Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2019 - 14

THISTLE
DHU
PUTTING
COURSE
Punchbowl, which opens for play at 2 pm-post-round(s) for
most visitors. Chupka says the course could be played in 15
minutes if no one else was around, " but it's a popular spot; an
hour is probably more likely. "
At The Lodge at Sea Island in Georgia (seaisland.com), resident
Davis Love III and his brother, Mark, created an 18-hole
putting course called The Speedway as part of a $25 millionplus
enhancement. (It was briefly called Driftwood after opening
in September 2018, owing to an over-sized example of the
same plunk in the middle of the putting ground.)
Scenic Views
The course's setting could hardly be lovelier;
it's
situated
between the ocean side of The Lodge and the water, making it
an ideal spot for the whole clan at a resort already known for its
family-friendliness.
One could easily be distracted by the views from the ninehole
putting course at TPC Danzante Bay (tpcdanzantebay.
com) in Mexico's Baja California Sur. The nine-hole route is
high above the splendid Villa del Palmar Beach Resort & Spa at
the Islands of Loreto (villadelpalmarloreto.com) with the Sea
of Cortez radiating below.
Steve Weisser, vice president and senior designer for the Rees
Jones design firm, says there's room to add nine more holes to
the putting course, but it was decided that there are enough for
now since the entire golf complex is already jaw-dropping.
The holes are more defined and separated at Danzante than
other putting courses, if not any easier. Weisser says that's merely
a function of mowing, and like most of the putting courses, it
could be set up in any number of configurations.
Starting Fresh
Out at the Big Cedar Lodge (bigcedar.com) in Missouri's
Ozarks, a former putting course designed by Tom Watson was
affected by a massive sinkhole (and later developed into a geologic
attraction by owner Johnny Morris). In response, Watson
returned and developed the new nine-hole Tom Watson
Putting Course adjacent to the 12-hole Gary Player short
course, Mountain Top.
" It's Tom's tribute to the Himalayas and his success over there
in Open Championships, " says Todd Bohn, the director of agronomy
and an old friend of Watson's. " It's a little over an acre. My
guys set up markers every day to create different holes so folks
won't have the same putt every time. We move things around.
" There are a bunch of ancient rock formations that tie into
the natural limestone features and natural vistas out into the
valleys as far as the eye can see. "
The newest putting course to debut is the 12-hole Drumlin
Course, which opened August 1 at Erin Hills (erinhills.com)
in Wisconsin, the site of the 2017 U.S. Open. Designed by Jason
Straka and Dana Fry, and perched right by the first tee of the regulation
course (which Fry co-designed), the Drumlin has an eightfoot
difference in elevation between its highest and lowest points.
It also has lights-something most of the other putting
courses do not. This allows players to keep stroking it right past
sunset, fine-tuning things for the next day's round. According to
Competitions Director John Morrissett, " The low-level lighting
projects across the green rather than down on it, with the shadows
emphasizing the undulations. It's something to behold. " MG
" It has lights-something most
of the other putting courses do
not. This allows players to keep
stroking it right past sunset. "
DRUMLIN
COURSE
14
MINNESOTAGOLFER Fall 2019
mngolf.org
COURTESY OF ERIN HILLS GOLF COURSE
COURTESY OF PINEHURST RESORT
http://www.seaisland.com http://www.erinhills.com http://www.villadelpalmarloreto.com http://www.bigcedar.com http://www.mngolf.org
Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2019
