Who was it who once said golfers would rather be told they have ugly children than a bad golf course? Probably someone who had to wait 15 months while his course was shut down for a facelift.

Born in 1914, Lawrence Country Club is reborn this morning when a foursome tees off at 8. Last open July 4, 2005, the course will be played today by 32 foursomes whose tee times were determined by a lottery Friday night.

Most members already have taken in the new course’s cosmetic beauty, but as is the case with a glamorous woman, to appreciate her beauty truly requires getting to know her personality.

The subtle breaks of the greens can be discovered only through playing the course repeatedly. Which holes will require laying up? On which holes will it behoove what golfers to go for it?

The sand, from Arkansas, is different. What is the key to keeping it from creeping into the head?

While studying an approach shot, it’s not uncommon for a guest to ask a member, “Does this play true to the yardage?”

Today, it’s members only, and if that question were asked, there could be only one honest answer: “I haven’t a clue.”

In what LCC president George Grieb called the largest gathering in the history of the club, 405 adults were as wide-eyed with anticipation as children on Christmas Eve at Friday night’s re-opening soiree. They knew they would be opening presents for four-plus hours today; they just weren’t sure about the particulars.

Of this much they were certain: They would be teeing off 18 times from surfaces that don’t at all resemble the pre-renovations tee boxes. Each hole has four rectangular tee boxes, and, generally speaking, the greens are larger than the postage stamps they replaced.

“Before, there were a lot of greens that were only 2,000 square feet,” course architect Todd Clark said. “Now the average size is 5,000 square feet. : Our goal was to end up with 18 different signature holes.”

If that means 18 tough holes, that could lead to members moaning about the course demoralizing them. Only time will have the answer to that fear, and there wasn’t any griping during the bash.

Four of the longest-standing members hit ceremonial drives off the first tee. Buck Newsom, a member since 1958, hit one with a driver that called to mind a fishing pole. Faye Jones hit a drive that reached all the way back to 1914. Her late father-in-law, H.T. Jones, was a founding member and first president of the club.

It was a perfect night for an outdoor party, replete with a sunset that bled right off an artist’s canvas. Members used the same hands they’ll grip drivers with today to hold cocktail napkins around glasses filled with cheer.

Not a hint of animosity was in the air as Michele Johnson revealed to former Kansas University football player Bill Skepnek that, since she is a native of Omaha, she’ll be rooting for Nebraska this evening. No sweat. Skepnek had his 8:08 tee time, Johnson her early afternoon appointment.

After finishing his round, Skepnek will drive to Lincoln with friend Bill Burkett, a lifelong Oklahoma fan who has switched allegiances to Nebraska because he happens to be the grandfather of NU quarterback Zac Taylor.

Skepnek is in the second foursome. Tim Herndon, a 10-handicap, is in the first.

“Can you write that I’m a 20-handicap?” he asked. Enable a sandbagger? Not a chance.

Herndon said the player in his foursome with the highest score will putt out on 18, so that he can have the course record briefly, until the next highest does the same, with the lowest score finishing last.

Daniel Selk, 17 and a senior on the Free State golf team, will be in Herndon’s foursome. He’s not worried about the group holding up the pace.

“I try not to take a practice swing,” said Selk, a 7-handicap. “That usually just gets in my head and messes me up.”

Practice swings have been the only ones allowed for nearly 15 long months. They can play for keeps again.