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| Left to right: Dr. Mike Waldrip, Superintendent, Frisco ISD; Gil Hanse, Owner, Hanse Golf Course Design; The Honorable Jeff Cheney, Mayor, City of Frisco; Seth Waugh, CEO, PGA of America; Suzy Whaley, President, PGA of America; Beau Welling, Founder/CEO, Beau Welling Design; Blake Rowling, President, TRT Holdings, Inc.; Darrell Crall, COO, PGA of America |
PGA Frisco Golf Course Architects Gil Hanse and Beau Welling Preview World-Class Championship Golf Courses
(FRISCO, TEXAS) — PGA Frisco lead architects Gil Hanse and Beau Welling today gave a preview of the championship golf courses that are being designed and built at the PGA of America’s future home in Frisco, Texas.
“These courses will be the heartbeat of PGA Frisco,” said PGA President Suzy Whaley. “This is where the best players in the world will compete in men’s and women’s major championships, and also where newcomers will learn this great game from the best coaches – PGA Professionals. Our vision is for PGA Frisco to become much more than our headquarters. It was incredibly important to us that the community benefit from PGA Frisco, including as a wonderful home course for Frisco Independent School District boys and girls’ high school teams and as a gathering place where all are welcome, no matter where they are on their personal golf journey.”
In December 2018, the PGA of America announced plans to move its headquarters from Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, to Frisco, Texas, where it will anchor a 660-acre mixed-use development with a public-private investment worth more than half a billion dollars. Two championship golf courses are being built at PGA Frisco, as well as a short course and practice areas. The new PGA of America headquarters will become home to national player development and coaching programs.
This public-private partnership teams PGA of America with Omni Stillwater Woods (OSW), the City of Frisco, as well as its Economic and Community Development Corporations, and the Frisco Independent School District. The City of Frisco and its development corporations (each funded by a half-cent of Frisco's sales tax) and FISD are contributing no more than $35 million toward development of the public facilities. The golf courses, club house, practice areas and associated public facilities will be owned by the city.
“With these world class courses as the centerpiece, PGA Frisco will become the modern home of American golf,” said PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh. “Gil Hanse and Beau Welling are accomplished architects who are uniquely talented. On the East Course where major championships will be contested, Gil’s design creatively takes advantage of the natural terrain and elevations to create a fair-but-tough test for the world’s best players. He has also designed finishing holes built for drama and a stadium setting at 18 that will be one of the loudest settings in championship golf. Beau has designed the West Course with a sense of community gathering, where players of varying skill levels can have a positive experience in a remarkable, naturalistic setting. These courses are going to be incredibly special.”
PGA Frisco will be home to an unprecedented cadence of championships, with 23 already scheduled over a 13-year span. Click here for a full listing.
Construction of the golf courses is taking place somewhat concurrently, with construction expected to be finished in the fall of 2021, which allows for a grow-in period prior to beginning play in the spring of 2022. The grand opening for the overall development is currently scheduled for June 2022.
“Each and every time that I am in Frisco, my excitement for the potential of PGA Frisco only continues to grow,” said Beau Welling, Founder/CEO, Beau Welling Design. “The opportunity to create a course that can challenge the best players in the world yet remain a fun and special experience for beginners, amateurs, professionals, and families alike is very unique. There is no doubt that PGA Frisco will make a major impact on our wonderful game not only here in Texas but across the country.”
Added Gil Hanse, owner, Hanse Golf Course Design, "We are fortunate to be working on some wonderful golf course sites with amazing natural potential. At PGA Frisco we have some terrific natural attributes that we will seek to capitalize on in our design of the East Course. The rolling terrain, and Panther Creek are the highlights of the site, and provide elements that can be woven into the strategy of the course. We will also be using the native grasses and indigenous vegetation to create a rustic setting characteristic of the surrounding natural North Texas landscape."
The project is progressing on schedule with construction of both championship golf courses, the West Course and the East Course, underway. A Short Course is also under construction, which will offer a welcoming option to introduce new golfers to the great game. The 10-hole Short Course will create a unique, multigenerational experience at PGA Frisco. Infrastructure and vertical construction will follow this winter and spring, respectively. The project includes an Omni Resort, which is scheduled to begin construction next year.
“Our brand is known for its service and amenities, including golf, and Omni PGA Frisco Resort – the new home for modern golf in America – promises to be a first-class development that will attract visitors from around the world,” said Blake Rowling, president of TRT Holdings, Inc., parent company of Omni Hotels & Resorts. “Partnering with the PGA of America and City of Frisco to build this new, luxurious golf destination in north Texas is an unprecedented move in the strategic growth of our company.”
A world-class education center is also being designed for both the professional development of PGA Golf Professionals and player development. The center will feature state-of-the-art classrooms and teaching facilities.
"It's exciting to see the vision taking shape and how it's changing our northern landscape," said Mayor Jeff Cheney, City of Frisco. "This public-private partnership is poised to transform the entire sport of golf. It's already bringing global exposure to Frisco. The project is estimated to have an economic impact of more than $2.5 billion over the next 20 years. That's a tremendous benefit to our residents, students and visitors who will not only enjoy playing the courses but be thrilled to see championship golf. We couldn't be prouder to be the future home of the PGA of America."
Frisco ISD will have access to all three courses, as well as practice areas, for high school golf practice and tournaments. The school district will pay a discounted student rate for tee times.
"This partnership takes student opportunity in Frisco ISD to an even higher level. Nowhere in Texas or across the nation do high school students have the ability to play and compete in so many world-class, professional facilities," said Dr. Mike Waldrip, Frisco ISD Superintendent of Schools. "The chance to partner with the PGA and extend this opportunity to Frisco ISD golfers was a perfect fit. These facilities will give our students the chance to explore the possibilities and chase their dreams."
These championship golf courses will be the anchors of PGA Frisco, which will offer the best in coaching, player development and education for PGA Golf Professionals, as well as play on both recreational and championship courses, alongside a magnificent Omni resort and interactive consumer golf experience.
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