Tucked away in the pastoral heart of the Finger Lakes region is an award-winning golf course, Ravenwood, which spotlights 18 holes, lush greens, and crisp fairways while offering a unique challenge to golfers of all skill levels. A full-service facility, Ravenwood also hosts weddings, corporate events and banquets on its expansive grounds.
For everything that the course encompasses, to take the property to the next level they needed a clubhouse upgrade. The clubhouse is a naturally a high traffic area, a place to take a respite from the course, or to catch up with friends after a long day of golf. Adding a diverse outdoor space to the facility was a priority for Ravenwood and the most efficient way to develop this new space while still providing long term stability and a touch of class to the existing clubhouse was by introducing heavy timber.
The incorporation of a timber frame into the Ravenwood clubhouse was to provide patrons with “a wow factor,” Jennifer Gossage, Director of Clubhouse Operations at Ravenwood said. “Our vision included an indoor-outdoor bar area connected to beautiful patio space. The timber frame was the ideal solution, combing rustic charm with elegance to achieve the impact we desired. We wanted to upgrade our facility and to provide patrons with an enhanced experience.”
Situated on a tree dotted slope overlooking the property, the clubhouse nestles into the surrounding landscape. A central hub of activity for the facility, the upgrade needed to be inviting as well as functional. A well thought out outdoor space can have as powerful an aesthetic impact on visitors as a beautifully designed interior space. In the case of a Ravenwood, the new timer frame build offers the specialized experience of seamlessly enjoying indoor leisure activities without ever having to leave the course.
New Energy Works timber framer, Jacob Zlomke, cut and raised the frame. “The country club was doing a full-scale remodel on the clubhouse, and they brought us in to build a type of porte cochere for driving the golf carts right up to the clubhouse, a nice entryway that looks right out onto the course,” Zlomke shared.
Because the clubhouse was not a brand-new build it offered a unique challenge to the New Energy Works team. The new entry way would have look like it had always been there. “It’s always unique to tie into an existing structure,” Zlomke said, “There’s an existing gable end wall that the timber frame ties into with a peak to the roof. Each side of the roof peak was at two slightly different pitches, so we needed to match that to install the frame right over the top. There so many angles to think about …you want the timber frame to look like it’s always been there. It was fun to prepare for that.”
The New Energy Works team finessed a successful solution for the connection. “There was some care involved in making sure that everything was going to look like the new timber had always been there,” Zlomke said. “The things that are the most challenging, the average person will never be able to see. I want it to look easy, natural, and like it just happened that way.”
The timber frame entryway was the unifying element needed to bring the clubhouse together as a place to socialize while enjoying a panoramic view of the course. “It’s a beautiful facility to share with all of our membership and public customers,” gushed Gossage. “I’m thrilled with the new restaurant’s indoor-outdoor area and the timber framed outdoor space. We’ve created a truly exceptional spot where guests can enjoy the beauty of the golf course, relax and savor great food and drinks. The building harmonizes with the course’s aesthetic by seamlessly integrating with the natural surroundings, creating a cohesive flow between the indoor and outdoor spaces.”
The New Energy Works team feels the same way. “It really helped dress up the place and make it a nice experience for the members there,” Zlomke said. “It’s always nice to do something that’s just right down the road from the shop and that’s in the community. I can also tell my friends and family that they can go and see it.”
Project Partners:
Architect: Edge Architecture
Builder: Vasile Construction
Timber Frame: New Energy Works
Photography: Tim Wilkes
