Though new golf course openings may have been few in 2013, there were several of note. “Golf Course Industry” magazine highlighted a few recently, including many connected to ASGCA members.
The profiled courses and their designers are:
* Streamsong Red, Streamsong, Fla., Bill Coore, ASGCA
“Streamsong (in Central Florida) is a course built on an old phosphate mine and it’s so unique that people are willing to make the drive from other parts of Florida,” said Greg Nathan, National Golf Foundation. “There’s a demographic there that is looking for this product that was not previously available. But it’s harder and harder to find these opportunities because there’s really no shortage of places to play, anywhere.”
* The Cliffs at Mountain Park, Marietta, S.C., Jeff Lawrence, ASGCA
“The course lays in a valley, ” said Director of Golf Brian Peeples. “It’s a links-style course with few trees. The fairways are diamond zoysia, and we have 13 acres of regular and waste bunkers. It’s a warm season golf course and it does play firm and fast. Members can enjoy themselves without too many forced carries to the greens.
“Gary Player’s design at Mountain Park allows the golfer to hit a variety of shots on the approach, and Jeff Lawrence, the senior designer with Gary Player, did an outstanding job.”
* Kohanaiki Golf and Ocean Club, Kailua Kona, Hawaii, Rees Jones, ASGCA Fellow
“Rees Jones did an amazing job,” said Director of Golf Marty Keiter. “We have six holes right along the ocean, and the first 11 holes are very user-friendly. It is paradise. The golf course is in fantastic shape and whereas most new golf courses haven’t matured, by the time we opened up, this place already had four years of maturing.”
The complete article can be found here.