Minnesota Golfer - Spring 2022 - 24

The Gravel P i t
part of the design brief. That's fascinating as an intellectual exercise. "
To that end, Warren assembled group discussions of disabled golfers
(including blind, amputee, autistic and paraplegic golfers) and
learned about their golfing experience. Among The Loop's unique
design characteristics are no bunkers, greens that stimp at 8 or 9
(so seated golfers can drive their SoloRider carts onto the putting
surfaces) and fairway contours designed for riding safety. Warren
brought in expert shapers from top firms to contour the course, and
received some help from his new friends.
" There are elements of the design that are just straight-up standard
course design, " Warren says. " But when it came to building
contours suitable for the vehicles, we got our disabled buddies out
there in their vehicles to ride around the site with us. "
Additionally, the slower green speeds actually worked to the
architect's benefit.
" Longer, healthier grass is more resistant to people driving vehicles,
and that means you can build greens with more undulation, "
Warren says. " So, as we lose the strategic interest of bunkers, you
end up with more interesting greens because we are not trying to
pitch the stimp to 11. "
The course loops around a central water feature (hence the
name), which features grasses designed to filter environmental
contaminants. But the water also levels the playing field between
all golfers-because nobody likes to go into the water to hit
their golf ball.
" We had a fourball of mixed abled-bodied/disabled golfers go
around the course without there being one set of rules for abledbodied
golfers and another for disabled golfers. That felt to us the
right thing to do, " Warren says. " The course is not designed solely
for disabled golfers. It has to be fun for everyone. You are just trying
24
to make it welcoming and friendly to disabled golfers. "
With hole names such as " Skatepark " and " Pizza Box, " both
Anderson and Warren anticipate golfers of all ages and abilities
coming to The Loop in August to experience the layout and check
out the uniquely contoured " Minnalayas " putting course. These
links are for learning and enjoying.
" There's definitely going to be a ton of kids out there. We hope
there is going to be a bunch of senior golfers, also, because the
18-hole format is not always desirable for all seniors, " Warren says.
" This golf course is really suitable for golfers at the start and end of
their golfing life. But folks in the middle should have fun, as well. "
The Gravel Pit
With more than 450 golf holes in the Minnesota golf mecca of
Brainerd-Baxter that includes such big-name resorts as Madden's
on Gull Lake, Grand View Lodge, Breezy Point and Cragun's Resort
on Gull Lake, the obvious question becomes " why build 13 more? "
" Mark always answers that question 'Why not?' " The Gravel
Pit business owner Chuck Klecatsky says of his co-owner Mark
Dvorak. " It's a growing area; there are a lot of housing developments
going on. But we wanted to offer something unique to Brainerd and
complement all the great golf that's there already. It will give people
an option that is less than 4.5 hours (it will take about 2:15 to play).
It's just a different experience. "
Klecatsky is the former director of golf at Cragun's, which is
located next door to The Gravel Pit site, and he signed on to the
project (and brought in his friend Dvorak and marketer Kaiser)
shortly after Madden's former pro and architect of The Classic, Scott
Hoffmann, was tapped to design The Gravel Pit.
MINNESOTAGOLFER Spring 2022
mngolf.org
PHOTO: GREG KAISER, GULL LAKE PRODUCTIONS
http://www.mngolf.org
Minnesota Golfer - Spring 2022

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