A struggling lake - renovation pending #8

UPDATED: Good news. The committee has learned that the Bent Tree Country Club members have approved a $21,000,000 renovation of the course with a target start date of November 2025. The project will take about a year. The next step is for the club to advance from concept to detailed plan and to solicit contractor bids.

A project like this significant for Lakes of Bent Tree residents as it affects the lake running along the east side of the property which in turn affects property values and resident enjoyment.  The plan includes::

1. dredging the lake to 6 ft, which will make the water look cleaner reduce pond weed and algae, and
2. changing the shape/borders of the lake which will improve the visual for most LoBT lakefront units.

On the downside, this project likely will result in 12 months of:

• declines in real estate values and/or resale timelines, and a
  
• lower quality of life with the drained lake, construction vehicles, smell, dust, and noise during the 45 days of dredging.

Representing LoBT interests, constructively, will be necessary. While LoBT has made great strides in building a relationship with the club since 2020, which has resulted in much better algae control (click to see past problem), several actions, including chaining and padlocking the LoBT gate and intentionally cutting power-lines, have been concerning. In the last year, the south end of the lake has become a swamp, and we have made no headway in resolving it (see photo below).

This renovation may also present valuable opportunities:

• an opportunity (and expense) to perform maintenance (when the lake is drained) on the $1,000,000 retaining wall which  holds up the 5002- 5060 Westgrove), and
• an opportunity to request a regrading of the area behind 5070-5090 for better drainage.

Ideas proposed on the concept drawing (above) include:

• @ Pool/Tennis/Dog Park. The golf green will be moved closer to the pool, tennis courts, and dog park. A large tree in front of the green will be removed, and the lake will be brought up closer to the putting green.
• @ 5002-5004. The lake will be widened, and three large golf course trees in this area will be removed.
• @ 5010-5020. The lake will be widened and five golf course trees in that area will be removed.
• @ 5022-5028. The lake will be slightly narrowed (filled in).
• @ 5038-5068. The lake will be widened, and the waterway connecting the two lakes may be filled in. Four golf course trees in that area will be removed.
• @ 5070-5092. The cart path will be rerouted, and each tee box will be moved 25-50 yards back.

Please share any thoughts you have. The LoBT Lake Committee would like to provide its thoughts and concerns to the club before the final architectural drawings are completed. Please comment below.

For more articles on this subject go to {{click here}}.

Architects notes:

1. Hole #6 would go from a Par 4 to Par 5, making Bent Tree a Par 72 (currently a par 73).
2. The cross creek would be "filled" creating a more friendly tee shot for our shortest players. A longer tee shot would now land in the wider, flatter portion of the fairway. 
3. The fairway would be expanded in size and a large "aiming sand trap" located on the right side.
4. Trees that sit on the water's edge would be removed creating better water visuals from all tee tee-off boxes.
5. More "fill" down the left side of the lake to restore width to the hole at its midpoint. The second shot would create a decision for all; go for the green or layup.
6. With the green sitting on the water and a new section tucked behind the water and to the left, only the bravest would attempt this for a chance at glory.
7. A "kick on" slope 30 yards from the green would push the ball onto the green for those coming in with a lower trajectory.
8. The landing zone for a layup would be widened by "filling" the lake closer to the green.
9. A single sand-trap would frame the right side of the green (currently there are two).
10. Use the QR code for unedited architects description: