Tyler Rae shares what makes the Mountain Lake golf course such a rewarding place to play—from its thoughtful design to the unforgettable setting, and what changes are coming in the 2026 restoration.
“Mountain Lake is a magical place, we are humbled and honored to be able to “polish the gem” and highlight the special nature of the property. It feels like you’re transported to another era where your friends will drive up to you in a timeless DeSoto to say hello during your round.”
– Tyler J. Rae, Golf Architect & Team
The Mountain Lake golf course restoration presents an opportunity to not only preserve, restore, and improve upon Seth Raynor’s design, it also allows us to reaffirm our commitments to the principles of great golf course architecture, environmental stewardship and aesthetics. As we modernize to meet the evolving needs of the club, our primary goal remains to enhance enjoyment and playability for members.
In the early planning stages of Mountain Lake, Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. personally shaped the 3,500 acre layout and vision, down to the most minute details. When it came to designing the golf course, Olmsted Jr. took an initial pass before turning the design over to an up-and-coming architect — Seth J. Raynor. As one of Raynor’s first solo-designed courses, Mountain Lake marked the start of a legendary partnership between the two men, which also produced the iconic developments Fishers Island and Yeamans Hall.
Revered as one of the best of the golden age golf course architects, Seth Raynor was tapped to design the Mountain Lake golf course in 1915. His reputation from working on high profile projects such as The National Golf Links of America, Lido, and Sleepy Hollow with C.B. Macdonald had earned Raynor the trust of Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. and Frederick Ruth. Mountain Lake is Raynor’s second solo design, with present day holes 1-6 and 16-18 opening for play January 1, 1917. He returned on the spring of 1920 begin work on holes 7-15, which opened for play January 1, 1921.
The golf course received rave reviews and was featured prominently in golf publications. Exhibition matches and tournaments promoted the golf course with legendary names such as Walter Hagen, “Long” Jim Barnes, and the great Glenna Collett Vare walking the fairways. Famed sportswriter Grantland Rice proclaimed Mountain Lake to be among the finest courses in the South.
Tyler Rae, a University of Kentucky graduate of Landscape Architecture, has been immersed in the Game of Golf and its playing fields since a very young age. Prior to operating his own firm, Tyler worked with noted Golf Architect and Golden Age restoration expert Ron Prichard for eight years, in the design office with Golf Architect Keith Foster for three years, as well as out in the field with Coore & Crenshaw. Tyler also ran and shaped multi-million dollar projects in the dirt for an International Golf Course Builder for four years, learning how courses come to life in the field. During that span, he built new courses and restored older golf courses for designers such as Tom Doak and Bruce Hepner, Robert Trent Jones Jr., Rees Jones, Tom Fazio, John Fought and past Augusta National Superintendent Billy Fuller.
Tyler’s emphasis continues to focus on Donald Ross, Seth Raynor, William Flynn, A.W. Tillinghast and other Golden Age Architects’ restoration and renovation work while also building and designing new golf courses from scratch.
Members from all over the country enjoy a peaceful winter respite. In addition to Resident Membership, limited Non-Resident and National Memberships offer warm escapes in a private oasis.
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