Construction has started on a new Coore & Crenshaw golf course that will be the centrepiece of The Heritage luxury residential development at Lake Martin in Alabama.

The 1,500-acre project by developer Russell Lands – owner-operator of Willow Point Golf and Country Club in Alabama – will be built at Wicker Point, a strip of land next to Russell Forest and Lake Martin.

Coore & Crenshaw’s design, the firm’s first in the state, will sit on 250 acres and will incorporate the land’s natural contours and elevation changes and indigenous hardwoods. Six greens are located on the shore of Lake Martin.

“During the design process, we wanted to draw out the beauty of the natural environment by providing an atmosphere that showcases the lake and the hills in the heart of Alabama,” said Ben Crenshaw. “Our approach honours the Russell legacy to the area to love and preserve the land, which became the driving factor in the golf course design.”

The front nine will be set among pines and creeks, while vistas of Lake Martin will feature throughout the back nine.

“The new Russell Lands golf course will be a showcase of the area’s natural beauty and a first in the region,” said Bill Coore. “True to our brand, our team has taken the utmost care in designing a golf course from what the land gives us. Players will have an experience that’s unique to Alabama.”

Watch: interviews with Coore, Crenshaw, Russell Lands chairman Ben Russell and vice president Roger Holliday.

Landscapes Unlimited has started construction of the golf course, with an opening anticipated for 2023.

“As a lake lover myself, I am thrilled to see the addition of a premier golf course to anchor this neighbourhood here at Lake Martin,” said Kay Ivey, governor of Alabama. “Not only will folks be able to enjoy being at the lake with family and friends, but they will soon be able to play a round of golf, too. Our golf fans will appreciate the top-of-the-line work, and I am glad to see this project adding to our already beloved Lake Martin. Alabama continues to be a great place to live, work and play.”