"A lot of the golf course plays along the lake. I think you can see the lake from 14 holes. It's windy. It's links style, not-so-British links, more American style."

Something Old is Something New

Avid Golfer magazine's Robert Rodriguez got a sneak peek at the "Old American Golf Club" at The Tribute in The Colony, Texas. Here are some of his comments:

The Old American Golf Club is a Tripp Davis-Justin Leonard collaboration that will model the designs of early American course architecture such as Shinnecock Hills, National Golf Links, The Maidstone Club, Chicago Golf Club, and Prairie Dunes.

The Old American layout will feature Premier Bermuda fairways and Mini-Verde greens, large bunkers with native grasses dancing in the wind, cart paths made out of crushed stone, and square tee boxes.

Davis and Leonard moved a lot of dirt to create some striking rolling terrain, none more evident than beyond the second green. There on top of a 50-foot hill sits a Chicago Steel rail bridge where the carts will motor on while heading to the third hole. Built in 1898, the bridge is an awesome sight to behold.

The front nine looks just about ready for action. The fairways are plush, the greens are growing in quite nicely, and the native grasses and flowers are filling in the areas that were once dirt. Already I can tell I will fall in love with the ninth hole, a splendid par-4 that features a towering tree to contend with off the tee and a nailbiting approach shot over a marsh.

The back nine still has some work left, but nothing that looks to be a menace to the Fall deadline. According to everyone associated with the project, things are still right on schedule just so long as the weather cooperates.

Click here to read more about Justin's golf course design projects.