By Design – Issue 50 // Fall 2020

17 Photo: crdit “Over the years, and with short courses becoming more popular and useful, it was decided that the unused piece of land – just an empty field really – would be used for a new short layout and putting course,” says Chris Lutzke, ASGCA, who began his career as an 18-year old working for Dye at Blackwolf Run and is now a principal of design firm Albanese & Lutzke. Lutzke collaborated with Kohler Co. executive chairman Herb Kohler to create a vision for the land. He says Kohler came up with a couple of routings that they looked at together before they agreed on a final plan, which includes a par three course called ‘The Baths’ and a two-acre putting course, playable as an 18 or 27-hole routing. “Initially, there were a couple of different sites for the putting course, but we decided to tie everything together – both the short and putting courses and a pavilion – so that people could gather around at the pavilion and watch others play.” The Baths is named after the four water features on the course, which has holes ranging from 60 to 160 yards, yet no forced carriers. “We’ve carried on the same theme that Pete Dye used when he designed the River course, introducing a hard fescue and contrasting that to the bentgrass,” says Lutzke. “For the short course, we’ve created a different identity and it’ll be memorable.” “While the primary routing of The Baths will be 10 holes, Chris and Herb have developed a figure- eight that gives our team the flexibility to create loops of six, 10, or even 12 holes,” says Dirk Willis, vice president of golf for Kohler Co. “The expansion to 12 is possible because there are two additional par-three holes hidden within the boomerang shape of the putting course. It is a truly innovative design.” “The par-three and putting courses will provide a dynamic experience for our international guests and local community,” says Kohler. “It Photo: Abe Wilson Chris Lutzke, ASGCA, designed The Baths of Blackwolf Run on land between the first and eleventh holes of the club’s Meadow Valleys course “My goal was to build a fun facility that created options in hole length and shotmaking”