Just completed a site visit with Jimmy Terry yesterday and took these new photos of the Greg Norman designed AT&T Oaks course. The course is progressing nicely with the entire front nine almost completely grassed. Here are two photos to show the progress. The top photo is #2 green, a 580 yard par 5 and the bottom is a shot of the #3 from the left of the tee, a 191 yard par 3 over water. To see more photos of the course and its progress click here.

AT&T Oaks Course

 

 

 

 

 

 

AT&T Canyons 6/23/08

 

 

 

 

 

JW Marriott Resort 6/23/08 

I'm thrilled to announce today a couple of major developments for TPC San Antonio. Yesterday the first sod was laid on the 5th tee at Greg Norman's AT&T Oaks course. We are also announcing the hiring of our talented new Superintendant, Tom Lively.

Grass selections for the AT&T Oaks Course are as follows:

• Greens Champions
• Tees Emerald Bermuda
• Collars & Approaches Emerald Bermuda
• Fairways Tifsport Bermuda
• Rough Bandera Bermuda

Here's the official Press Release:

Former Medinah CC Superintendent Tom Lively Hired

to Oversee Agronomy at TPC San Antonio

Grassing of Greg Norman’s AT&T Oaks Course begins this week

SAN ANTONIO, June 17, 2008 — TPC San Antonio has announced the hiring of Golf Course Superintendent Tom Lively to oversee all agronomy for the highly anticipated 36-hole facility. Lively comes to TPC San Antonio from Medinah Country Club in Chicago, where he served as Director of Golf Course Operations for the past seven years. His tenure at Medinah included the 2006 PGA Championship, won by Tiger Woods.

“We're very pleased to have someone of Tom's stature come on board at TPC San Antonio,” said Cal Roth, Senior Vice President of Agronomy for the PGA TOUR. “Considering the agronomic and major championship experience he developed at Medinah Country Club, Tom is a valuable addition to this exciting project and the TPC Network, and we are confident he will do a wonderful job in his new roll.”

TPC San Antonio will open in Spring 2010 with golf courses designed by two of golf’s most innovative designers, newly announced World Golf of Fame inductee Pete Dye and Greg Norman, a World Golf Hall of Fame player who has established himself as a world-class course designer. Dye is designing the AT&T Canyons Course with player consultant Bruce Lietzke and Norman is designing the AT&T Oaks Course with player consultant Sergio Garcia.

“After working at Medinah C.C. for the past seven years and going through a very successful PGA Championship in 2006, I decided to look toward the future,” Lively said. “I have always wanted to be involved with the construction of a new golf course and when this opportunity came along, I couldn’t turn it down. The project is bigger than I could have ever imagined and presents a very unique and exciting opportunity. I look forward to working with everyone involved and preparing for the opening of two spectacular golf courses.”

Medinah is considered one of the outstanding golf clubs in the country. Its No. 3 course, ranked 11^th in Golf Digest’s “America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses,” has played host to three U.S. Opens, two PGA Championships, one U.S. Senior Open and will be the site of the 2012 Ryder Cup.

Also announced are the variety of grasses that will be used on the AT&T Oaks Course, a Greg Norman Signature Design. Seeding has just begun and is projected to be completed by the end of this Summer.

Grass selections for the AT&T Oaks Course are as follows:

• Greens Champions
• Tees Emerald Bermuda
• Collars & Approaches Emerald Bermuda
• Fairways Tifsport Bermuda
• Rough Bandera Bermuda

Both Dye and Norman are known for their environmental stewardship and both courses at TPC San Antonio will feature a closed-loop irrigation system designed to insure protection of the Edwards Aquifer, San Antonio’s main water source. Situated on 2,800 rolling acres, both Dye’s AT&T Canyons Course and Norman’s AT&T Oaks Course are being built with the necessary infrastructure to be host venues for PGA TOUR tournaments, as is the case with every TPC project. Once open, the courses and the club will position San Antonio as a premier golf destination.

Play at the club is reserved for members and guests of the adjacent 1,002-room JW Marriott San Antonio Resort and Spa. Membership information can be obtained at www.tpcsanantonio.com. Deposits for Founder Memberships, the first category of membership available at TPC San Antonio, will be accepted in June, 2008.

More details of golf course construction, including photos and video can be found at TPC San Antonio’s construction blog: www.blog.tpcsanantonio.com In addition, details of the adjacent AT&T Canyons course can also be found on the construction blog.

Courtesy of Forestar Real Estate, developers of Cibolo Canyons.

 

Here are a few photos from the recent visit from Pete Dye and Bruce Lietzke.

 www.picturetexas.com/images/tpc.tour

 Also, same photo's are posted to our flickr account:

www.flickr.com/photos/tpcsanantonio/

 

Raw video from post visit Q&A session:

 

Official Press Release:

Renowned Golf Course Designer Pete Dye Makes Site Visit to AT&T Canyons Course at TPC San Antonio

SAN ANTONIO, April 15, 2008 — Golf course designer Pete Dye made a scheduled visit today to check on the progress of his latest creation, the AT&T Canyons course at TPC San Antonio. To date, all 18 holes of the scenic property have been cleared and major earthwork begun on the highly anticipated course. The purpose of Dye’s visit was to check on the work already completed and make any necessary adjustments to the Par 72, 7,545-yard layout.

Working with PGA TOUR Champions Tour player consultant Bruce Lietzke, Dye is crafting the scenic layout with generous fairway corridors and a variety of green sizes and shapes. Closely mown areas around the green complexes will create runoffs to collection areas for off-line approach shots. The wider fairway corridors and multiple tee locations will provide a variety of approach shot angles, bringing strategy into play off the tee and ensuring playability and enjoyment for players of all skill levels.

The AT&T Canyons course is routed on a ridge top overlooking the adjacent Cibolo Canyons. The fairway corridors and open environment unlocks expansive views of the adjacent canyons and valleys. In addition, the course overlooks a large bird sanctuary, a safe haven for the protected Golden-cheeked warbler.

TPC San Antonio will open in Spring 2010 with 36 holes designed by two of golf’s most innovative designers: Dye and former No. 1-ranked player in the world Greg Norman, who also has established himself as a world-class course designer. Situated on 2,800 rolling acres, both the AT&T Canyons Course and Norman’s AT&T Oaks Course are being built with the necessary infrastructure to be host venues for PGA TOUR tournaments, as is the case with every TPC project. Once open, the courses and the club will position San Antonio as a premier golf destination.

Play at the club is reserved for members and guests of the adjacent 1,002-room JW Marriott San Antonio Resort and Spa. Membership information can be obtained at www.tpcsanantonio.com. Deposits for Founder Memberships, the first category of membership available at TPC San Antonio, will be accepted in May, 2008.

More details of Dye’s visit, including photos and video can be found at TPC San Antonio’s construction blog: www.blog.tpcsanantonio.com In addition, details of the adjacent AT&T Oaks course can also be found on the construction blog.

About The TPC Network

Licensed by the PGA TOUR, the TPC Network is comprised of 17 premier private, resort and daily fee golf properties designed by some of golf’s most elite architects. Nine additional clubs are operated by affiliates of PGA TOUR Golf Course Properties, Inc. Each TPC has hosted or has been designed to host TOUR-sponsored golf tournaments. Since the TPC Sawgrass first opened its world renowned Stadium Course in the fall of 1980, TPCs have provided the PGA TOUR with rent-free venues for tournaments, helping to boost championship golf purses and increasing charitable donations to grass roots non-profit organizations. At the same time, TPCs have provided recreational golfers with the unique opportunity to test their skills on the same layouts where the world’s best golfers compete.

Distinctive in character but consistent in quality, TPCs are known for their outstanding conditioning and amenities, as well as a commitment to environmental excellence. To date, all 17 TPCs are certified as Audubon International Cooperative Sanctuary Systems. The TPC Network is also distinguished by its unwavering commitment to further the PGA TOUR’s giving back mission through support of charitable and community-based programs. For more information, please visit www.tpc.com.

About the PGA TOUR

The PGA TOUR is a tax-exempt membership organization of professional golfers. Its primary purpose is to provide competitive earnings opportunities for past, current and future members of the PGA TOUR, Champions Tour and Nationwide Tour; to protect the integrity of the game; and to help grow the reach of the game in the U.S. and around the world.

In 2008, the three Tours will compete in 108 events for approximately $355 million in prize money. Tournaments will be held in nine countries outside the U.S. and in 37 states.

In addition to providing competitive opportunities for its membership, TOUR events also generate significant funds for local charities. In fact, the three Tours have surpassed the $1 billion mark in overall charitable contributions. The PGA TOUR's web site address is www.pgatour.com and the company is headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL.

AT&T Oaks Holes 1-3Diversity and challenge will definitely be the calling card for the opening three holes on the Oaks Course.  No two holes on the opening three are the same par, going 4-5-3. 

Hole 1 opens out of small chute of oak trees to a average width fairway.  The hole flows slightly downhill but is definitely a challenge at 455 yards from the TOUR tees, particularly based on the width of the hole and the fact that it's the first swing of the day. 

The approach shot on 1 will be to a very guarded green, with a nearly vertical faced bunker back left of the green.  The backside of the bunker exposes some beautiful limestone rock outcropping preserved from the cut around the green to create and island-like feeling.  Here is an image from Greg Norman's last visit complete with notes on the green surround.

AT&T Oaks #1 Green Ultimately, in my opinion this might be one of the top 3 most challenging holes on the course largely due to the length and precision required off both the tee and for the approach shot.  Four here will be a great score...

The second hole offers a little reprieve after a tough opener, most because it's a pretty straightforward three-shot par 5.   At 600+ yards from the TOUR tees it will only be reachable from the very longest of players and candidly, the risk might not be equivalent to the reward even for those players, particularly to the cluster of fairway bunkers on both sides of the fairway off the tee.  However, two sensible shots should offer a short iron into a small to medium sized green and set up a great putt at birdie.

An artist's rendering just doesn't do the third hole justice as it's a magnificent Par 3 over water to a multi-tiered green complex.   It's relatively short (or at least medium length) for PGA TOUR standards at only 191 yards and gets as short as 112 yards from the forward tee.  What I think is interesting on this hole is that the farther back the tees are, the more they wrap around the lake and in effect, narrow the green for the tee shot.  Distance control for the players playing the hole will be paramount.  If you choose to play the hole from a more forward set of tees, the hole really opens up and the approach lines become significantly easier and the hole locations more accessible.  

What's memorable about the Third Hole is the rock wall the fronts the green and beautiful multi-tiered green.  Here's a shot of the green under construction...

AT&T Oaks, Hole #3 The first three holes at the AT&T Oaks course will really set the tone for scoring for the day.  Sneak off one with a par and throw in a birdie on #2 or #3 and you are off to a great round.  Next week I'll focus on a trio of par fours, the horseshoe loop of 4 to 6.

I've been reluctant to share many renderings of specific golf holes up until this point, mostly due to the fact that tweaks are constantly being made to the layout.  However, once the clay is down for the closed-loop irrigation changes to the layout are much less frequent and if made, much smaller in scale.  Since we are at that stage for many holes on the Norman course I am going to start reviewing the layout three holes at a time. 

As we get into 2009 and have grass down on both courses, I will do a more in depth study on each hole providing photography, video, and hopefully some comments from either the Designers or Player Consultants.   But for now you get a rendering and amateur commentary from a golf pro turned marketing geek...

AT&T Oaks Course-Holes 16 to 18 Hole 16:  A medium length par 3, slightly uphill and headed back toward the clubhouse.  The Tour tees will not only add length, but provide a much tougher line into back hole positions.  Green is moderately bunkered, but a decent tee shot should provide a legitimate shot at Birdie.

Hole 17:  Risk-Reward downhill par 4.  Yardage stretches to just over 350 yards, but it plays a little downhill so reaching the green should be a distinct possibility for the longer players, particularly if the tees are moved up a set for any tournament played here.   Green is protected by a menacing front-left bunker.

Hole 18:  Another Risk-Reward hole, this time a par 5.  Hole plays slightly back uphill with a beautiful shot of the clubhouse veranda far left of the green complex.  A good drive will provide a tough decision, lay-up or take a crack at the green.  However, if choosing to go for it in two, not only will the second shot require a forced-carry over water, it will also demand a precise shot as anything that leaks right will end of in the creek that runs parallel to the green.  Playing a safe shot to the left is no benefit either as two large bunkers protect the left hand side of the green and will prove a tough up and down.  Laying up is obviously an option, but even the best layup will still require a precise third shot into a narrow green that is fronted by water and protects long shots with the two large bunkers. 

What I like most about this stretch of holes is that while disaster lurks on 18, a player could conceivably finish 2-2-3 (5 under) if they play this stretch perfectly.  No lead in the clubhouse will be safe at the AT&T Oaks Course... 

I had the opportunity to walk most of Dye's AT&T Canyons Course yesterday with Steve Wenzloff and Ron Howell, both with PGA TOUR Design Services team. 

Below are some photos of the course after we've completed the majority of the clearing.  My initial observation is that when compared to Greg Norman's AT&T Oaks course, well, there's no real comparison other than the fact that both are Par 72 layouts.  Each golf course has a very distinct DNA, mostly dictated by the topography on which they are routed.  The AT&T Canyons Course has a more elevation change and will feature some stunning views of the adjacent canyons (hence the name) while Norman's side is placed on a slightly less dramatic piece of land, although no less beautiful when you look at some of the great species of oak trees that the course it routed through.

Norman's course at first glance seems a bit more demanding off the tee as Dye's course features wider fairway corridors.  In most cases the fairways will be about 50 yards across, while Norman's are about 2/3rds that width.  However, looking at many of the proposed green locations from the fairways, accurate tee shots on Dye's course will be rewarded with great angles into the greens while marginal tee shots will be feature much tougher approach shots.  Nowhere is this more evident than on the first hole.  A tee shot that favors the right-center of the fairway will definitely have a better angle into the green than from the left hand side of the fairway, which not coincidently is the safer route off the tee.

We also had the opportunity to witness some blasting on the fourth hole.  It's always amazing to see that much dirt, rock and debree moved in such a short period of time.

Enjoy the photo's, I'll be posting more as we continue the major earthwork and shaping. 

 

A few Aerial shots of Dye's Course, AT&T Canyons.