By Alex Smith |
Construction has started on a new 10-hole short course, designed by Benjamin Warren of Artisan Golf Design, at the Terra Cotta property in Prairie Grove, Illinois.
The Half Mile comprises par-three holes ranging from 67 to 103 yards. Warren’s design supports multiple formats of play, including standard short-course rounds, alternate routings and longer on-site experiences. The layout returns to a central bar and pavilion, with a 35,000-square-foot Himalayas-style putting course to be built between the seventh and tenth greens.
“Some people may come to play a quick ten holes, while others may spend hours replaying loops, putting on the Himalayas, or creating alternate routings with friends,” said Warren. “We’re building a course that feels open-ended rather than prescribed.”
For the tenth green, Benjamin Warren drew inspiration from Seth Raynor’s Lion’s Mouth template (Image: Artisan Golf Design)
The development is part of a broader expansion of the Terra Cotta site. The Golf Academy at Terra Cotta, founded on a neighbouring parcel by landowner Robert Berry and Jim Buenzli in 2013, already operates on the property.
“The Terra Cotta property has been owned by my family for over 90 years,” said Berry. “The Half Mile is an opportunity to create something distinctive for golf in the Chicago area. We believe the combination of the academy and the short course has the potential to become a very special place.”
The short course will have large greens, designed to accommodate dual-flag setups and multiple playing angles. Warren has drawn inspiration from the architecture of North Berwick West Links, Pinehurst’s Cradle course and the Charles Blair Macdonald and Seth Raynor courses of the Chicago region.
The second hole features a stone wall, like the thirteenth at North Berwick (Image: Artisan Golf Design)
Contractor DWS Construction will use GPS-guided earthmoving equipment to reshape what is currently a sod-farm landscape into a network of dry creeks and plateaus, before Artisan Golf Design’s shapers pass through the property to add the final layer of detail to greens, fairways and creeks. Irrigation will be installed by Leibold Irrigation, following a design by Ian Williams of Green Irrigation Solutions. Superintendent Robert Lively will oversee grow-in.
“The Half Mile gives golfers a place to take their learning onto the course in a relaxed, creative setting,” said Jim Buenzli. “It will be a tremendous asset for juniors, families, new golfers, and skilled players looking to sharpen their scoring games.”
Preview play is expected to begin in summer 2027.