Richard Mandell, a golf course architect and author who lives in Pinehurst has been honored again for his renovation work.

GolfInc. Magazine recently named the Water's Edge Country Club as the runner-up for Reno-vation of the Year for 2008 in the private club category. This is the second award for Richard Mandell Golf Architecture's project in Penhook, Va., an impressive bookend to the GCBAA Legacy Award (Renovation of the Year).

"I guess you could say it is like taking home a gold and a silver," Mandell said. "Considering there were no expectations, I'm excited that Water's Edge was recognized. Projects that simply solve the problems without completely blowing things up for effect usually don't win these awards."

The Willard Cos., led by Ron Willard and Ron Willard II, are the Owners of the Water's Edge. Aspen Corp., of Daniels, West Va., was the contractor for the project.

GolfInc. received more than 45 entries for the awards. The judges rated the five finalists in each division on how well the renovation achieved the owner's vision (50 percent), the aesthetics of the end-product (25 percent) and the maintainability of the end product (25 percent).

One of the judges, Joe Niebur, commented, "Great work, big bold look. I'm sure the equity of the membership value improved greatly."

The Water's Edge victory has already begun paying for itself as 2008 was one of the club's best revenue-producing years in its history, despite the economy and the course not re-opening until May.

Mandell is especially pleased to win this award because of its emphasis on carrying out the owner's vision.

"That should be most important for any golf architect because too many times the golf course work does not reflect the needs of the owner, instead focusing on unrealistic goals established by a marketing firm with no real handle on what the golfer wants," Mandell said. "That usually ends up costing someone."

Mandell's company prides itself on meeting those owner objectives, and the GolfInc. renovation award reinforces the company's mission.

Mandell received the award on behalf of the project team at the World Golf Hall of Fame in St. Augustine, Fla.