Long Cove, a new private residential community on Cedar Creek Lake, announces the opening of The Proving Grounds, a golf short course and practice facility, offering a completely unique take on the classic game.
The Proving Grounds is the newest amenity in the premier family-oriented, second-home destination located at Cedar Creek Lake just over an hour from Dallas. It was designed by noted golf course architect Tripp Davis.
The Proving Grounds is an innovative blend between a high quality practice facility and a family-friendly short course perfect for players of varying ability to enjoy the game without the pressure of playing on a normal 18-hole course.
“At one end of the spectrum, we drew inspiration from professional practice facilities where players are able to re-create every shot they might encounter on a full course in the design of a practice facility that will test even the best shot makers,” said Don McNamara, developer of Long Cove. “At the other end, we wanted a low-pressure environment where a father could actually enjoy teaching a daughter to play or a whole family could enjoy the game on a summer evening in bare feet with a cocktail.”
Accordingly, the 17-acre Proving Grounds is designed to allow huge flexibility in how it is set-up. The general plan is to operate as a practice facility in the morning and then convert to short-course play in the afternoon and evening. The short-course can be played either clockwise or counter clockwise in a 9-hole sequence with an average tee to green distance of 125 yards. Given the relatively small population of owners at Long Cove, it is also set-up to play anarchy-style with multiple alternative routings that include Par 4’s and Par 5’s. The practice set-up includes a 340-yard driving range and a full complement of green, bunker and water conditions to work on every aspect of a skilled player’s game.
Davis, the designer, is a renowned golf architect and a decorated amateur player who brings an unparalleled passion for the game and respect for its traditions and history to every course he designs. Davis calls this course his “…most unique design…” as it promises to make every golf outing as much fun as possible for scratch golfers, duffers and all levels in between.
Davis notes, “The goal in designing this course was to provide a kid-centric environment but also something that is challenging for an experienced golfer if played the right way. Angles have been set up to play very easily or very difficult, all depending on the way the ball is placed.”
“At a time when the golf industry is looking for new ways to engage a broader audience, we think the Proving Grounds is a welcome addition to the contemporary golf landscape,” said Long Cove President Christopher Kelsey. “We agonized over whether or not to include a full 18-hole course in our new resort community because Dallas is a golf-centric market but we knew that the operational economics of a new club simply don’t work in the long-term.”
To test their decision to forego the traditional course and club, Long Cove held a number of focus group sessions with families from Dallas who were interested in owning a 2nd home in a lakefront community. Kelsey added, “The message we got back from our potential customers was loud and clear: golf is a big part of their lives but the majority of them didn’t want the full golf course at the lake. Instead, they strongly connected with this ‘taste of golf’ concept that doesn’t require the time commitment of 18-hole play or the ongoing monthly dues to maintain. Our owners are very excited to have the Proving Grounds and we think it fits perfectly into our mix of high quality amenities that make it easy for families to share in simple, old-fashioned fun.”
The Proving Grounds is also designed for ease of maintenance in an effort to minimize the impact to the community’s dues. In lieu of traditional tee boxes, “tee-able areas” are integrated into the fairway. And Long Cove is experimenting with low-water perennial rye in the “waste areas” that divide the fairways and determine the perimeter boundaries.
Designed as a walking-only course that follows the organic flow of the land, the compact course makes it easy to carry a full bag but also inviting to carry a handful of clubs in one hand and a cocktail in the other. The Proving Grounds features Bermuda fairways and Champion Bermuda grass greens and is surrounded by a forest of mature live oaks and pines.About Long Cove:
Long Cove is a new, private residential community located just over an hour from Dallas on Cedar Creek Lake built to give North Texas families a close-to-home getaway that promotes an unplugged, relaxing and family-oriented experience. Situated on more than six miles of pristine shoreline in Cedar Creek’s deep waters and spanning more than 1,000 acres, the Long Cove property has been untouched for nearly 80 years. Long Cove offers special homesites for waterside cottages, lakefront homes and family compounds, which can all be built-to-suit, accommodating the unique needs of each resident. Amenities at Long Cove include boat valet and concierge, lakefront swim club, fishing and canoeing pond, hiking and biking trails, outdoor gathering spaces and fire pits, tennis courts, fitness center, amphitheater and more. For more information, please visit www.long-cove.com or find us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/LongCoveTexas), Pinterest (http://pinterest.com/longcovetx/) or Twitter (@long_cove).