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PRACTICE FACILITIES
A tribute to Colt
Tom Clark, ASGCA, has served as architectural consultant
to
Hamilton Golf and Country Club
in Ontario, Canada, for
more than 25 years. The West and South nines of the 27-
hole club were designed by Harry Colt and are considered
to be one of Canada’s finest courses. The club had moved
its driving range, initially for the Canadian Open, onto a
natural basin where part of its original short course was
located. The members enjoyed the new range so much
that it became permanent, and they asked that a new short
course be designed. Clark’s idea for a tribute to Colt was
well received. With the help of
Golf Digest
’s architectural
editor Ron Whitten, Clark created six new holes that include
many of the legendary designer’s ideas and concepts, and
can attach to three holes left from Colt’s original short course.
The short course includes some of Colt’s most famous par
threes, including the tenth at Pine Valley and ‘Calamity,’
the 14th at Royal Portrush. “The new holes are utilized not
only by beginners, women and children, but also seasoned
practitioners to hone their short game,” says Clark. “The
majority of play is in late afternoons and evenings when
the kids are out of school or the sun is lower down, but it is
definitely an attractive addition around the club area and is
utilized by the pro shop for all kinds of clinics.”
BEST PRACTICE
Clark’s short course design at Hamilton was inspired by
the great holes of Harry Colt
Wigwam Resort in Arizona has created a
Village Green putting course with a large
Tee Pee centrepiece
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By Design