The Concession Golf Club Expands Golf Course Facility
9-hole short course and 1-acre putting course designed by Nicklaus Design
(BRADENTON, FL) The site has been shaped and bunkers put into place, and The Concession Golf Club is now letting Mother Nature take the lead as the growing phase has begun on a $2 million expansion at the private golf club in the Bradenton/Sarasota area. The all-new Par-3, 9-hole short course and 1-acre putting course is designed by Jack Nicklaus’ team at Nicklaus Design.
Construction of the new playing facility commenced in March on the 8-acre space, tucked into a beautiful natural setting within the championship course. Sprigging and sodding was completed in late June, and now the grounds team stands by at the TifGrand Bermuda fairways and TifEagle Bermuda greens take shape.
“This course is designed to be fun and challenging for our members and even people who may be new to golf,” explained Terry Kennelly, superintendent for The Concession Golf Club. “We’ve had a great time designing and implementing representations of some of golf’s most famous holes around the world.”
Hole #3 has a very deep stacked sod bunker and green reminiscent of St. Andrews famous “Road Hole” (#17) in Scotland, using new Permaedge® artificial sod technology. Hole #9 is a take-off of California’s Riviera Country Club’s challenging #6, which has a surprise bunker right in the middle of the green.
The highly anticipated facility has been given its own name and identity, The Gimme, to distinguish it from the championship course. In a nod to that famous moment of sportsmanship in golf at the 1969 Ryder Cup between the U.S. team’s Jack Nicklaus and Great Britain’s Tony Jacklin, the “Gimme” signifies that short putt that Nicklaus conceded to Jacklin, resulting in the first Ryder Cup tie and a moment forever etched in golf history. The course will have signature markings on each of its flagsticks to signify that “gimme” distance, adding to the jovial atmosphere of play.
“We have created a Par-3 course equal in its quality and visual impact to The Concession’s championship course and complements its challenging nature with a family-friendly design that caters to beginners, juniors, seniors and die-hard golfers alike,” shared Chris Cochran, Senior Designer with Nicklaus Design. “It has been a great experience getting to work with old friends, Bruce Cassidy, Senior (President), Terry Kennelly (Superintendent) and Jerame Miller (shaper) on this long-awaited project.”
The Gimme Par-3 and it’s partnering Snake Acre Putting Course will open to Concession Golf members on November 1 for a members-only tournament.
To accompany the new course construction, a special Social Membership option has been established for local golf enthusiasts who are interested in exploring club membership. For details, contact Membership Director Brian Weimann at 941-322-1922 or visit TheConcession.com.
LINK TO CONSTRUCTION PHOTOS AND PLAN
About The Concession Golf Club
The Concession Golf Club is located at 7700 Lindrick Lane on the border of Sarasota and Manatee counties, just six miles east of 1-75 on University Parkway. Named “Best New Private Course of 2006” by Golf Digest magazine, The Concession golf course was designed by Jack Nicklaus in association with Tony Jacklin. This 18-hole par 72 golf course is set on 520 acres of ruggedly pristine land dotted with massive oaks and majestic pines. It totals 7,470 yards and runs three miles from tip to tip. For more information, visit TheConcession.com or call 941-322-1922.
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Contact: Paula MacDonald, paula.macdonald@imagesuitepr.com, 813-419-2494