Renowned golf architect Gil Hanse has been commissioned to restore the historic Mid Ocean Club in Bermuda, the only international golf course designed by Charles Blair Macdonald. The Mid Ocean Club, ranked 44th in Golf Digest’s list of the 100 greatest golf courses outside the U.S., will undergo restoration starting in fall 2027, with the expectation of reopening in late 2028 following a major clubhouse renovation. Hanse, who recently completed significant restorations at Yale Golf Course and Sleepy Hollow Golf Club—both also Macdonald designs—is partnering with Jim Wagner for this prestigious project.

Hanse described his first visit to the Mid Ocean Club on his honeymoon 40 years ago as a formative experience and expressed that restoring a course by Macdonald, whom he regards as a "Mount Rushmore" figure in golf architecture, is a profound honor. Historical research for the restoration has been bolstered by the discovery of a 1926 silent film believed to show Macdonald himself on the course, providing rare visual evidence to guide the accurate preservation of Macdonald and Seth Raynor’s original design intent. The project will carefully remove later modifications, such as those from Robert Trent Jones Sr. in 1953, to regain the course's authentic character.

One of the most famous holes at the Mid Ocean Club, the 5th "Cape" hole with its daring diagonal tee shot over Mangrove Lake, is a key focus of the restoration and is considered one of golf’s most audacious and iconic shots. Hanse’s vision is to honor Macdonald’s legacy by faithfully restoring the course’s strategic and aesthetic elements so that future members can appreciate the club as Macdonald envisioned it. The restoration also emphasizes environmental stewardship, with plans to enhance habitats for local wildlife including the endangered Diamondback Terrapin and the rare Bermuda Skink.

Beyond the golf course, the club is embarking on comprehensive improvements, including revitalizing the clubhouse with a new south facade, updated interiors, a performance center, and a new golf shop, signaling its commitment to preserve the club’s rich heritage for generations to come. Mid Ocean’s CEO Austen Gravestock praised Hanse’s meticulous approach, highlighting his unparalleled expertise in restoring some of the world’s greatest courses. The project marks a major investment in maintaining the prestige and legacy of the Mid Ocean Club, blending architectural reverence with modern upgrades.