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

Sean Dudley
/ Categories: News

Jordan Spieth works with Roy Bechtol on new University of Texas course

Jordan Spieth is working with golf course architect Roy Bechtol to create a new six-hole par three course at the University of Texas Golf Club.

The project sees Bechtol return to the club in Austin, Texas, where he designed the main 18-hole course, and two-time major winner Spieth return to his alma mater.

To be named Spieth’s Lower Forty, the course will be 552 yards long and will feature holes stretching from 90 to 123 yards.

The course is being constructed on a site of around four and a half acres.

Each hole will include full-scale bunkers, with a couple of interesting homages to famous holes within the design. For example, the green on one hole will be based on the 16th green at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas. The sixth green has a bunker in the middle, reminiscent of the sixth hole at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles, California.

“Spieth’s Lower Forty is an incredible venue for all walks of golfers to hone their short game in a championship setting,” Bechtol said. “Just about every golf course has five or six acres they could turn into a facility like this – one that’s fun and challenging and gets golfers excited about practicing and getting better.”

The course is currently being grassed and is set to open for play this September.

“I’m excited about it,” Spieth said. “It’s going to be a cool little par three golf course that will be demanding visually but still fair for really solid wedge and short game work. I was definitely very hands on. I looked at the blueprints, the mapping, the scale and the green contours. It’s cool being part of the design process with Roy because I’m interested in doing that later in life.”

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    Jordan Spieth (centre left) and Roy Bechtol (centre right) are collaborating on plans for the new course

  • Nemu2

    The course has a total par of 18 and plays 552 yards

Sean Dudley

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