Team called in to accommodate explosive growth north of Austin
(Austin, Texas) Growth and development is unstoppable in Austin, especially in the northern reaches near the once sleepy towns of Round Rock, Pflugerville and Hutto. This metro-triumvirate is a golfer’s paradise now with plenty of golf and anchored by daily fee powerhouse The Golf Club Star Ranch, the area’s best course, public or private.
With growth comes change, and when big box developers came in needing dirt to plop their boxes down on, Star Ranch faced a challenge in keeping its driving range. The existing range ran south, away from the clubhouse and parallel to Highway 685, a main artery of the area.
When the big box deals closed, Star Ranch general manager Ricky Heine called Roy Bechtol, the course’s architect, to talk about where they would have to move the range. "Ricky and I talked and walked and looked around and came up with what I think is the coolest practice area around," said Bechtol. "With all the landscaping, rock walls, target greens, bunkers and contours, this will be a fun place to practice."
Heine, who is also vice-president of the national Golf Course Superintendent’s Association of America (GCSAA), agreed. "It looks really nice. We had to angle it slightly toward the eighth green and more parallel to the ninth fairway, which posed some safety concerns, so we had to put in a fence along the right side and behind the range. Augusta National has one, so I don’t feel so bad about having a fence here," said Heine.
Star Ranch’s new driving range is beautifully contoured with target greens and sand bunkers and is lushly landscaped with native gulf muhly, Mexican feathergrass and different native salvias and includes a new short game area and new putting/chipping green with all conceivable angles, lies and grass heights to simulate real on-course situations. The new practice facility is scheduled to open in November.
About Bechtol Russell Golf
Bechtol Russell Golf has over 30 years of experience in land planning, environmental engineering, golf course management, landscape architecture and golf course design. Led by principals Roy Bechtol and Randy Russell, Bechtol Russell Golf has designed over 40 golf courses in the United States alone or in collaboration with other golf course architects. Notable Bechtol Russell Golf designs include The Golf Club Star Ranch in Hutto, The Golf Club of Texas in San Antonio, The Club at Comanche Trace in Kerrville, ShadowGlen Golf Club in Manor and The University of Texas Golf Club in Austin. Upcoming projects include courses in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, in the Rocky Mountains near Vail, Colorado, and just south of Marble Falls, Texas along the upper banks of Lake Travis.
Contact:
Carlton Wade
(512) 964-3381 direct
cw@carltonwade.com