Spencer Cody jokes about his office, which he keeps at Omni Hotels & Resorts corporate headquarters. However, his light is seldom on. It’s not surprising. Cody, Omni’s Corporate Director of Club and Golf Operations and his colleagues are juggling many projects at 13 golf destinations in the United States with 26 courses and numerous short courses.
The Omni PGA Frisco Resort was opened last month and showcased at the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship. Seth Waugh of the PGA of America described the 660 acre resort 35 miles north of Dallas, as “an ocean on the edge of the desert”.
(Omni PGA Frisco Resort – Fields Ranch East).
Architect Gil Hanse designed Fields Ranch East for big tournaments. It is now open to public after the 83rd KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship.
Cody explained that Gil’s vision for the course was to have a large spectator area with a flexible setup. The ribbon tees allow us to get the course back up to almost 8,000 yard for a PGA Championship, Ryder Cup, or even shorter for a PGA Junior League.
The use of Northbridge Bermuda grass throughout the course makes it easy for the maintenance team pinch the fairways to prepare for tournament play. Additionally, the extreme sand capping and drainage will limit weather delays. Cody explained that if we were hosting a major tournament and there was a heavy rainstorm, the course would be playable quickly.
Beau Welling’s Field Ranch West offers a striking contrast. The layout is links-inspired, with Texas-sized – in some spots 100-yard-wide – fairways and rolling terrain that remind Cody of the Hill Country. The greens can be penal, and the surrounding terrain is also a challenge.
There are also a number of coaching and practice facilities for all ages, from those who want to play a little golf after work, to the serious players that want to improve their game.
Cody stated that “we’re very aligned with PGA of America mission – to grow the game and expose people to it, making it inclusive and approachable.” There is something for everyone. The best players will struggle to score par, from the back tees to my 2-year old playing for the first.
It’s interesting to note that Omni Hotels & Resorts is also celebrating the 100 th Anniversary of the Cascades Course, at the Omni Homestead Resort, in Virginia. The Cascades Course is the most well-known of a group of Golden Age designs that include classics like Bedford in Pennsylvania, Bretton Woods in New Hampshire, and Asheville in North Carolina.
“Our portfolio alone helps us differentiate,” Cody said. “We have everything from the historic Golden Age classic golf courses to the modern home of golf at Fields Ranch.”
Kevin Brown from Georgia, a Golfweek reviewer, visited the Omni Homestead in the fall of last year, as the resort completed a $150-million renovation. But that didn’t ruin his experience.
He said, “We chose to stay in the hotel for its history and tradition and it didn’t let us down.” The resort and courses have a lot of history. It certainly lived up to the hype that it has received over the years. “The design of Cascades was fantastic. And then you combine that with the rich history at the Homestead.”
(The Omni Homestead Resort – Cascades Course)
It’s interesting to note that the Cascades Course almost never got built. Several prominent Golden Age architects – including A.W. Tillinghast, Seth Raynor visited The Homestead 1919 to declare that the Allegheny Mountains Farmland chosen as the Cascades Site was not suitable for Golf. William S. Flynn was hired by the resort owners to transform the difficult terrain into a classic golf course.
What a historic site. David Jett, a course rater from Alabama who visited the site in 2020, said it was “magnificent”. He enlisted an old friend of local legend Sam Snead as a caddie. “He gave us an history lesson on a golf course.”
Omni Golf has invested in upgrading its golf operations across the country.
Cody was the former Director of Golf Operations at Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa, in Austin. All four courses were renovated, including the resort’s Fazio Canyons course which recently received a $5-million upgrade.
Jake McCarthy, who is a Texas rater and played the course, said, “I love Fazio Canyons. Especially the back nine.” I was discussing the course with a PGA Tour player and we both expressed how much we enjoyed the course. I liked the shape of the greens, the undulations in the fairways, and the bunkering.
Omni Amelia Island is located on 3.5 miles pristine beachfront, in Northwest Florida. Last year, the short Welling’s Little Sandy course was opened as part of an overall corporate initiative to attract golfers from all age groups and abilities.
Cody stated, “We had been leaning towards non-traditional and approachable experiences of golf even before Covid but Covid really brought home the value.” The business model is based on offering golf experiences to everyone. “The culmination of this is PGA Frisco but we like doing that everywhere.”
(Omni PGA Frisco Resort – Top Golf Lounge)
Welling and Hanse are also busy at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa, north of San Diego. Cody envisions a’restoration of Omni La Costa back to its glory days. It will be a highly-profile destination for the next three year. The resort’s Champions Course is hosting for the NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Golf from 2024-2026. And the coaches who are behind the move have even floated the idea that it could be a permanent location.
Hanse is re-imagining the Champions Course. He has stated that it will become a tribute to some of Southern California’s great Golden Age architecture. Welling will begin shaping the undersized range at the resort this month, creating a Tour quality product.
The Omni golf resorts are busy with projects, and even though the Frisco facility is up and running now, Cody will not be getting a break anytime soon.
