“When MDR Architects do golf clubhouse projects, they submit them to Golf Inc. Magazine to get into the competition,” Scozzola said. “The magazine takes submissions from all over the nation.”
In the world of clubhouse design, it’s a very high accolade because it’s a specialized field, Melzer said, and awards for it are few and far between.
“It’s pretty prestigious to receive it as far as we are concerned,” he said.
The firm has won six architectural awards, four of those from Golf Inc. competition, Melzer said. One was in Hawaii, the others in Southern California. Clubhouses are the company’s specialty, but it also designs resorts, hotels and time shares.
The winner and the other finalists in the daily fee clubs category for this year’s competition were very competitive, Scozzola said. They all charge much higher green fees than DeBell, he said.
“Just to be recognized nationally, it’s something we never had before, and it is really a good achievement in my opinion,” Scozzola said.
The renovated facility is much more functional, he said. It includes a state-of-the-art golf shop that features new fixtures that hold more merchandise, and restaurant and dining room facilities that can accommodate larger functions.
“And the day-to-day dining of the restaurant provides a real nice atmosphere to have lunch or breakfast,” he said. “The patio is adjacent to the golf course, and you can eat lunch and look at the golf course at the same time.”
The Craftsman style was the favorite choice of the city committee that worked on the renovation, Melzer said.
