Short Game (and Other) Practice Facilities
The “Short Game Doctor” Is In
In recent years, we’ve seen an increase in clients inquiring about short game facilities, practice ranges, and short courses. In fact, we’ve designed no less than seven short game facilities in the past few years in our office alone with more currently on the drawing board. We’ve developed a niche for assisting clients with the creation of such facilities for a wide range of clients ranging from private clubs to municipalities to PGA Tour stops to numerous universities for their Division I golf teams.
Nathan’s work led to a writer nicknaming him the “Short Game Doctor” in a story about short game and practice facilities and the name stuck!
It’s no surprise really. As a child, Nathan up in a small town where there was no golf course and no one in his family played the game. His answer? At age 10, he built a short course on his parents’ property in Indiana and spent hours every day after school working on his short game–limited only by his imagination. Later in life, Nathan got his start in the golf industry as a club professional and excelled in teaching the short game to golfers of all skill levels. Can your golf course architect say that? Nathan excels in helping your course’s players/members with their short game and your bottom line. Not because of his work in teaching the short game, but because of his work aiding clients in the health of their facilities through the creative design of short game practice facilities!
In recent years, several of our clients have realized that they need to make investments in their facilities to retain existing customers and members as well as to attract new ones. They may not be willing to renovate an entire golf course, but they want to do something. And with constraints on a golfer’s time more demanding that ever before, we are helping clients create short game areas and short courses to maximize the full potential of our clients’ facilities. You may not have five hours to play golf three times a week anymore, but you do have 60 or 90 minutes to work on your short game…or play three holes. How about teaching your children the game? Or showing a friend the ropes who’s always wanted to learn how to play the game? This, in part, is what’s driving our clients to call us for help with realizing their full potential.
A Short List of Short Game and Practice Facilities Nathan has Designed/Completed (see more below):
Mississippi State University – Team Practice Facility and Public Driving Ragne Expansion
University of Southern Mississippi – Short Game Practice Facility at Hattiesburg CC*
* Recipient of ASGCA Environmental Excellence Award for Sustainability in Design
Old Waverly Golf Club – New Short Game and Putting Complex at VJ Trolio Teaching Facility
* Host site of US Womens Open, US Womens Amateur, and US Womens Mid-Am
Annandale Golf Club – New Range Tee, Short Game Complex, Chipping Green with Putting Green for New Teaching Facility
* Former PGA Tour stop (Sanderson Farms Classic)
Tupelo Country Club – New Range, Chipping Green, Putting Green, and “Short Course”
Bayou DeSiard CC – New Short Game Practice Green Complex
CC of Oxford – Addition of New Putting Green to Short Game Facility
Koasati Pines Golf Club at Coushatta Resort & Casino – New Short Game Complex & Practice Tee
Ole Miss Golf Club – New Men’s and Women’s Team Practice Range, Green, and Short Game Area
The Refuge – New Practice Putting Green
Historic Webb Park GC – New “Mini Range” Facility and Short Game Complex
Whispering Pines GC – New Range Tee and Putting Green (part of new clubhouse project)
Tamahka Trails GC at Paragon Casino Resort – New Short Game Green Complex
Cypress Lakes GC – New Short Game/Putting Green Complex
More Coming Soon!
short game facility design & new practice green
Koasati Pines at Coushatta Resort
Location: Kinder, LA (Lake Charles)
new practice facility & short course
Tupelo Country Club
Location: Tupelo, MS
team practice facility and short game area
Ole Miss Golf Club
Location: Oxford, MS
practice facility & mini range
Historic Webb Park GC
Location: Baton Rouge, LA
short game facility renovation & re-design
Old Waverly Golf Club
Location: West Point, MS
new short game facility & range upgrades
Annandale Golf Club
Location: Madison, MS
new team short game practice facility
Univ of Southern Mississippi
Location: Hattiesburg, MS (at Hattiesburg CC)
new team practice facilities
Mississippi State University GC
Location: Starkville, MS
new short game green complex
Bayou DeSaird Country Club
Location: Monroe, LA
driving range upgrades
Starkville Country Club
Location: Starkville, MS
Nathan’s Short Game and Practice Facilities in the News:
Golf Course Architecture Magazine featured Nathan’s new short game complex design at Bayou DeSiard CC in Monroe, Louisiana.
Read the story here: http://www.golfcoursearchitecture.net/Article/Nathan-Crace-introduces-new-short-game-practice-facility-at-Bayou-DeSiard-CC/3476/Default.aspx#.VdT7dfaFPDe
Nathan completed an interview with BackSpin Magazine about his extensive work with short game design and how he wants to use that experience and expertise to help grow the game.
You can read that interview online here: http://www.watermarkgolf.com/shortgame/shortgame_doctor_backspin_march_2014_REPRINT_PDF.pdf
Here’s a story on Nathan’s short course design at Tupelo CC in an issue of Golf, Inc. magazine: http://www.golfincmagazinemonthly-digital.com/golfincmagazinemonthly/fall_2014/?pg=39&pm=2&u1=friend#pg3
As other stories about Nathan’s work with short game facilities becomes available, we’ll post the links here.
Let’s Build Something!
Reach out to learn how our team can assist you with creative problem solving, maximizing investment, and helping you turn your dream into a reality!
p: (601) 849-0461
e: mail@watermarkgolf.com
Post Office Box 1250
Magee, MS | 39111 | USA
100 Lakeview Drive, Suite 210
Magee, MS | 39111 | USA