Thanks to a recently announced PGA Tour contest, aspiring
golf architects will have a chance to play a part in designing a hole on what
could eventually become home to a regular stop on the PGA Tour.
The PGA Tour is inviting hopeful golf course designers to submit an original, hand-sketched design of the 13th hole on the AT&T Canyons Course at TPC San Antonio, which is being designed by the legendary Pete Dye.
Entries will be judged by Dye himself along with PGA Tour Design Services, Inc. One winner will be selected from all entries received to have his or her design integrated into the project, and will also receive a trip to TPC San Antonio to tour the course with Dye prior to the clubs grand opening, which is tentatively penciled in for spring of 2010.
"I'm excited about the opportunity to showcase the TPC San Antonio project through this unique contest," said Dye, who will be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in St. Augustine, FL on Monday, Nov. 10. "It will be interesting to see the creations and select a winner to spend a day with me on the project site. I always enjoy sharing my thoughts and suggestions with others on golf course design."
To enter, contestants should visit pgatour.com/tpcdesign and
download an entry form. The entry form includes a map of the 13th
hole, along with contest rules, judging criteria and mailing instructions.
Entries will be accepted by mail and must be postmarked by Sept. 12, 2008 in
order to be eligible to win. Entries should clearly illustrate yardages, tee
box, fairway and green and other elements, with a clear scale and topography of
the hole. The various elevation levels and angles of the hole should be noted,
along with a description of landscaping and other design/environmental factors.
Construction crews have already broken ground on TPC San Antonio's AT&T Canyons Course as well as the adjacent AT&T Oaks Course, which is being designed by World Golf Hall of Fame member Greg Norman. A rough design of the 13th hole on the AT&T Canyons Course already has been completed, but there is still plenty of room for creativity by contestants. The hole is a 226-yard par-3 with a slight downhill slope.
"With the goal of crafting a course that fits harmoniously with its surroundings, we took full advantage of the dramatic vistas, indigenous flora and beautiful rolling terrain to create a memorable golf experience for members and resort guests," Dye said.
When complete, TPC San Antonio will offer an exceptional private and resort golf club experience, featuring two premier golf courses designed by two of the world's most innovative golf course architects, along with an array of accompanying amenities. Champions Tour member Bruce Lietzke collaborated with Dye on the design of the AT&T Canyons Course, a par-72 7,545-yard layout featuring wide fairways, stands of oak and cedar trees and sweeping panoramic vistas. Numerous environmental elements distinct to the Texas Hill Country were incorporated into the course design, in an effort to minimize its environmental impact.
PGA Tour member Sergio Garcia lent his perspective in assisting
Norman on the design of the par-72, 7,522 yard AT&T Oaks Course. Like Dye,
Norman's design philosophy is characterized by environmental sensitivity and a
deep reverence for nature. Great care was taken to incorporate the distinct
nuances and indigenous flora of the natural Hill Country topography into the
course design, to create a compelling, strategically diverse layout for golfers
of all skill levels.
"The topographic subtleties of the rolling Texas Hill Country terrain, framed by magnificent stands of mature live oaks, create a pristine natural setting that is as playable as it is beautiful," Norman said.
Situated on 2,800 rolling acres at the base of the beautiful Texas Hill Country, both the AT&T Canyons Course by Dye and AT&T Oaks Course by Norman are being built with the infrastructure to be host venues for PGA Tour tournaments.
TPC San Antonio will be accessible to private club members and guests of the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa.