Interviews

Oakmont: An interview with Gil Hanse

With the 2025 US Open arriving at Oakmont, Richard Humphreys spoke with the architect, who renovated the course in 2023, about what to expect

Martin Ebert: Design journey

With a portfolio that includes eight of the ten Open venues, Mackenzie & Ebert occupies an enviable position in the golf design industry. Adam Lawrence spoke with principal Martin Ebert to learn how they got there

Designs for the big screen

Chad Goetz and Agustin Piza discuss their design decisions for the virtual holes that featured in the first season of TGL

Bob Harrison: Wizard of Oz

The Australian designer has had a long career and, like many of his countrymen, has spent much of it away from home. Adam Lawrence listened to his tales from the road

Ben Cowan-Dewar: Shock and awe

Golf development firm Cabot now has properties in six countries. Richard Humphreys speaks with co-founder and CEO Ben Cowan-Dewar about what makes a great site, selection of golf course architects, and more

Team building

Turfgrass has launched its US arm with the appointment of John Lawrence, Adam Moeller and Brad Owen. Richard Humphreys speaks with them, Turfgrass founder John Clarkin and director of agronomy Julian Mooney to find out more

Brian Curley: Life of Brian

The designer has surely clocked up more air miles than anyone else in the business. Adam Lawrence caught up with him in between flights to discuss his career and his new venture with Jim Wagner

Oakmont: An interview with Gil Hanse

With the 2025 US Open arriving at Oakmont, Richard Humphreys spoke with the architect, who renovated the course in 2023, about what to expect

Martin Ebert: Design journey

With a portfolio that includes eight of the ten Open venues, Mackenzie & Ebert occupies an enviable position in the golf design industry. Adam Lawrence spoke with principal Martin Ebert to learn how they got there

Designs for the big screen

Chad Goetz and Agustin Piza discuss their design decisions for the virtual holes that featured in the first season of TGL

Bob Harrison: Wizard of Oz

The Australian designer has had a long career and, like many of his countrymen, has spent much of it away from home. Adam Lawrence listened to his tales from the road

Ben Cowan-Dewar: Shock and awe

Golf development firm Cabot now has properties in six countries. Richard Humphreys speaks with co-founder and CEO Ben Cowan-Dewar about what makes a great site, selection of golf course architects, and more

Team building

Turfgrass has launched its US arm with the appointment of John Lawrence, Adam Moeller and Brad Owen. Richard Humphreys speaks with them, Turfgrass founder John Clarkin and director of agronomy Julian Mooney to find out more

Brian Curley: Life of Brian

The designer has surely clocked up more air miles than anyone else in the business. Adam Lawrence caught up with him in between flights to discuss his career and his new venture with Jim Wagner

'Country club for an hour' in Houston
AML
/ Categories: News

'Country club for an hour' in Houston

A new state of the art practice facility has opened in Houston on the site of an old par three course, and is offering a million dollar prize for the duration of its official launch.

The Swanson Golf Center facility has been designed by architect Mike Nuzzo on the site of the old Sellinger’s Classic Three course in the Champions area of the city. Renowned Houston-based teacher Matt Swanson bought the 25 acre site with the vision of creating the city’s best practice facility. “We were lucky to have many tall pines on the site,” said Nuzzo. “The range plays like a course, with ‘fairway corridors’ because of the pins, and eleven target greens with open approaches. Every location on the 55,000 sq ft tee provides interesting shots. I call it a country club for an hour!”

Nuzzo, assisted by contractor Heritage Links, irrigation installers Yousse Irrigation, and superintendent Don Mahaffey, who maintains his Wolf Point course, managed the project and shaped the short game area himself. This area includes two 8,000 sq ft greens and two bunkers. The project was completed in five months from the closing of the par three course to the opening of the new facility.

Swanson’s Million Dollar Hole In One Shootout will take place from 10-12 September. Golfers working their way to the finals will take aim at a finals green featuring 19 flags, one valued at a million dollars with the remaining holes being worth $10,000 or more. The finals take place from 150 yards for men and 135 yards for women.

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Sean Dudley

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