Big Foot CC, Zinkand start second phase of master plan project

Golf Course Industry

David Zinkand is beginning the second phase of its master plan at Big Foot Country Club, a 1924 Tom Bendelow design located in Fontana, Wisconsin, near Lake Geneva.

By Golf Course Industry Staff
Published June 10, 2025

Led by golf course architect David Zinkand, ZGD’s master plan will enhance strategic interest and challenge for the skilled player, while introducing greater forgiveness for higher handicaps. This will be achieved by widening playing corridors, thoughtfully situating tees, and repositioning bunkers to better capitalize on the terrain and increase options for players of all skill levels. Most notably, rerouting holes 12 through 14 will refine the flow of the course’s routing and create a more adventurous and engaging playing experience.

The project also addresses key infrastructure needs by expanding pinnable green space and re-grassing all playing surfaces. And to improve aesthetics, a number of Norway spruce will be removed to reveal long views and beautiful mature oak trees. The master plan’s first phase, which focused on bunker renovation, finished in fall 2024.

“Big Foot is set across striking natural terrain punctuated by meandering streams and spring-fed ponds,” said Zinkand, whose other recent Midwest projects include a restoration of Old Elm Club in Highland Park, Illinois. “These traits, when combined with Mr. Bendelow’s ‘Golden Age of Design’ philosophies, give us an incredible canvas to work with.”

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