Golf Course Architecture - Issue 59, January 2020

33 New plans for rebirth of Tower Tee COURSE BLUEPR INT The Tower Tee golf facility in St Louis, Missouri, which closed in 2018 to make way for a housing development, will be revived following pressure from the local community. Former resident Steve Walkenbach has purchased the site from the housing developer and, alongside his business partner Mike Shamia, is working with golf course architect Art Schaupeter on plans for a rebirth. The vision for the new Tower Tee is “a fun, family-friendly atmosphere with a wide variety of recreational options for adults and kids alike,” said Schaupeter. Formerly an 18-hole par three course, Tower Tee’s new design will utilise some of the original hole corridors. “The ground is very nice in terms of topography, with up to 15-20 feet of elevation change and a nice rolling character,” said Schaupeter. A new nine-hole par three course will include Redan, Biarritz and Eden holes. One hole, named Tower Tee, will be an original design. “I am looking at a larger green with a low profile and a lot of movement to create a wide range of hole location variety,” said Schaupeter. Plans also include a driving range, putting course, short game area, mini golf, batting cages and footgolf. “I am excited about the opportunity to use all of my experience to create what I think will be a really engaging and fun golfing experience for all types of players,” said Schaupeter. Construction of the course will begin in spring 2020. Image: Art Schaupeter The eighth will be an original design, “using landforms and undulations to create an interesting green with a variety of different hole locations,” said Schaupeter The fifth hole will feature a Biarritz-style green The third is inspired by Augusta National’s famous twelfth, Golden Bell