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

Laura Hyde
/ Categories: News

Roy Bechtol and Jim Fazio to design new 12-hole course in Texas

Architects Roy Bechtol and Jim Fazio are collaborating on a new par-three 12-hole course in Austin, Texas.

The new, members-only Austin Beach Club is in the final stages of planning, with construction expected to begin in September 2024 once approval is granted.

The 63-acre site, which has historically been family-owned ranches and farmland, sits on the banks of the Colorado River just 15 minutes’ drive from Austin and two miles from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.

“The property is so magical,” said Lauren Carson, club founder. “We have downtown views, and there’s just this feeling you get when you go out there. Whether you want to golf or just decompress, Austin Beach Club will be about getting into nature and connecting with other people.”

“The land here is fabulous, and we let the terrain and what Mother Nature has given us dictate how the holes will be routed and how it will be played,” said Bechtol. “Mature live oaks are spotted around the layout and there will be plenty of native grasses on the edges to frame the holes and the property as a whole.”

The course will have holes ranging in length from 78 to 120 yards, two tees on each hole, around 3,000 square foot of bunkers and a four-acre lake at the centre of the layout. The clubhouse will be built near the sixth hole, opening up the possibility of golfers playing a six-hole loop. Also, plans include lighting the course for evening play.

“We envision a course that is friendly and unintimidating but also good enough to be challenging and memorable,” said Fazio. “At Austin Beach Club the golf will be a huge part of an experience in which the members and their guest can socially interact in a way that’s fun; it will have the ‘Austin’ vibe.”

“Millennials want to play golf in a way that takes less time and is more fun,” said Bechtol. “This is a much quicker way to enjoy golf and opens up the experience to more people who we know will fall in love with the game. What we're trying to create at the Austin Beach Club is to play real golf, get outdoors, get away from computers and other everyday stresses.”

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    Bechtol Golf Design

    Roy Bechtol and Jim Fazio are collaborating on a new 12-hole course for the new, members-only Austin Beach Club in Texas

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Bechtol Golf Design

Laura HydeLaura Hyde

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