BOLTON, Mass. — History has been given a fresh new look at The International.
It will be on display when the 121-year-old club opens its doors to the golf world Labor Day weekend. The International is prepped and ready to host an event on the LIV Golf Invitational Series.
The International was owned by the Weadock family before it fell into bankruptcy in 2020 after struggling during the pandemic and leaving members and customers frustrated with lost deposits for club fees and banquet reservations. Escalante Golf purchased the property out of bankruptcy in late 2020 for $10 million, and general manager Steve Brennan and his staff have been focused on bringing The International back to life with vigor.
“We feel really good about it, and we’re really excited to show it off,” Brennan said. “Getting it to the point that it is now in 18 short months has been a lot of fun to do. It’s been fun putting a team together, building the membership and getting into the project of bringing these golf courses back to where they once were and beyond.”
Brennan described working with Escalante Golf, along with the town of Bolton, as a dream come true, especially with the LIV event set for this weekend. When golf fans and players arrive at The International, the improvements and upgrades will be evident.
The plan to reinvigorate the golf courses and all the facilities began last April, and it’s ready to be put on display. The Oaks course renovation started with stripping every tee box and then laser-leveling and reseeding. The project took six months to complete, and now it’s time to show it off.
“The first impression will be how perfect these tees are,” Brennan said. “Every tee is aligned with the center of the fairway. It’s a pleasure to hit off them.”
Fairways firmed up
Speaking of the fairways, they’ve been firmed up with clean lines and a really fine playing surface. Every bunker has been completely renovated, including the drainage. Limestone sand was installed, and while players will attempt to avoid the hazards, Brennan is pleased with the redesign.
“They’re stunning to look at and very aesthetically pleasing,” Brennan said. “They’re even better to play on.”
Reigning British Open champion Cameron Smith is expected to lead the field of golfers who will play The International for the first time. It will feel like they’re playing in the middle of a forest, which is one of its signature features.
“The golf course will feel very in front of them in the sense that every hole is framed very well with bunkers and trees,” Brennan said. “The players will truly enjoy the experience. The greens are very good and very smooth. Visually, it’s a very framed golf course.”
Brennan and his staff also have focused on updating aging facilities that weren’t maintained before the property went into bankruptcy. In fact, the staff filled 30 30-yard dumpsters during the renovation.
The club needed a massive facelift, so the team started with the existing clubhouse and golf shop. The ceilings, walls and floors were redone, and all new furnishings were added throughout the property. The dining room and locker rooms were all upgraded, along with the 15 suites at The Lodge.
“Just gave it a modern, fresh look,” Brennan said. “It has a very comfortable, warm and not stuffy feeling.”
Eventually, the building will be torn down and rebuilt.
Brennan knew the bones of the property from years ago, so Escalante Golf hired him to restore The International into its past glory. His plan of recreating one of the best private golf experiences in New England is coming to fruition.
The past remains on display with the many trophies and plaques on the walls, and Brennan hopes members and visitors will appreciate the history of The International, which opened in 1901.
“History is a big part of The International,” Brennan said. “We were fortunate to have about 80 members return that were here previously. They took a leap of faith, joined us, and they’ve been our biggest cheerleaders, so keeping that historical perspective has been a big part of it.”
Local ties
Working with the community has been a positive experience, and The International believes in its local ties, including hiring local people and vendors.
“It’s been a big part of the town for a very long time, and we’re fully aware of it,” Brennan said. “I remember it from its heyday, so when I came back to town we said we’re here to do it right and bring it back to its former glory. The town’s been great to work with as far as going through the processes that you need to go through. We’ve become friendly with the farmers in the area.”
The LIV Golf series has been marked by protests because of LIV’s connection to its financial backer, the government of Saudi Arabia and its crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman. LIV Golf has been criticized because it’s funded by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and view its attempts to sports-wash the country’s reported human rights abuses
While many have opposed the LIV tournament coming to town, Mark Ayotte of Bolton believes without a successful and operational golf course at The International, events could have led to hundreds of houses being built on the property.
“This is the greatest thing,” Ayotte said of the LIV tournament. “It’s saving this course, which is preserving all this land and not turning it into houses. (Bolton) is a great place to live with all this open space, and this is saving us. There will be a lot of local benefit.”
Escalante Golf has worked well with the town’s Conservation Trust, and the revenue from the LIV Tournament will have a major benefit.
“Escalante Golf has been a great partner coming in and trying to right the ship here,” Ayotte said.
After the tournament and the droves of fans are gone, Brennan wants everyone to walk away with a positive experience.
“We want them to say, ‘Wow. What a great event.’ This is not just a golf tournament, it’s an experience, and we’re excited to be part of that,” Brennan said.
The fences come down, and the curtain goes up this weekend at The International.
“It’s part of history, and now we’re taking it forward,” Brennan said. “We have a lot of forward momentum, and we don’t plan on stopping.”
Contact Joe McDonald at JMcDonald2@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoeyMacHockey.