By Design - February 2020

16 | By Design F ormerly known as Tripoli Country Club, and home to a course originally designed by Tom Bendelow, the University Club of Milwaukee in Wisconsin was in need of improved practice facilities. The course—which still contains many of the classic Bendelow features, such as 16 original greens—once hosted the Miller Open and the Greater Milwaukee Open. Nevertheless, the club’s only other offering was a short and narrow practice range that amounted to little more than a warm-up area. This put the club at a disadvantage with regards to membership recruitment and ultimately, revenue generation. With competition among other private clubs in the area near all-time highs, a change in approach was needed. The member-owned club expanded its network to partner with Marquette University’s men’s golf team, and engaged Andy Staples, ASGCA, to create a golf facility master plan, which revolved around increasing the much- needed practice offerings. The result was the development of a parcel of unused land and some redesign work on three holes to make space available for the creation of a new, state-of-the-art practice facility. “By capitalizing on a 10-acre parcel of undeveloped forest terrain in the center of the property, modifying the tees on the thirteenth and sixteenth, as well as completely rebuilding the twelfth hole, the grand vision for the new practice facility came to life,” says Staples. “Fortunately for the U Club, the largely-intact original design of the course offered a compelling experience and historic story to help distinguish it in the area. So, with a state-of-the-art practice facility, the club would truly stand out amongst its competitors.” Within the practice area Staples created a short, four-hole course with a design to match the Tom Bendelow features of the course. The area also includes a new putting green and a competition wedge range where golfers can practice a range of shots up to 120 yards in length, from sand and grass bunkers and from various lies on both fairway and rough grass. A change in approach A new state-of-the-art practice facility and tie-in with Marquette University helps Milwaukee-area club stand out from its competitors. ASGCA DESIGN EXCELLENCE UNIVERSITY CLUB OF MILWAUKEE