The Wisco Golf Addict profiles the new Pioneer Pointe, a 13 hole, par 3 layout on the west side of Madison, Wisconsin in great detail. It’s a golf course directly in the crosshairs of the game of golf’s target audience and investment criteria. The golf course/real estate development overlays the former Tumberdown 18 hole golf club on the site. The layout promises to not only invite new players to the game with the design and format, but impress golf course architectural geeks.
- Modeled after the 15th at North Berwick, the Redan is a much copied and respected par 3. At PP, it’s the 175 yard, 3rd with the trademark features of a large green angled left to right and sloping front to back at a 45 degree angle to the tee box.
There’s a variety of holes modeled after notable and historical golf clubs including the Road Hole, Short, Double Plateau, Redan, Boomerang, Lion’s Mouth, Biarritz, Punchbowl, Eden, the 7th at Lawsonia, the 6th at Riviera, and the 7th at Pebble Beach. It was designed by the Lohmann-Quitno design firm who have quite a resume of design work across the country. It’s a worthy addition to a golf rich state which includes the likes of Lawsonia, Sand Valley, Erin Hills, Whistling Straits, and SentryWorld to name very few.
The 113 yard 9th was inspired by the 7th at Pebble Beach with the smallest green on the course surrounded by three sand bunkers from an elevated tee box.
In short, golf seems to be heading in the direction of shorter courses to reduce the barriers to entry for play and investment. They cut the playing time, reduce the cost to maintain, and as well as providing lower green fees. Many of the new and redesigned short courses introduced in the last few years offer a wide variety of architectural nuances adding to the interest and history of the game adding more drivers for golfers to try these new venues.