RUNNING HEADER
14
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By Design
F
ounded in 1994 by former NFL
player Ernest H. Wright Sr., Pro
Kids is a charity that teaches life
skills and golf to inner city children.
Pro Kids was one of the models for
international junior golf program
The First Tee and in 1997 became
The First Tee of San Diego. For nearly
two decades, its headquarters have
been Colina Park Golf Course in
the City Heights area of San Diego.
In 2012, the charity wants to add a
second facility in Oceanside, north of
San Diego, to enable it to extend the
success of its City Heights program.
A flat, 6.3 acre site adjacent to the
municipal Oceanside Golf Course was
identified and Pro Kids | The First
Tee of San Diego asked golf architects
David Rainville, ASGCA Fellow and
Gary Bye to create a facility that
would provide maximum value to the
children in the community.
The site presented a number of
challenges, including those relating to
existing utility rights, drainage, safety
and interfacing with the adjacent
golf course. Governmental approvals
and permitting would be a lengthy
process. Coordination between
the client, project architect, project
engineer and golf course architect was
key to success.
The charity’s Learning Center was
positioned to take advantage of
shared parking with Oceanside Golf
Course, and practice putting and
chipping greens were placed next to
the building. Beyond this practice
area, a six-hole par three course was
designed, with holes that range in
length from 45-to-114 yards, and a
layout that allows the course to be
split into two sets of three holes.
Drainage channels water to out-of-
play areas on the adjacent course. In
heavy rainfall, low areas of the Pro
Kids course can accommodate the
rising water until it gradually drains
off. The irrigation system has been
designed to be able to use future
reclaimed water.
The course is designed to ease
beginners into the game. “The
bunkers are varied in size, style and
location to provide different shot
opportunities. Greens are gently
contoured to provide interest without
being too difficult for entry level
golfers,” says Rainville.
Location:
Oceanside, California
Architect:
David Rainville, ASGCA Fellow
and Gary Bye
Rainville & Bye Golf Course Architects
Project summary:
Pro Kids | The First Tee of San Diego
wanted a second facility to extend its
successful program teaching life skills
and golf for children. Rainville & Bye
Golf Course Architects worked with
a number of partners, government
departments, donors and sponsors
to create a six-hole par three course,
putting and chipping greens that will
support 700 children every year.
Partners:
Hayer Architecture
Golf Irrigation Design & Planning
Southwest Growers and Landscaping
Lusardi Construction Company
Callaway Golf Company
TaylorMade
Tri-Dimensional Engineering, Inc.
Mounding and planting helps
mitigate the close proximity of holes
ELY CALLAWAY GOLF & LEARNING CENTER
HONORS COURSE PRESENTED BY TAYLORMADE
