Tepetonka Club, a new private golf destination near New London, Minnesota, is expected to enter construction later this year. The high-end club will include an eighteen-hole layout by OCM Golf, the design firm that comprises Geoff Ogilvy, Mike Cocking and Ashley Mead, and a short course by OCM with input from American sports commentator Jim Nantz, who will work as a design consultant.
Earlier this month, Tepetonka Club finalised its acquisition of a 228-acre site located 90 miles west of Twin Cities. It comes two years after Mark Haugejorde, a former Chicago real estate investment banker, New London native and the Tepetonka club chairman, identified the undulating former farmland that features cliffs, 50-foot elevation changes, cedar trees and the meandering Shakopee Creek as the site for a dedicated golf destination.
“With such a great site, we’re excited about creating a course that is eminently playable and punctuated by strategies that can only be developed on such a wonderful property,” says Mead. “The only direction we were given was to find the best eighteen holes on the property, and that’s what we’ve tried our best to do.”
The Prox will be the name of the club’s short course and practice facility. Nantz is currently collaborating with OCM on its design.
“I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Mark Haugejorde for over 40 years and Tepetonka is his life’s calling,” said Nantz, who has worked for CBS since the 1980s. “After visiting with Mark and the OCM Golf team nearly a year ago, it became apparent that they were on the brink of building something that will be legendary. I’m proud to be a founding member and honoured to join Geoff, Mike, and Ashley as a consultant on The Prox. I have deep admiration for OCM and the forward-thinking creativity they are bringing to the game.”
Haugejorde said: “After meeting with my old friend a few times, Jim said he wanted to become a member and I asked if he might be interested in a deeper involvement. Jim personifies the three guiding principles of Tepetonka: camaraderie, community, and charity. And given the decades he’s spent calling tournaments at courses that include some of the world’s best par threes, and the level of attention to detail he brings in all things he does, we know he’ll add his experience on site with OCM in August. We can’t wait!”
In August, OCM, Nantz and architect Doug Fredrikson will present the entire masterplan for golf, lodging and a ‘supper club’ to Tepetonka members in Minneapolis. Founding memberships have been completed, with invitation-only memberships open.
“Having had the opportunity to spend some time with Jim recently, it became apparent that he has a keen interest in golf course design and specifically in short courses,” said Cocking. “The Prox will be integrated into Tepetonka’s practice facility, and we’re looking forward to working with Jim on the design. His input and experience will be invaluable in what we’re creating.”