The Schoolhouse 9 is a par 3 course in Virginia that opened last year. What is unique about it is the low-key approach to everything, including construction and maintenance. Two of us, course architect Mike McCartin and myself, shaped everything out as well as stripping and re-applying the topsoil layer. We only disturbed what we needed to, which was largely just around the tees and greens. Help with tilling, finishing, and seeding was a local effort with hired hands who wanted to help out as well as the owner pitching in full days himself.
The maintenance practice is minimal, with irrigation only installed and used around greens (1.4 acres of irrigated area total). Mother nature dictates how much water the rest of the course receives. The greens, which are native topsoil and not imported sand, are the primary focus with the other areas keyed on being firm and bouncy. I've yet to get back and play myself, but all reports thus far on playability are positive.
It's cheap, takes an hour or less to play, and it has minimal impact on the environment (actually, with wildflower quail habitats incorporated into native out-of-play areas, it's a marked improvement over the previously existing agricultural field). Add to that the golf is a lot of fun. Mike and I both learned from the best there are at Renaissance Golf Design how to build fun, unique greens that work. With a par three course, that quality is even more critical.
In all, the Schoolhouse 9 hits on many of the most critical talking points of the industry: cost, time to play, environmental impact, and inclusiveness. Will it be the way of the future? I can't say that for sure, but this country could certainly use more facilities and options like it.