By Design - Special Edition

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Photos: Missouri Golf Association
Location: Jefferson City, Missouri
Golf course architect:
Todd Clark, ASGCA
Project summary: An accessible
short course was designed at
the Ken Lanning Golf Center to
provide children and individuals
with disabilities the opportunity to
learn and enjoy golf.
Partners: Wadsworth Golf
Construction (construction);
Missouri National Guard
(construction donor);
Turfwerks (irrigation design);
Southwest Greens (artificial turf)
Ken Lanning Golf Center
Millions of Americans with
disabilities would like to learn
to play golf. But a typical 18-
hole golf course can make them feel
uncomfortable or out of place. They
might find it difficult to access the
golf course, be concerned about how
well staff will be able to assist them in
learning the game, or worry about having
an adverse impact on other golfers.
Addressing these issues, a new short
course at the Missouri Golf Association’s
Ken Lanning Golf Center in Jefferson
City, Missouri, was designed by Todd
Clark, ASGCA, to be fully accessible for
disabled people, as well as being suitable
for children and beginners.
The Missouri Golf Association’s Junior
Golf Foundation shares the site of the Ken
Lanning Golf Center with an existing nine-
hole par-three course and driving range
(Turkey Creek Golf Center) and the existing
clubhouse is also home to the Missouri Golf
Association’s executive offices.
The new nine-hole par-three course
features holes ranging in distance from
48 to 134 yards. Each hole has two zoysia
grass tees and one synthetic tee, built
adjacent to and level with the concrete
cart path to allow easy access for people
using wheelchairs.
The greens range in size from 2,700
to 3,050 square feet and are made of
synthetic turf with sand infill. The
synthetic turf allows for access by
wheelchairs and motorized carts without
the worry of damage. The greens can be
playable quickly after rain as well, which
is important given the site is prone to
flooding. Each green is linked to the cart
path with subtly sloped natural turf areas.
Three lakes were developed to capture
stormwater for irrigation, and the fill
material was used to add shape to this
extremely flat site. All mounding and
bunkering was kept very mellow, further
allowing the entire site to be accessed by
all golfers very easily.
Making golf accessible
A new golf facility in Jefferson City, Missouri, has been designed to make the
game accessible for people with disabilities