In the case of the project at Mira Vista, which is owned and operated by the CGA and the CWGA, north and south courses are planned for junior players. Ed Mate, executive director of the CGA, said the south course will consist of five or six shorter holes, with the north layout including three longer holes of a couple of hundred yards or so. Using different flags and configurations, the layouts will be very versatile.
“My pet peeve is that a lot of (kids’) courses are built on such a small amount of land that they doesn’t have a whole lot of value except for the short game,” Mate said. “It takes the long shot to get kids hooked on the game, and that’s what we’ll focus on with the north course.”
The CGA/CWGA kids’ courses, along with the regular course — all designed/redesigned by renowned architect Tom Doak — are expected to open in the spring of next year, ideally around Masters week. The construction cost for the project is about $4.5 million, not including any clubhouse work.
Where does the work stand currently?
“It’s in various stages,” Mate said. “There are some holes much further along than others. All the major dirt work is done. ... With cooperation of the weather, we hope to have the last seed in the ground by July 1. That’s the key date that drives the opening. It’s not when the first seed goes in the ground, but the last seed.”
The facility has yet to be named, but that step will likely be completed within two or three months.
“A lot of thought goes into it,” Mate said.
While nothing has been settled upon, it’s a good bet the name will somehow incorporate the fact that these courses are being operated by state golf associations.
