Golfadelphia

“There’s always a parade, Howie. When it’s something you can’t ever join but only watch, then it’s a parade”

– Dean Koontz, “Darkness Under the Sun”

Tournament of Roses. The Rose Parade is held on New Year’s Day, unless of course that is a Sunday, in which case the parade is held on January 2. The parade consists of marching bands, equestrian units, the Rose Queen and her court, yet is mostly comprised of floats that must be completely covered in natural material in its natural state. That primarily means nothing can be painted or dyed. The floats typically project a concept of a feeling or place, or are a celebration more or less. It pretty much takes an entire year to get the floats completed from the design, welding, covering, then decoration of flowers and natural materials. Volunteers usually help with the decorating and there are specific companies whom all they do is manufacture these floats. One of these float companies was just behind Jackie Robinson Park where I had my soccer practices and I still remember the weld flashes throughout the year as the behemoth floats began to take shape. The father of one of my friends owned one of the float companies. My friend knew almost every flower and seed out there. He would help around the clock and get everything ready for the couple weeks leading up to the parade. His dad would sleep for a few days end over end that first week of January. The parade starts in front of the Wrigley Mansion on Orange Grove and proceeds North. At Colorado Boulevard, it turns right. This is the point we all see from the television and yes, the Norton Simon Museum can be seen in the background, the very same I wrote about recently in The Alchemy Age https://golfadelphia.com/2025/12/09/the-alchemy-age/. The parade then moves down Colorado Boulevard for miles, then turns left on Sierra Madre Boulevard where it moves up towards Pasadena High School. The floats are then parked and on display for a couple days.

There are seats one can purchase to see the parade but a lot of people watch it from the sidewalks. Many of these people camp out for a day or two along the route. This makes for a lively scene, adding to the excitement of the parade and New Year in general. Many a time my friends and I would go up to the parade route to bring in New Year’s Eve. We also knew places to watch without having to camp out and would take advantage. For years and years, I’d go up with family and/or friends and watch the parade. The floats glided down Orange Grove in relentless procession. The driver of the float follows a line painted in the middle of the street, his or her only guide they’re on the right track. Boisterous colors, some towering and others long and wide, they would try to distinguish themselves in some way. One year, someone bungie jumped off from some high point of the float. Some have had live animals. Some are elaborate in their artistic detail. It’s a fascinating experience mainly because of the procession and how they all present together. One or two floats would be nice but one thing the Parade has done nicely is provide such a staggering cumulative display. The onslaught becomes mesmerizing. The Parade eventually ends even at times it seems like it never will. Some go to the Rose Bowl for the game, some continue the revelry in Old Town and some simply go home. The bleachers are then taken down the weeks afterwards, the streets cleaned up and after a couple months, the weld flashes start all over again. The next Parade awaits. If patrons of the Parade were asked what was the best float or even their favorite, most respond, “They were all so nice; it’s tough to pick one out from the others.”

The parade has started; the new courses are rolling out one after the other. There are approximately 286 projects in some phase this year, up from 150 last year. Rough numbers. It’s a lovely barrage of shiny new. Like those Rose Parade onlookers, everything will likely have to slow or enough time needs to pass in order for the new to sort itself out into those that show greatness, those that show distinction, those that possibly show both and those that may be seen as a sign of the times. The mainstream marketing cues and business models are getting used over and over yet what’s most promising are the projects branching out on new paths, as well as the growing attention to the public golf scene. Architecturally, most of the new follows some degree of strategic naturalism with pleasing visuals that are more often than not incorporated into the structure of play. They strive for complexity and substance. A good amount find inspiration from the past and/or some other region of the world renown for its golf, such as the heathland, sand belt or highlands. Most are on very good land for the purpose. While the club identities vary for a number of reasons, a good question to ask is how different are the identities of the courses. What exactly is setting them apart? What is leading (or has led) to stagnation and what is showing architectural progress? Let’s get in one of those fancy seats at Orange Grove and Colorado, sit back with our favorite coffee and watch the floats march by to see if we can come up with some answers.

We start with the New, then the new short courses, then international notables.. Re-designs, renovations, restorations and the like will be covered in part II. Just a note, there are some courses I’ve highlighted the last couple years that may be opening this year after delays and such. Most mentioned in past articles will not be brought up again unless there is some very compelling reason to do so.

Streamsong – Bone Valley

It looks like David McLay Kidd will finally get his chance to, “go second” and design a course after Doak, this one at Streamsong. Kidd’s course also opens after Coore and Crenshaw as well as Gil Hanse. KemperSports invited various architects to submit proposals using whatever expanse of land they wanted within the ownership. Kidd’s proposal is just southwest of Streamsong Red. Kidd likens the land to what is seen on the Red and Blue, with a variety of large dunes, some water and a healthy amount of undulations. Kidd will continue with the design concepts found at Gamble Sands and Mammoth Dunes, what I have come to call the player emboldenment movement. Kidd is candid that he’s not as interested in distinguishing his design from the others on the property but believes the distinction will lie in the structure of play. While he likes to instill confidence in the golfer, the White will have plenty of strategic conundrums. Kidd has stated that, “every hole is a Rubik’s Cube.” One aspect of the course Kidd has admitted to some competition with the others is with the ground game, where he is striving for something along the lines of extraordinary.

Loraloma Club

Although mentioned in the 2024 article of new courses and opening late last year, this gets another mention if nothing else because of how it hints at the direction of Kidd’s design proclivities at the moment. The firm and fast ground game Kidd is focusing on at Streamsong is now on full display at Loraloma, sitting just northwest of Austin, Texas. The course is complete Zoysia, known for its firm and bouncy nature. Kidd and the green super worked in tandem to get the conditions superb for such a ground game. The Pedernales River is close at hand and several of the greens are at grade to facilitate the ground game focus. This is Hill country in Texas, so most of the ground is comprised of hard rock on the plateaus above the river, which forced Kidd to place the course as opposed to a lot of earth moving. It has already been called the most Scottish course in the U.S. Kidd has built, which is saying something with Bandon Dunes certainly in that discussion. The emphasis on firm and fast with the Zoysia and terrain is all very intriguing for Kidd’s only course in Texas.

Firefly

The first original design of Andrew Green is set to open just outside Nashville, TN. One of the benefits of this Parade of New is the opportunities it is providing to the newer generation of talented course architects that have spent the majority of their career renovating and restoring. Tyler Rae and Kyle Franz are just a couple more of such architects and now Green has his here. These architects have had years of experience as lead designer and along with it, they have sharpened their prowess and honed their craft, elevating new projects to a higher level than one would expect from a first timer. Here, Green seeks to highlight the ideal rolling terrain while maintaining defining variety at each hole. A lot of the strategy will be through hazard and bunker placement while the routing is unique with its par 3 to 5 configuration on the front, all of which sets up for a challenging closing sequence. Green’s solo portfolio starts here, so will be interesting to see the maiden voyage.

Bluejack Ranch

The second Bluejack course will be designed by the same Tiger Woods/Beau Welling duo as the first but will be on a different type of terrain and in Fort Worth as opposed to north of Houston. The site was a working ranch before its turn as a golf course, with hills and native curtilage replacing the pines that characterize Bluejack National. The playing structure, however, should show similarities to each other. Strategic fun is the order of the day, relying on the undulations for its cues. Fields Ranch West is a Beau Welling design with similar topography and structure of play, so it will be interesting to the see Welling’s progression with this project and involvement of Tiger.

Childress Hall Lower

Hanse and Wagner are now up after Doak’s Upper Course opened up in late 2025 to effusive praise. Work on this course began in 2024 and is set on the northern part of the property. Exposed to the wind with a variety of elevation changes amidst dunes created by said wind over the course of time. Hanse/Wagner have vocalized the course will be full of strategic conundrums while eschewing penal elements. An emphasis on recovery character is also apparent. The three loop course will focus on six-hole structural themes, traversing natural water formations and bunkers that should seamlessly settle within the landscape. It has a sense of Sand Hills about it from what I’ve seen and with the wind a dominant component, could bear even more comparisons. Lots of really good whispers running about on both of the Childress Hall courses and with the Upper enjoying a Colorado River full of applause, the Lower can’t arrive soon enough.

Reynolds Lake Oconee – Fenmoor

Fenmoor describes the land upon which the eighth course at the Reynolds Lake resort will be set designed by Steve Smyers. Fen means refers to the low lying wetlands while moor refers to the open grassy meadows that open up among the wetlands. This land is along the headwaters of Lake Oconee at Richland Creek, giving Smyers a verdant canvas on which to work. While previous works of Smyers have trended towards challenge such as Maridoe down in Dallas, Fenmoor will apparently tone down the toughness and instead focus on strategy and accessibility. While Maridoe certainly stands out for its challenge, Smyers also showed a remarkable ability to embrace raw naturalism and native grass throughout. It appears he will be continuing with that design concept here, embracing the natural surrounds that accompany the wetlands. A low profile affair with more undulating flair with ravines and some rolling topography that will allow Smyers progression and distinction in his portfolio.

Travis Club

Sitting just outside Austin, TX and about fifteen minutes away from the aforementioned Loraloma, Travis Club is another luxury real estate site in Hill Country with a golf course designed by Beau Welling opening this year. Set upon the undulating land and using the elevation changes for all types of angle and contour-based strategic play, Welling expands on a design style that has shown graceful broad shouldered use of land that focuses on fun and accessibility yet is able to tighten up for anyone among us looking to go low. Such is the case at Travis, which ebbs and flows among the hills and down to Lake Travis, giving and taking along the way in measured tones. The course shows nice depth in strategic presentation.

Candyroot Lodge – Milkstone

Some what between Charlotte, NC and Columbia, SC yet upon the Carolina Sand Hills lies the soon-to-be-open Candyroot Lodge, a public golf destination that intends to eventually feature multiple courses. The maiden course, Milkstone, is set to open this year and is designed by Mike Koprowski of Broomsedge fame. Milkstone indeed will rely heavily on the sand hills upon which it is set for a structure of play that will range from facilitating creativity to demanding precision. The ambitious plans for Candyroot are intriguing for how close it is to a major city (an hour from Charlotte) yet on idyllic terrain most remote destination clubs find themselves hours and hours from civilization. A number of courses are planned and if all are/remain available to the public, Candyroot has the potential to rise to the forefront of public destination golf in the U.S.

Tom Fazio

The staying power of Fazio is likely under discussed yet signifies his remarkable success. Such a lengthy and storied career comes with inevitable evolution, especially as it spans through two or three different design eras. His portfolio is prolific and far ranging. Within it we find some excellent courses such as Congaree, Caves Valley and Galloway National to some that are forgettable and some in between the two extremes. His renovation efforts on Golden Age era courses have largely struck chords of disfavor in our current era, which is unfortunate but the ire has to be directed some where. At any rate, his current projects are both in Texas, a state which undoubtedly has seen the most new courses over the fast few years (followed by Sough Carolina in my estimation). Halbert National technically opened late last year, which is the billionaire pet project of David Dean Halbert. The course cost upwards of $50 million to build and is slated to host an annual college tournament called the Abilene Christian Intercollegiate. The trend towards more Zoysia shows itself here, as the fairways are comprised of it while the greens are TifEagle. The course is mainly reserved for Halbert, along with his family and friends, to which he was active in the design, requesting a stream uncovered that was previously buried and wanted a seventy foot hill grown to thirty feet high. Aspirations for the course include hosting collegiate and celebrity tournaments.

Fazio has designed over ten Discovery courses and Maverick Golf & Ranch is one of the most recent. An eighteen hole, nine hole par 3 and a twelve hole executive course. The par 3 course recently opened while the eighteen hole course should open in the fall. A bold design using the wild terrain is the promise, all of it near Fort Worth. Someone needs to run with the concept of having a televised golf competition among all of the luxury real estate developments in Texas. Could be a 64 team March Madness type of event when all is said and done.

Speaking of Discovery, they are also debuting The Hills, located in the Hamptons and the first new eighteen hole course in that area since Sebonack in 2006. Recently opening late last year, the course was designed by. I’ll give you one guess. Yes, you got it. Tom Fazio! Inland and sitting between Riverhead and Westhampton, the course sits in the woods and the holes are mostly tree lined and isolated from each other. Sharp mounding and bunkering defines a lot of the structure of play. Based on the photos I have seen, it seems to have whispers of Galloway National. This is Fazio’s second course on Long Island (first private), the first being Oyster Bay Town.

Mentioned in Past New Course Articles but Probably/Definitely Opening this Year Now

• Wild Spring Dunes (Tom Doak)
• Old Petty (Tom Doak and Clyde Johnson)
• Bella Ridge (Art Schaupeter)
• Crazy Mountain Ranch (Coore and Crenshaw)
• Palmetto Bluff – Anson Point (Coore and Crenshaw)
• Rodeo Dunes (Coore and Crenshaw)
• High Grove (Gil Hanse)
• Marcella Club (Tiger Woods/Beau Welling)
• Miakka Club (Fry and Straka)
• Warmouth Sands (Mike Young)
• 21 Golf Club (King, Collins and Dormer)
• Bounty Club (King, Collins and Dormer)
• Tepetonka (Ogilvie, Cocking and Mead)
• Luling Sport (Ogilvie, Cocking and Mead)

SHORT COURSE PROLIFERATION

Cobbs Creek Q-School

The first stage of opening has taken place, which consists of the driving range, pro shop, grill, TGR Learning Center and the short course. I was brimming with excitement visiting for the first time as memories flooded back of hitting what seemed like balata balls into a dirt-ridden hill that passed for the driving range. Now, the range is top of the line, covered, heaters on hand, televisions and top-tracers. The grill is a very worthy nineteenth hole or even some where to visit for a meal on its own. The short course is ready to go but the dumb weather is the only obstacle at this point. Designed by Tiger Woods, the, “Q-School” is a nine hole par 3 one can walk with a couple wedges and a putter. It resides next to the range and TGR Learning Center, emphasizing creativity and of course fun, with the scoring clubs. Much more on Cobbs for sure. We’ve only just begun.

Sand Valley – The Commons

Short courses come in all shapes and sizes. The 12-hole course is one of personal particular interest, as it gives that little extra oomph missing from nine holes yet spares the golfer the extra time and effort of a full blown eighteen. The 10K of golf courses. And yes, in my opinion JC Melrose would still be around today if they reverted to 12 holes in my opinion (RIP). At any rate, Michael and Chris Keiser worked with Jim Craig (former long-time shaper for Coore and Crenshaw) and came up with a rather unbridled, bold and sharply contoured set of twelve holes inspired by the spirit of the Scottish links. They note the twelve holes is the same as Prestwick had originally. With fun and accessibility in mind, this one is appealing. A wild romp-about where the golfer can use all the clubs in his bag and be done in a couple hours or less, the exploration and innovation the Kaisers continue with should be applauded.

Arcadia Bluffs – The Dozen

Arcadia Bluffs is much more direct on their new short course, which yes, is also twelve holes. The Dozen consists of two six-hole loops back to the clubhouse, each with three par 3’s and three par 4’s. Designed by Fry/Straka, a similar structure of play is intended than at the Commons; fun, accessibility and the ability to play more golf on a given day. Yet there is serious and complex golf within as well, which ensures repeat play will be intriguing and enlightening. The 12-hole is a promising trend in many respects so its effects will be monitored closely by yours truly.

Chechessee Creek

We’re not done with 12 hole courses just yet. David Zinkland has been putting together quite an interesting portfolio with new and renovative/restorative work alike. His short course at Chechessee is comprised of par 3’s and short par 4’s with the first five holes the first loop and the second seven a separate loop. Ecology is at the forefront of this design, which will feature possibly the first ever carnivorous plant bog. I will take the drop, please. The first loop is canvassed almost completely in short grass turf, inviting all skill levels to play to whatever degree they please while the second loop instills a but more strategy and challenge with bolder contours, vexing bunker placement and a few forced carries. The character of each loop is superb. Purposeful connection to the diverse ecology while providing adventure, fun and challenge in a third less holes, these 12-holers are getting more promising by the word.

Wildcreek

Brian Curley of Curley-Wagner converts a Reno, NV county-owned course into a comprehensive community hub that is now features a nine hole course, a nine hole par 3 course and a three-story driving range built with repurposed shipping containers. The First Tee now co-owns the course, which it will now be able to utilize much more broadly.

The Gate Golf Club

A desirable public option in Naples, FL is a refreshing option for locals and those traveling looking for a round and are unable to access the private options that abound. Akin to The Park in West Palm, The Gate already opened this year and is a nine hole (par 35) course designed by Peter Jacobsen and Jim Hardy. A putting course and comprehensive practice facility round everything out, providing all kinds of options for meaningful, accessible golf.

Old Field

Smyers, Craig and Coyne is a newly merged course architecture firm expanding with projects (the Lazy J in SD among them) whom designed a six hole course on a rather flat piece of property in Davie County, North Carolina. A putting course and practice facility are also on property, which is in conjunction with nearby Colin Creek Golf Club. Yet another hub meant to bring the local community together through golf, in its several forms, the six hole course will focus on thoughtful fun.

Grand Geneva – Wee Nip

If 12 holes sounds enticing, how about eleven? Matt Dusenberry designed this short course average 90 yards in length with a variety of boldness and experimentation at the greens. If Kenery Park is any indication of what Dusenberry is capable of, then the Wee Nip should show extraordinary thrill. We’re seeing a trend here with these short courses as the structure expands from par 3’s or standard nine holes to the unorthodox. Not just in total holes but in striving to accentuate a different aspect of the game. In the process, the architects are being asked to throw standard norms out of the window. These courses are not the focal point or anchor of the club or resort most of the time, so there is much less want or need to stay conservative. While mileage varies depending on the short course, the potential for innovation and creativity is off the charts and we are beginning to see some fine examples cropping up.

Saddle & Cycle Club

David Zinkland maximizes compact land within Chicago city limits with a reversible par 3 eight hole course at this bicycle club that was established in 1895. Zinkland flexed some innovation here by creating space in the unused direction so that those who would like to practice are able to do so. The new layout also allowed for a new putting course. For a city club where space is at a premium, the creativity and quality of design shows the game can be enjoyed at heightened, complex levels just about any where.

There’re no signs of the short court explosion slowing down. Be on the lookout for short courses in the future at the following, most of which are brand new courses:

• Tepetonka (MN)
• Crazy Mountain Ranch (MT)
• Miakka Golf Club (FL)
• High Grove (FL)
• Old Sawmill (S.C.)
• Sweetens Cove (TN)(par 3)
• Wild Horse (NE)(par 3)
• Sugarloaf (ME)(par 3)

INTERNATIONAL NOTABLES

Punta Brava Golf and Surf Club

At the tip of the Punta Banda peninsula in Baja is the exclusive golf and surf club, which offers both activities. The location goes back quite a few years with Rees, Fazio and Greg Norman consulting at times in the early 2000’s before Tiger Woods submitted a routing plan in 2008. Ownership changes with the land along with regulation issues delayed things until 2022, when Tom Doak was retained. The video of the course is very impressive, showing the peninsula land opened up as links amidst rock outcroppings, which are among the fairways and ocean. Cypress Point came to mind as I saw some of the tee to green configurations with the ocean and cliffs. There will be five par 3’s and only of them will not carry over the ocean. Off the top of my head, I’d say Doak has had idyllic sites on the ocean at Tara Iti and Pacific Dunes. Punta Brava is likely in the discussion with one of the best sites he has had to work with.

Legacy Golf Club

Tiger Woods is adding to the Diamante Club in Cabo San Lucas with another course, which will at least partially open this year. The course has been mentioned in the breath as Shadow Creek a few times and while the course will be in an exclusive housing development limited to 250 members, we will be able to see it host the PGA’s World Wide Tour Classic in 2027.

The Cliffs Kangaroo Island

Another project that has seen its share of delays over the years, Darius Oliver was initially retained for a routing way back in 2016. On the north side of Kind Island in Tasmania, the cliffside landscape provides stunning views and a wide open layout. The design is not shy about incorporating the cliffs, as the broad shouldered hills lean into and away from them melodically, with some of the holes finding their way into ancient forests of bearded heath trees. Restraint was exercised with bunker use, instead allowing the undulations and cliffs dictate most of the structure of play. The mesmerizing natural landscape and how it lends itself to the game, make this an intriguing voyage to see one of these days. And yes, kangaroos indeed live on the island.

Baja Bay Club

David McLay Kidd is at it again on the beaches of Los Cabos. Links golf in his player enablement style is on beautiful display on this sandy site on the ocean. A high end housing development with Kidd’s course among the interesting features, the interaction of sand and swaths of green on what looks like a relatively flat site is indeed intriguing. I have been trying to fight the urge to look south of the border for golf but it will no longer be denied.

Curracloe Links

South of Dublin, Fry/Straka is designing their first course in Ireland on a site that was previously used for the filming of Saving Private Ryan. The cliff tops course will boast views of the ocean as well as the nearby town. Completely fescue, the ground game will be engaging throughout. With a few other newer courses nearby and a new hotel to accompany this course, the Mid-South East coast of Ireland is beginning to become a draw.

The Parade continues in part II, coming up shortly. There are so many renovations, restorations, re-designs and the like that we need to address it all in another article before examining the state of the union so to speak.