Course news

Teton Lakes facility to expand course
Rexburg, Idaho – Phelps Golf Design plans to give the operators of Teton Lakes Golf Course something new and different. Phelps associate designer Kevin Atkinson is developing a preliminary proposal for a links-style nine-hole course to complement the existing parkland and lakeside layouts at the 18-hole municipal facility co-owned by the City of Rexburg and Madison County.

The original nine holes opened in 1978 and the second in 1984, according to Duffy McFarland, director of golf. Two floods between those opening dates resulted in the basic architectural differences between the front and back nine.

“The developers want a distinct third nine and asked for a links setting on a relatively flat, 60-acre site,” Atkinson says. “Generally, when you add holes to an existing layout, most people want all the holes to blend together. But here we have two existing nine-hole courses that are already quite different from one another. The developers want to embrace that difference by building a third nine that varies from the existing holes.”

The addition is in the concept and master-planning stage. Atkinson has developed preliminary routing plans and budget numbers that he submitted to municipal officials. Construction could start in the spring, although no specific date has been determined.

Greens fees at the existing course are $16. One of the primary goals is to keep the facility affordable. One way to do that is by using local materials. For example, five miles from the course are natural sand dunes that motorcross drivers from throughout the country travel thousands of miles to enjoy.

Idaho Resort upgrades course
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho – The Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Course is in the midst of the second phase of a multi-million dollar makeover that began in 2002. Improvements include adding new trees to the 14th hole, new green surrounds on the 16th hole, and new contouring and sod on the third, fourth and sixth holes. The irrigating systems and landscaping also will be improved.

The Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Course is being renovated and will open April 15.

The biggest project will be a completely new green complex on the fourth hole. The new green will feature a subair system to air condition the turf in the hot weather during the summer and heat it on cool mornings in the spring and fall.
Designed by Scott Miller, the project is being implemented by Ridgetop with direction by superintendent Kevin Hicks. Because of the new construction, the course is closed and won’t reopen until April 15.

The par-71 6,804-yard course has two full-time maintenance staff per hole, and they do all their work at night. The landscaping includes more than 1,500 wildflowers, 25,000 junipers and 30,000 red geraniums.

Hagadone Hospitality Co. owns the resort.

Bandon Trails to open in June
Bandon, Ore. – The latest addition to the Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, Bandon Trails, is scheduled to open in June. The third course of the resort spreads throughout the southeastern part of the property. Bandon Trails, which was designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, was in the final phase of construction – overseen by KemperSports Development – in December.

Paris Landing gets Audubon nod
Buchanan, Tenn. – Paris Landing Golf Course achieved a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary designation from Audubon International by demonstrating and maintaining a high degree of environmental quality. Paris Landing successfully met high Audubon standards in areas such as environmental planning, wildlife and habitat management, chemical use reductions, water conservation and water quality management.

Paris Landing is the fourth course in Tennessee and only the third park-affiliated golf course in the nation to receive this honor from Audubon International.

The other state park affiliated courses are the Bethpage (N.Y.) Black, Green and Red courses. Other Audubon-certified courses in Tennessee are The Legacy in Springfield, President’s Reserve at Hermitage Golf Course in Old Hickory and the Tournament Players Club at Southwind in Memphis.

Led by Dwayne Hicks, golf course superintendent, and Jane Burkhart, golf shop assistant, Paris Landing made a range of investments and operational changes to achieve Audubon certification. Investments include natural habitat enhancements and the addition of feeders that increased populations of wild turkeys and other animals around the course. Changes in storage and application of chemicals, in addition to adjustments for cart wash procedures, also are under way.

USGA awards $15,000 to First Tee of San Antonio
San Antonio – More than 800 kids in the San Antonio area will continue to learn the game of golf and its inherent values thanks to a $15,000 grant from the United States Golf Association. The program exposes disadvantaged youths to golf and the life-enhancing values that are associated with the game.

The First Tee of San Antonio’s main objective is to make the sport of golf and related life skills accessible for San Antonio youth. The program focuses on teaching children between the ages of 5 and 17 the game of golf while exposing them to the core values and etiquette inherent in the game, which also can be valuable skills in everyday life.

The USGA grant will help The First Tee of San Antonio remain a free program for all participants. The grant is part of an overall financial commitment of $11 million to The First Tee home office and its local chapters.

Kiva Dunes breaks ground on expansion
Gulf Shores-Orange Beach, Ala. – Kiva Dunes Golf & Beach Club, which is part of the Gulf Shores Golf Association, is expanding and has broken ground on The Village at Kiva Dunes.

Kiva Dunes is a multi-amenity resort-residential community that offers private condominiums and rental lodging opportunities, including the Kiva Lodge Clubhouse and Condominium. It features Kiva Dunes Golf Club, a Jerry Pate-designed golf course that is rated among the top 100 courses in the United States.

The units at The Village are designed with golf groups in mind. Plans call for some of the four-bedroom units to comfortably accommodate as many as eight golfers. This phase of Kiva’s development includes 30 additional two-, three- or four-bedroom luxury condominiums in two buildings located along the lake that runs adjacent to the 18th hole at Kiva Dunes.

Kiva Dunes offers a full-service clubhouse, meeting facilities, fitness area, three swimming pools, 3,000 feet of private gulf beach and on-site rental management of luxurious condominiums and beach homes. The master plan also calls for a tennis center and expanded facilities for meetings, conventions and corporate retreats.

Aliante Golf Club earns award
Las Vegas – Aliante Golf Club earned two Fairway Awards for being the best new course in Las Vegas. Aliante won the award in Vegas Golfer magazine’s reader poll category and was the magazine’s staff pick.

Aliante Golf Club won an award for being the best new course in Las Vegas.

The 18-hole, par-72 course, which was designed by Gary Panks Associates, opened to public play Dec. 5, 2003. The course, which stretches 7,000 yards from the back tees, includes a practice facility that features a driving range, putting green, chipping green and practice bunker. OB Sports Golf Management manages the Aliante Golf Club.

Legacy receives tourism award

Las Vegas – Lorraine Hunt, the lieutenant governor of Nevada, awarded The Legacy Golf Club a Tourism Development Award at the annual governor’s conference on tourism in December. The Legacy was one of 105 businesses to receive the award throughout the state for opening or adding new facilities to attract visitors and enhance the state tourism economy during 2004.

The Legacy Golf Club, which is managed by OB Sports Golf Management, underwent an exterior renovation that included a fresh coat of paint, patio refurbishment and other cosmetic upgrades to improve the club.

The course stretches 7,233 yards from the back tees.

Florida club adds practice station

Ibis Golf & Country Club added equipment to it’s teaching facility.

West Palm Beach, Fla. – Martin Hall, the director of golf instruction at the Ibis Golf & Country Club, added equipment to the club’s teaching facility. The most efficient golf swing attainable perfect proactive equipment features 15 separate teaching stations that target almost every aspect of a student’s golf swing. The MEGSA PPE ensures students use the same address position every time so they can work on their consistency. The 15 teaching stations are: antislide wall, rear posture board, width producer, right knee stabilizer, over/under station, take away perfector, preset wall, hand plane bar, insider, plane-o-matic, head stabilizer, antilift pole, finish perfector, resistance cord and post impact bar.

Additionally, custom-built, high-end residential homes continue to be built near the golf course.