Hale Irwin and son, debut first 9-holes of Lodestone with a friendly father / son golf game!

Wisp Resort's masterfully planned mountain-top communities included a private golf club in its original vision dated 2001.  This vision began to take form when Wisp Resort Development, Inc. signed on senior pro golfer Hale Irwin as their signature designer in the summer of 2006.  Final planning and construction began immediately thereafter with the first earth moved in mid-summer, 2007.  Hale Irwin teamed with Design Workshop, a Denver-based landscape architecture firm, to design Lodestone Golf Club, Irwin’s first golf course in Maryland.  Aspen Corporation of Daniels, WV directed course construction and in the late fall of  2008, the front nine holes were completed with grass and seeding.  On Saturday, June 13, 2009, the 3-time U.S. Open Champion, Mr. Hale Irwin and his son Steve, played the inaugural front nine holes with an intimate following of Lodestone Members, Architect and Designers along with Resort Developers, Owners and Guests.  The playful 'father and son match' was enhanced with course design explanations from both design and architect teams.  There was plenty of crowd participation as Mr. Irwin and son Steve allowed guests to assist in their putting game. 

An intimate crowd was invited to watch the friendly father / son match seen here on Hole #5 green.

Pro Golfer & Course Designer Hale Irwin takes a practice swing before teeing off on Lodestone's scenic hole #8

From Left:  Course designer Hale Irwin, Wisp Resort Partner Gary Daum, Lodestone Construction Superintendent Bob Holcomb with Hole #9 green in the background.

Local junior golfer, Jake Vernon, gets a putting lesson from Hale's son, Steve Irwin

Construction on the back nine holes of Lodestone resumed in April 2009 and continue to take shape.  Hole 10 was seeded and grassed to 80% completion and offers remarkable views from the tees and clubhouse site over a huge ravine with a dramatic split-level fairway.  The design group made minor tweaks on holes 11 and 12 that were massaged into completion of the final grading last year.  Par 5 Hole 13 delivers a spectacular view of Deep Creek Lake and distant mountain ranges with a challenging 607 yards from the Pro Tees.  Holes 14 thru 18 take golfers deep within the Wisp Mountain terrain showcasing amazing native flora, magnificent topography and a feeling of solitude.  Completion for the back nine construction is projected for Fall 2009 followed by seeding and grow-in to be finalized by Summer 2010.  Lodestone Golf Club has been predicted to be one of the golfing jewels of the Mid-Atlantic region. Visit www.wispresortrealestate.com for updated course construction, photos and membership information.