Connect with us

Courses

Big Cedar Lodge takes aim at destination golfers, PGA Tour

Published

on

Recently, Big Cedar Lodge Resort just outside Branson, Missouri, became the center of the golf world when Tiger Woods emerged from his hiatus for a surprise press conference announcing his next golf course design project. But the event took an unexpected turn when Woods decided to hit a couple of shots onto a “19th Hole” green about 150 yards away that had been chosen as a scenic backdrop for the presser. Woods’ first shot went into the water and the Internet went wild with the story before the ball had even settled to the bottom of the pond. It was reminiscent of a similar scene last year when Woods dunked three straight shots at a media event for the Quicken Loans National at Congressional Country Club just outside Washington, DC. The latest water ball and the announcement two days later that he was going to have a fourth back surgery buried the original purpose for event, which is the expansion of what could become the most influential destination golf project since Bandon Dunes in Oregon.

Woods’ firm, TGR Design, is partnering with Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris to build an 18-hole championship course and a “family-friendly” nine-hole track at Big Cedar Lodge. The championship layout will be named Payne’s Valley Golf Course to honor the late Payne Stewart, the U.S. Open champion who was a native of nearby Springfield. Scheduled for completion in 2019, it will be the first fully public-access course in the world designed by Woods. He says that he plans to combine minimal rough and limited forced carries with generous fairways to produce a track that challenges good players while allowing high-handicappers to play it without having to reload at the turn. And that 19th Hole where Woods sent ripples through the golf world (as well as the pond that guards the green) is backed by a limestone cliff that is so sheer, an elevator will be built to take golfers from the green to the clubhouse above.

Hole No. 10 at the Gary Player-designed short course at Big Cedar Lodge.

Hole No. 10 at the Gary Player-designed 13-hole short course at Big Cedar Lodge.

Morris is the mastermind behind Big Cedar Lodge. Originally purposed as a retreat for employees of the outdoor sports retail giant, the site as grown into a public resort that features world-class experiences in hunting, fishing, hiking and sport shooting. The resort covers 3,000 acres in the scenic Ozark Mountains near the Missouri-Arkansas border, and guests can experience everything from bass fishing and cave exploring to a spa day and fine dining, all without having to leave the grounds. No less an expert than Golf Channel Travel Editor Matt Ginella thought so much of the resort after a recent visit that he chose it to be the site of his wedding. An award-winning conservationist, Morris has designated part of the land as a parkland preserve where the buffalo literally roam (a small heard that visitors can see on a tour), and he has built several museums on the property to showcase artifacts from dinosaur skeletons to Civil War muskets that were found during the development of Big Cedar Lodge. Now he has set his sights on golf with the goal of combining the worlds of outdoor sports, natural preservation and the ancient game.

Top of the Rock Golf Course, designed by Jack Nicklaus.

Hole No. 2 at Top of the Rock, a short course designed by Jack Nicklaus. The course is home of the Champion Tour’s Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf.

As befits a man that grew a business from one shelf in his father’s liquor store to a multi-billion dollar sporting empire with 160 outlets, Morris has entered the golf world with both barrels blazing. By the end of 2020, Big Cedar Lodge will feature golf courses designed by Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Bill Coore-Ben Crenshaw, Tom Fazio and now Tiger Woods. The goal is ambitious; to be the best golf resort in the central portion of the United States. To achieve it, Big Cedar Lodge would have to leapfrog places like Destination Kohler, the Wisconsin complex that has hosted multiple major championships. But much like one of the racers in the NASCAR team that he sponsors, Morris is gaining on the leaders fast.

“We are within one day’s drive for 50 percent of the population of the country,” says one source associated with the project. “We already have one of the most compelling vacation experiences anywhere, and we are adding a world-class golf component to that. Best of all, we can offer it at a price point that can’t be matched by the golf resorts on the [Eastern or Western U.S.] coasts.”

Big Cedar Lodge already plays host to the Champions Tour every April with the Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf Tournament. The new additions, combined with its infrastructure and amenities that are the equal or superior to virtually any tournament location in the country, put the site in the running for everything from a PGA Tour event to the Ryder Cup. When asked about these possibilities, the self-deprecating Morris replies “It’s not necessarily in the plans now, but who knows? It would be nice, wouldn’t it?”

So far, every time Morris has cast his line he’s pulled out a trophy fish. Don’t be surprised if one day in the very near future, Big Cedar Lodge lands him the coveted mantle of major championship host.

Your Reaction?
  • 73
  • LEGIT6
  • WOW3
  • LOL0
  • IDHT1
  • FLOP0
  • OB0
  • SHANK7

Williams has a reputation as a savvy broadcaster, and as an incisive interviewer and writer. An avid golfer himself, Williams has covered the game of golf and the golf lifestyle including courses, restaurants, travel and sports marketing for publications all over the world. He is currently working with a wide range of outlets in traditional and electronic media, and has produced and hosted “Sticks and Stones” on the Fox Radio network, a critically acclaimed show that combined coverage of the golf world with interviews of the Washington power elite. His work on Newschannel8’s “Capital Golf Weekly” and “SportsTalk” have established him as one of the area’s most trusted sources for golf reporting. Williams has also made numerous radio appearances on “The John Thompson Show,” and a host of other local productions. He is a sought-after speaker and panel moderator, he has recently launched a new partnership with The O Team to create original golf-themed programming and events. Williams is a member of the United States Golf Association and the Golf Writers Association of America.

14 Comments

14 Comments

  1. Carlos Danger

    May 15, 2017 at 9:57 am

    Leaving in 3 days for our 4th annual Branson Golf trip. While its cool that its getting all this press and attention, I also wish this place could stay my little secret 🙂

    A few comments have suggested the same but want to reiterate how awesome of a course Buffalo Ridge is. I have been lucky to play some great courses (Torrey, Kapalua, etc…) and I will not go as far as to say Buffalo Ridge is “better” than some of those world class courses, but it might be my “favorite” course I have every played. It has the distance, challenges, condition, etc…to keep up with some of those great renowned courses…but most of all it is such a fun course to play. I have never met anyone that didnt immediately put it in their top 5. Excited for the other courses to get finished down there.

    There are other good courses in the area as well especially when you mix in a Top of the Rock range session and Par 3 course. If you live in the midwest I cant think of a better golf trip destination.

  2. Eric Evans

    May 13, 2017 at 10:49 pm

    I live in Springfield which is about 30 minutes North of Branson. I have played a lot of great courses here in the United States (Hawaii) and Mexico, and the courses in Branson with the two new courses being built by Tiger Woods and Ben Crenshaw, will make this area one of the best golf destinations in the United States. If you have not been to Top of the Rock where they play the Champions event, you are missing out. It is a phenomenal place that is manicured beyond belief…..I just recently played 18 at Buffalo Ridge and 9 holes at the par 3 TOTR course, and while I love BR, I was blown away by the par 3 TOTR course.

  3. Tom1

    May 13, 2017 at 11:12 am

    what option do you offer in it’s place?

    • Carlos Danger

      May 15, 2017 at 10:35 am

      Maybe a moat with Alligators would satisfy Bubba 🙂

    • Carlos Danger

      May 15, 2017 at 4:35 pm

      As my grandpa used to say…if you dont like where your ball ended up, you shouldn’t have hit it there

      Old guys have the best golf sayings…maybe that should be a new thread

  4. What?

    May 12, 2017 at 3:49 pm

    “the expansion of what could become the most influential destination golf project since Bandon Dunes in Oregon.”

    Did they pay you to write that line? What about what Keiser is doing at Sand Valley or what Mosaic is doing at Streamsong?

  5. Allen

    May 12, 2017 at 3:38 pm

    Morris has already been promised a major by the PGA. I live not too far from Brandon talking with the people building the golf courses around there, it is a done deal. I cannot wait.

  6. TK

    May 12, 2017 at 3:25 pm

    Having played Pebble, Erin, all 4 Whistling Straits and tons in AZ, I can honestly say that Buffalo Ridge (formerly Branson Creek) and it is one of my favorite courses I have ever played. Great Fazio layout with risk/reward holes and zoysia tee boxes + fairways. Elevation changes, waterfalls, etc, you name it and this course has it. A good test from the tips, especially when the wind kicks up. Add to it the new courses by Coore/Crenshaw + Tiger and Big Cedar will have a world class facility at extremely affordable prices.

  7. J-Tizzle

    May 12, 2017 at 10:03 am

    I don’t live far from Big Cedar and have attended the Legends tournament every year its been here, plus played Top Of The Rock and Buffalo Ridge. Really excited to see what all ends up happening here. I’d think Johnny would almost need to design a legit champions course in order to host something like a PGA event or a major/Ryder Cup. Buffalo Ridge is nice, but its not overly difficult and you’d think the PGA guys would just shoot some silly scores there, plus its not overly spectator friendly.

    We’ll have to see what happens with the Tiger course, but from the sounds it’ll be a bit more resort friendly. Either way, I will play it a lot I’m sure.

    • Tom1

      May 12, 2017 at 10:56 am

      build it and they will come….atleast I will.

  8. TR1PTIK

    May 12, 2017 at 9:42 am

    Only being a couple hours away, I’m very excited for this project. I hope all goes well and it doesn’t get shelved or delayed by much.

  9. Keith

    May 12, 2017 at 9:22 am

    I live right here in the Ozarks about an hour and a half from Branson. It’s a pretty incredible venue that feels like it’s in it’s infancy. The anchor is Buffalo Ridge (Formerly Branson Creek), the Fazio designed course. It’s a beautiful course that flows nicely, can be as challenging as you want depending on the tees you play. Johnny brought Fazio back in to spruce it up and fix one really bad hole.

    Just having a range session at Top of the Rock or putting on the Watson putting green is an experience. Truly is a great place for a family getaway.

    • Carlos Danger

      May 15, 2017 at 10:34 am

      Agree with all of your comments except one…the Watson putting green is now a .25 mile deep cave 🙂
      http://www.news-leader.com/story/news/local/ozarks/2016/02/17/heres-what-top-rock-sinkhole-look-like-today/80495920/

      We were there 3 years ago and played hours of money games into the night on that putting green. A week later a worker noticed the ground was sinking on the edge. 2 days later the whole thing disappeared into the earth! I think they are trying to connect it to the rest of the caves up there so they are just constantly hauling dirt and rock out. Its a bummer that putting green is gone but the sink hole (mini grand canyon) is pretty cool to look at.

  10. ooffa

    May 12, 2017 at 7:52 am

    When is Tiger going to learn not to hit promotional shots that are over water.

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Courses

The Scottsdale Experience, Part II: Boulders, Troon North, and Camelback

Published

on

It’s been four years since my last desert golf trip in Arizona. For an area so rich in good golf, that’s too long to wait for a return trip.

Our last visit to Scottsdale brought my family to the Fairmont Princess during the Christmas season. We just like to visit this time of year because everything is decorated for the holidays. While there, I was able to play at TPC Scottsdale, Grayhawk, and We Ko Pa–all stunning tracks for every handicap level.

For this trip, now four years removed, we wanted to experience two different types of Scottsdale resorts: The first two nights at Boulders Resort and Spa, about 30 minutes north of town, surrounded by (you guessed it) boulders and nature. For the second two nights, my wife wanted to be a bit closer to the city life so we picked the JW Marriott Camelback Inn, minutes from Old Town Scottsdale.

There are many differences between the two resorts, but both somehow maintained the vibe of being in the Valley.

BOULDERS RESORT AND SPA 

The Boulders Resort and Spa sprawls out across an enormous piece of property, which includes two award-winning, Jay Morrish-designed golf courses that both rank well as playable golf courses in the state. When you check in, they give you a map and a flashlight to help you navigate the grounds at night.  The rooms (or casitas) are villa-esque, complete with your own fireplace and wood to burn on cold nights. The place just smells like fresh air and chimineas.

 

The lodge itself is nestled beneath a small mountain with accessible hiking trails along both sides. Behind the main lobby sits a good-sized pool, which was heated when we visited and allowed for swimming in November. Temperatures this time of year are typically pretty chilly, especially for early morning golf, so to be able to swim in warm water was a nice treat.

The two courses are both on the property, making Boulders Resort a truly ‘never have to leave’ type of resort. There are also multiple restaurants on-site, including Bogey’s Bar near the pro shop and 18th greens for both courses. Boulders is home to about 400 golfing membership families but also remains open for public play as well. The members and public alternate courses each day, which apparently works great and keeps a high-season traffic light on both courses. I played the North Course but also walked the South to get a good feel for each.

View from clubhouse over 18 of South Course

Boulders Pro Shop

Number one tee- Boulders North

The North course tips out at 6,959 yards but can play as short as 4900 from the red tees. There are six tee box options in total, which helps on a desert course like this because between the frequently watered green grass come many different varieties of wasteland carries and sandy ravines. With options on tees and course length, many of the challenging shots can be added or taken out depending on skill level.

You can expect a lot of uneven lies at Boulders, as most of the fairways and playing surfaces undulate to blend right in with the surrounding mountains. Saguaro cacti are in every site line, but the predominant feature of both courses is the elephant-sized boulders on nearly every hole. Some appear to teter on their end, ready to roll down into the bunker where your ball is resting.

Of course, like most desert-style courses, errant shots are findable in the sandy soil, but not without risk of being pricked, poked, or bitten. My general rule is that if I can’t see it from the green grass, I’m better off not wandering too far out in search of what might be painful to find. Drop a ball and take my medicine. That proved to be true at Boulders as well. There are many thick areas just off the fairway where man should not be. And a better golfer than myself would only look in that direction to view the beauty of the Sonoran Desert.

Both courses do have a few splatters of water hazards here and there. Most folks I spoke to on the property noted that the South Course has a couple more breathtaking views and elevation changes than its counterpart North, but the North Course provides a wider array of shot-making options for the more serious golfer. I thought both courses were stunning to the eye, but it wouldn’t shock me if, had I played South, I found it a bit easier and more resort-style friendly.

      

Non-member tee times can be booked online or through the pro shop but if you are staying at the lodge, you’re more than likely going to get a better hotel rate to play. In November, which is almost peak season, mid-week greens fees range from around $100-$200 with dynamic pricing throughout the day. Both courses are incredibly walkable and a caddie or pushcart can be available upon request.

              

After my round, I took my son on a hike up the mountain above the lodge for some pretty stunning views of both courses. My wife escaped to the spa for a 90-minute hot stone massage, which was my way of saying thank you for another golf trip for the family. The least I could do. She said it was incredible and unlike any other massage she has ever had in her life. They even put hot stones between her toes, which I suppose feels good.

We wrapped up our stay at Boulders with a fantastic dinner at Palo Verde, located at the resort headquarters. We were able to sit outside under the stars with the help of a few closely placed heaters. With the golf, the restaurants, and the natural activities available, Boulders proved to be a wonderful spot to relax and get some swings in. If your partner is a fan of spa days and calm settings, this is the golf resort in Scottsdale to stay at. The food, drinks, and lodging are all upscale.  I would say it is a perfect couples’ getaway resort. We didn’t see any other kids so there may be better places to stay if you’re bringing the little ones along, though. With kids, I’d stay closer to town (see below) and head up to Boulders for a round of golf only.

Palo Verde dining room at Boulders

TROON NORTH

The next morning, I took an Uber just a few minutes away to the Troon North campus for a round at the Pinnacle Course. Troon North is home to two tracks, both designed by Tom Weiskopf and both immaculately maintained year round. The Pinnacle course is more links-style than its sister, the Monument Course, which is widely considered the signature course between the two.

The clubhouse is first class, with a well-stocked 2,200 square foot pro shop, and a legitimate locker room for public use. And the logo is fantastic.

Troon North offers a membership plan as well as public play, and daily fees are dynamicly priced. 

    

Pinnacle course plays over 7,000 yards from the back tees but provides seven different tee boxes allowing you to play the course as short as 4831 yards. Though more links style than Monument, the course still provides a very Sonoran desert feel and carries over thorny brush on nearly every hole.

Both courses were ranked in the “Top 10” best courses you can play in Arizona by Golfweek.

I thoroughly enjoyed my round at Troon North. The facility is about 35 minutes north of the Phoenix airport so it’s a bit closer to downtown Scottsdale than Boulders. It is also closely connected to the Four Seasons should you be looking to stay nearby.

The course felt pristine and special. You can tell the place pays attention to detail and takes great pride in the condition of the courses. The layout has some elevation changes so it may not be the easiest to walk. The routing never really brings you back to the clubhouse until the 18th hole, either, but there is a comfort station out there and beverage carts making the rounds.

     

The bunkering is fair and not very deep, but they are strategically placed right where you don’t want them to be. The par 71 has only one par 5 on the front nine but boasts a 609-yarder on the back that plays every bit as long as it reads. The par threes are scenic but lengthy as well, generally playing around 200 yards from the backs except for the short 140-yard 16th.

 

The fairways are bermuda grass and the greens are bent. Overseeding is done in the fall but the schedule is posted online to help avoid any unpleasant rounds. There are valley quail all over the course that walk in front of you on fairways and tee boxes like schools of fish.

The course is just so scenic and first-class. The mountains are in view the entire time and the course provides a wide array of options and shotmaking opportunities. I played early and alone and I genuinely enjoyed my time on the course. It was my favorite round of the trip.

The 18th green is huge and it blends into the practice green near the clubhouse, snaking around a giant rock to protect the practice green from shots gone long. It is a very unique site from both the clubhouse and the 18th hole but adds some character to the facility.

             

CAMELBACK INN RESORT AND GOLF 

The JW Marriott Camelback Inn is an incredible hotel. I am not really sure how else to describe it. Being there feels the way an in-city Scottsdale hotel is supposed to feel. You’re surrounded by Camelback mountain on one side and Mummy Mountain on the other. The adobe buildings feel like they have been there forever and yet are still perfectly maintained. There are sitting areas near fireplaces around every turn and the landscaping is quintessentially desert floral.

We heard from more than one person that the Camelback Inn is Mr. Marriott’s favorite hotel within his entire company and he spends one month there every year. That is saying something!

Our room was standard size but wonderfully located just a hundred yards or so away from the main lodge and restaurants. Between us was a green space with lawn activities for guests of all ages. There is a playground and putting green on site and several pools (some heated) for swimming year-round. And the views are just spectacular. To be only minutes away from Old Town while still being able to hike up multiple mountains of your choosing is one of the most special things about Scottsdale.

We ate breakfast, lunch, and dinner at Rita’s Cantina and Bar…simply because the menus change for each meal and the outside patio seating is so incredible. Hoppin’ Jacks at the pool is another dining option but the Lincoln Steakhouse and Bar is the upscale dinner spot…and the gem of the dining options.

The Camelback Golf Courses, Ambiente, and Padre, are not on site, but the resort provides you with a free shuttle service for your tee time. The ride is only about five minutes and they start at 7:00 am.

The clubhouse is large with a spacious golf shop. The Camelback logo, while a bit cartoony, is pretty fantastic in a 1960s Bob Hope Classic kind of way.

I played the Ambiente course, which I was told has a bit more character than the Padre. Ambiente goes straight out for 3 miles, following along a gulch on your right the whole way, and then turns around and comes right back to the clubhouse for the back nine. If you are walking, make sure you’re in it for an entire 18-hole round. There’s no stopping after nine if you are on foot and three miles away from the clubhouse.

These courses are more parkland than desert. That’s especially true of the Padre course. But even Ambiente, which translates to ‘environment,’ is not very ‘deserty’ in comparison to Troon North or Boulders. There are a lot more grassy rough areas off the fairway and very little cactus. The gulch, which is seen on nearly every hole, feels more native and marshy than anything I saw in my previous rounds. It’s a gorgeous course, but not what you imagine when you think of Scottsdale golf.

The course itself, with its unique straight-out, straight-back routing, lengthens out to 7,225 yards from the tips and 5,538 from the forward tees. The par 72 Jason Straka design is not an easy course. Many of the holes require precision tee shots and a bit of course knowledge doesn’t hurt as the driver is not always proper. The par threes play long, with the shortest being 185 from the back tees. The 8th hole can stretch back to 241 yards and then number 15 goes even longer to 245. Of course, you don’t have to hit back there unless you’re a glutton for punishment.

    

The bunkering is deep in certain areas, which you realize as early as the greenside on the first hole. Playing this course after the other desert layouts I have played made me wonder if this is the true ‘nature’ of the area and perhaps the other desert courses are a bit more…manufactured. Ambiente feels native. I think I enjoy the other desert style aesthetics of the other courses more, but from a pure golf perspective, Ambiente at Camelback is a real deal course.

  

SCOTTSDALE LIFE

The beauty of Scottsdale as a golf destination is that no matter which courses or resorts you decide to enjoy, you are still always within 30 minutes of a fantastic city center, with great shops and world-class restaurants. Old Town is only one little pocket of what Scottsdale has to offer, but because of the neat stores for our kiddo and walkability, we spent most of our time away from the resort here.

Like any great city, anyone who has visited will be able to give you a list of their favorite places to play, shop, and eat.  For us, we loved going to Popstroke, the Tiger Woods-designed miniature golf course, as well as Mavrix for bowling and laser tag. When you’ve got a five-year-old, you do what makes him happy too. We also went to Isabella’s Kitchen for lunch on one of our days, which overlooks the McDowell Mountains and Grayhawk Golf Course. The food is always delicious and it’s a really fun location for the kiddo to run around while mom and dad can have a margarita.

We went to The Montauk in Old Town for our only dinner outside of the resort and it did not disappoint. It’s a really neat atmosphere and the menu was a mix between The Hamptons and Southwest tastings. They had live music and friendly staff. It doesn’t get much better.

And if you find yourself out and about for breakfast, you need to stop in at the Daily Dose for some Cinamon Roll Pancakes or Breakfast Nachos. We made a quick stop here on our way to the airport and didn’t need to eat for the rest of the day!

Having been traveling for golf for some time now, people always ask my opinion on my favorite courses or favorite city to go to for a golf trip. My answer always starts with “It depends on who you are going with…”

If you are heading out for a golf trip with your family, I don’t think you can pick a better city than Scottsdale. The travel itself (airport, rental car, etc..) is always a breeze. The resort options (and spas) are plentiful and offer a variety of different setups for couples or kid-friendly atmospheres. And there are hundreds of golf courses to choose from. All the while, Scottsdale has one of the best restaurant and entertainment scenes in the United States.

I’m sure I will keep getting the question. But if you are thinking of a golf trip with the family, the answer is Scottsdale.

If you want help planning your next golf experience or just have any questions about some of mine, reach out to me on Twitter or Instagram and shoot me a message. And feel free to check out my other golf experience articles. I look forward to hearing from you!

Your Reaction?
  • 145
  • LEGIT50
  • WOW5
  • LOL2
  • IDHT0
  • FLOP3
  • OB1
  • SHANK5

Continue Reading

Courses

PGA Frisco: A GolfWRX first look with Gil Hanse and Beau Welling

Published

on

PGA Frisco in Frisco, Texas, is the new home of PGA of America. The two courses on-site, Fields Ranch East and West, are original designs by Gil Hanse and Beau Welling, respectfully, but they aren’t set to open for public play until the Spring of 2023. However, GolfWRX was given an opportunity to take an early look, play both courses, tour the facilities, and meet with the course architects ahead of the much-anticipated unveiling for the golf world.

The PGA Frisco location, which also shares the property with a brand new Omni Resort, a short course called The Swing, and a 75,000 square-foot putting course named The Dance Floor, appears to be joining the conversation as one of the country’s best buddy trip and family trip golf destinations.

The Omni resort is going to be complete with 500 luxury guest rooms and suites, 10 private ranch house residences, 13 different dining options, four pools, including an adult-only rooftop infinity pool, and a full-service salon and spa. They are going big with this place. All the facilities are currently under construction, but the plan is for them to be open by the Spring of 2023 as well.

The Swing is a ten-hole, lighted short course that provides a nice nightlife compliment to the larger courses, Fields Ranch East and West. Collaboratively designed by Hanse and Welling, The Swing is just steps from the Omni hotel, The Dance Floor putting courseboth championship courses, and a sports bar with bays for hitting into the driving range. The golf isn’t going to stop when the sun goes down. And no shuttle is needed at PGA Frisco.

“With The Swing, we started off by saying you do five holes and we will do five holes but it turned into a true collaboration,” Hanse said when discussing designing the short course alongside Welling. “When you start to think about designing a golf course with the shot values and how is it going to be perceived, what are the players going to think…then that creeps into your design. But when you are designing something just for unbridled joy, you don’t think about those things and that just makes something super fun.”

As good as the atmosphere and vibes are going to be, people are going to come for the golf. And major championships are coming too.

Fields Ranch East is already set to host the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship in 2023, as well as 26 additional championships through 2034, including two PGA Championship events, and the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.

Fields Ranch West Architect Beau Welling, who is probably best known for his work alongside Tiger Woods on the TGR Design projects, was excited about this property and opportunity right from the very beginning. “The original vision of this idea of multiple golf courses and a short course and practice course and all this fun stuff immediately resonated with me,” Welling said. “I remember thinking that this could be the coolest thing ever. It’s the PGA brand around this super accessible thing where people could not only visit to learn the game but also be the place where major championships are to contend.”

The East Course

The East course is the Gil Hanse design that is set to host all these majors. The course itself could either play incredibly long or as short as you’d like it, with huge flowing tee boxes being a feature that stands out immediately. Big fairways also immediately reveal themselves as the scale of this course is big. Very big.

“You have to think about how you are going to design for a major championship but also make it approachable and playable,” Hanse said.  “We worked really hard to create a playing ground where you can accomplish both. The level of precision required to go out and play the golf course should be pretty low. Wide fairways, hit your ball, find your ball, and hit it again. But the level of precision required to score should be off the charts if we are trying to challenge the best players in the world. There are opportunities to tuck pins and lengthen the East course to 7,800 yards. We feel like we have the setup for a major championship course in place.”

After working on the renovation at Southern Hills, Hanse drew from his experience on the Perry Maxwell design to utilize the site’s meandering Pather Creek and natural dry outs throughout the par 72 track. The course features smallish greens to contrast with the large fairways, making it a second-shot course to put a premium on accurate approaches. The fairways and rough use the same grass type to allow for flexible widening and narrowing of hole corridors to adjust for championship play.

The course maintains a prairie-like feel throughout the routing, but the back nine really shines with Texas character. The creek comes into play on many of the closing holes, including a gorgeously long par three thirteenth hole, and an 18th-hole par five that will hopefully provide some incredible major finishes.

“When the stage is set, we would rather see positive outcomes to determine champions as opposed to negative ones,” Hanse said.  “We really enjoy watching golfers make birdies and eagles to win as opposed to some guy making double bogey and the guy who made a bogey barely hangs on to win. So we set up our finishing holes with some tough stretch of holes to start the back nine and then the driveable 15. Then 17 is the shortest par three on the golf course. And then 18 is a reachable par five. So they will have to make decisions and then hopefully positive outcomes will determine how it unfolds.”

There are also rumors of a Ryder Cup coming to PGA Frisco.

“If we ultimately get the Ryder Cup,” Hanse said, “we thought about most matches not making it to 18. So what can we do with holes 14-16, where generally most matches end. So we wanted to set those up for interesting golf and put it in an amphitheater that is set up really nicely for viewers. So whether it is a PGA championship, LPGA Championship, Senior PGA Championship, or Ryder Cup, we feel like that stretch is going to provide a really interesting way to finish a golf course as opposed to just a long slog to the finish.”

The West Course

The West Course, which is the Welling design, is a playable compliment to the East course, providing another glimpse into big golf in Texas. The expansive fairways average 75 yards in width but the green complexes on Fields Ranch West tend to be much larger than its sister course. The size and scale were both something that Welling wanted to provide as a hat tip to its host state.

“Everything is big in Texas,” Welling said. “There are big weather events and big wind. But there is also incredible passion around the game here in Texas. Frisco is going to get famous because of the major championships on the East golf course, but long term it is going to have such an impact on the game as 28,000 members of the PGA come here to Omni and see golf presented in such a fun and modern way.”

The West Course also plays about 500 yards shorter than the East, tipping out at 7319 yards. The greens are larger but much more complex, with lots of undulation and hills to navigate. While the fairways and greens are big, you need to be in the right spot of each if you want to score. Nearly every green has a false front or false side waiting to shoot an errant approach back down the hillside.

Still, the scale allows for any handicapped golfer to play this course with enjoyment.

The course also uses the local terrain and elevation changes to both challenge and support each hole. The shorter par 4’s are often uphill, adding length where it isn’t otherwise there. The marshland and Panther Creek are more prevalent on the West course as well, utilizing the hazard to create more necessary carries.

The end result for Fields Ranch West is an approachable compliment to its companion course. There is an obvious feeling of connection between the two courses, but the style of play required for each is unique.

With the partnership and resources of the PGA of America and Omni Hotels and the design leadership of Gil Hanse and Beau Welling, the PGA Frisco campus is primed to rival the best in the world as a premier golf destination.

 

 

 

Your Reaction?
  • 60
  • LEGIT38
  • WOW18
  • LOL0
  • IDHT2
  • FLOP0
  • OB0
  • SHANK0

Continue Reading

Courses

Inside Pebble Beach’s “The Hay” Short Course (designed by Tiger Woods/TGR)

Published

on

This is my first trip to Pebble Beach since Tiger Woods’ new “The Hay” short course opened up in 2021, so I had to see the new setup for myself. Preferably, I would have actually played it, but the course was closed for maintenance ahead of the 2022 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am festivities.

Luckily, though, I had my camera handy as the fine folks at Pebble Beach’s short course allowed me to walk around and check it out. Below, I’ll take you along my walking tour, but first, some brief backstory and information.

The short course, formerly known as the Peter Hay Golf Course, sits just across the road from Pebble Beach’s driving range, and it’s been a fixture at the resort since 1957. The course was originally named after Peter Hay, the head professional at Pebble Beach and Del Monte. He created the short course to provide a way for junior golfers and families to more easily access the game, regardless of their abilities.

In 2021, Pebble Beach teamed up with Tiger Woods and the TGR Design team to give the course a redesign (without moving any trees or dirt, according to a Pebble Beach representative).

The new 9-hole short course is open to the general public for $65, and juniors under 12 years old play for free. The putting course, which sprawls about 100 yards in length, is open to the public at no cost, as well.

“We know not everyone who comes to Pebble Beach will have a chance to play the U.S. Open course, so we wanted to create the opportunity for all visitors to experience one of its most famous holes,” said Tiger Woods, according to The Hay’s website.

There’s also a restaurant/bar – called “Hay’s Place” – that has views of the entire course, and of Stillwater Cove. It’s not a bad spot to grab a drink before or after the round, and I hear the fish tacos are phenomenal. Just saying.

Enjoy the photos below from Tiger’s new-and-improved Pebble Beach Short Course, called “The Hay.”

The 100-yard putting green course

Hole No. 1: “Hay”

Hole No. 2: “Seven”

Hole No. 3: “Watson”

Hole No. 4: “Bing”

Hole No. 5: “Grace”

Hole No. 6: “Lanny”

Hole No. 7: “Jack”

Hole No. 8: “Kite”

Hole No. 9: “Tiger”

Hay’s Place

Check out more photos from the 2022 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am here.

Your Reaction?
  • 33
  • LEGIT7
  • WOW4
  • LOL0
  • IDHT0
  • FLOP0
  • OB0
  • SHANK5

Continue Reading

WITB

Facebook

Trending