[Steve_ Shaffer]

Synthetic grass for tees and greens? Let's visit this one.

From cybergolf.com


Scott-Taylor Designs Six-hole Course in Pennsylvania
Welsh golf architect, Ian Scott-Taylor, has completed the design and construction of a six-hole golf course for an over-55 community called Foxfield Clubhouse Community in Garnet Valley, Pa.
Last year, project developer The McKee Group contracted Scott-Taylor to design and build the "Old World-style" course as part of the project. In addition to the course the project includes a 9,200-square-foot clubhouse and pool and tennis facilities. Europe's first six-hole course opened in 2006 at the Northwick Park Golf Course in the Watford Road section of London. A handful of six-hole courses exist in the U.S. Today, more six-hole golf courses have been built and in planning in the States for time-strapped golfers and sites with smaller tracts of land.
Foxfield is located 20 miles outside of Philadelphia. The course will serve as a centerpiece in the development, which will also contain single-family, carriage-style, and villa homes.
Of the course, George T. Hyjurick, McKee's VP of Land Development says, "We had originally wanted a nine-hole course but Ian knew the space we had allocated for the course was not large enough. He proposed a fairly new concept - the six-hole course - that ended up being a win-win for both McKee and the homeowners. Not only can we offer an attractive and enjoyable amenity to current and potential community homeowners but also the short and long-term maintenance costs will be much less to the homeowners association than a nine-hole course due to the decision to use synthetic materials for the tees and greens. We estimate that 20 percent of our signed contracts were confirmed due to having this course."
Scott-Taylor added: "In general, residents of 55-plus communities are savvy and discerning consumers. They expect a certain level of lifestyle and amenities that can be commanded by age-specific neighborhoods. The McKee Group was able to meet those needs at the Foxfield location where land is a premium by committing to build a marketable 'Old World Style' golf course while at the same time keeping the maintenance costs in line with the community's other compelling amenities - the pool and tennis courts."
Course construction was completed in late summer 2007 and it will open for play this summer.

[Padraig Dooley]

There used to be a six hole course, Lisselan, down the road from me but it was extended to nine a couple of years ago.

http://www.lisselan.com/index.cfm?pageid=1

[JohnV]

There is (or was) a 6-hole course in Fossil, Oregon.

Fossil is not in the middle of nowhere, but you can see it from there.

[John Moore II]

This is really a great idea with the slipping number of rounds played and such. Make a golf course that looks like a wagon wheel with 3 hole loops, 1 par 3, 1 par 4, 1 par 5. And let people pay to play, 3, 6, 9, 12 or however many holes they want to play. Great way to make money with people having less and less disposable time.

[David Ober]

This is really a great idea with the slipping number of rounds played and such. Make a golf course that looks like a wagon wheel with 3 hole loops, 1 par 3, 1 par 4, 1 par 5. And let people pay to play, 3, 6, 9, 12 or however many holes they want to play. Great way to make money with people having less and less disposable time.

I agree completely. Would love it if there were such a facility in my area.

[Kyle Harris]

To me, a potential downside to these facilities is that they may be too small to attract anyone who would be willing to work for a significantly smaller salary. I'm talking about superintendents, mainly. That sort of scale does not beget the highest paying job for a superintendent.

I could see opportunity for an assistant looking for a first head superintendent job, but who would stick around at a place to earn $40,000 a year when other jobs may be over twice as much?

[John Moore II]

I would say that pay and such would depend on the person, and the area of the course of many other things. To me, a job with fair pay and a lack of stress would be better than a higher paying job with lots of stress. But thats just an idea. I think any type of shorter golf course would be great, just as a way to get people out to play with a lack of time.

[Norbert P]

  Too bad Featherie Banks never materialized. It would have won all the national awards for best new 6 holer!

[Mike_Trenham]

A Philly Cricket Member suggested to me once that the St Martins course  (the one in chestnut hill where they had the US Open) should be converted to a 6 hole course.  A pretty interesting idea if you ask me esspecially since the orginial routing is so compromised.  It would be a great place to build an oldworld style course as there is minimal irrigation there I believe.

[Mike_Trenham]

Does Lancaster still have the sunset 6?

[Steve_ Shaffer]

I never knew that Garnet Valley had its own zip code. It's near Glen Mills so it's worth same gas to take a look when it opens. I'd like to try out those synthetic greens.

Here's the architect's website:


www.dragongolf.net

[Troy Alderson]

There is (or was) a 6-hole course in Fossil, Oregon.

Fossil is not in the middle of nowhere, but you can see it from there.

John,

Kinzua Hills GC is still there.  A great example of low maintenance and one man show.  Golf as it is truly meant to be.  The course has an annual golf tournament, check out pasture golf website below.

http://www.pasturegolf.com/kinzua.htm

Troy

[Tim Gerrish]

Kelly,

You are right about the soft costs when developing a six hole course.  I think the land value and construction costs savings might help offset the soft costs. 

It is too bad they aren't more popular since most people I know (married, kids and house) that would be the only way they could have the time to play the majority of the time.  There is a old 6 hole course in East Providence called Silver Spring that I have been meaning to check out. 

Does anyone else know any 6 hole courses in New England?

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