time or significantly altered, making Fox Chapel's faithful restoration particularly significant for golf architecture enthusiasts.
The project required careful modernization to accommodate contemporary equipment while preserving Raynor's distinctive template holes. The team repositioned bunkers to bring Raynor's strategic features back into play for today's golfers, while adding new tees to ensure the course remains accessible to players of all abilities.
Several holes showcase classic Raynor templates that have been meticulously restored. The 4th hole features a Road Hole design with an enlarged green and Spectacles-type bunker guarding the fairway. The 5th presents a Cape hole design playing along a creek, with a distinctive shamrock-shaped green protected by strategically placed bunkers.
Perhaps the most significant restoration occurred at the 9th hole, which Marzolf called "the biggest story on the project." The team successfully recreated a rare Lion's Mouth bunker that protects the front-center of the punchbowl green, bringing back an authentic Raynor feature that had been lost over time.
The 17th hole exemplifies Raynor's famous Biarritz template, stretching 230 yards from the back tees to a narrow green bisected by a seven-foot trench. Full bunkers line both sides of the putting surface, creating the dramatic visual and strategic elements that made Raynor's designs so distinctive.
"We are thrilled with the restoration of our Seth Raynor course along with the dedication by our golf course architect, construction team, club management, and our golf course superintendent and his staff, as well as the overwhelming support by our membership," said Thomas B Reading, Chairman of the Committee of the Green.
The golf course restoration represents the latest phase in a comprehensive club improvement program. Fox Chapel has invested in new dining venues, a renovated Grill Room, expanded fitness facilities, and updated infrastructure throughout the property.
Founded in 1923, Fox Chapel Golf Club will celebrate its centennial in 2023. The completion of this restoration project ensures that Seth Raynor's architectural legacy will be preserved for future generations of golfers to experience and appreciate.
The project stands as a testament to both the enduring appeal of classic golf architecture and the commitment required to properly restore these historic layouts. With the course now open, golfers can experience authentic Raynor design principles in their original form, making Fox Chapel a significant destination for architecture enthusiasts and serious golfers alike.
---
*Originally published on [Golf News](https://golfnews.global/article/fox-chapel-golf-club-completes-historic-seth-raynor-restoration). Visit for full coverage.*
