Colligan Golf Design has worked alongside the City of Fort Worth Parks and Community Services Department to design a new short course at the Rockwood Golf Course in Fort Worth, Texas.

The short course is part of ‘The River’s Edge’ project, and will complement a recently completed practice range and clubhouse at the club, the base for The First Tee, a youth development charity that uses golf as a vehicle to teach local young people essential life skills.

Staff at Colligan Golf Design have worked to develop a master plan for Rockwood Golf Course, a 1938 John Bredemus design, which lies next to the Trinity River.

“On the nine acres allotted for the practice area, my associate Trey Kemp and I designed what we call a hybrid short course,” John Colligan told GCA. “It has six greens and is being played as six par-three holes on even days and a three hole short course on odd days, composed of two par-fours and one par-three. There is only one formal teeing ground on hole number one, but the course is really meant to be played from anywhere, much like you would play HORSE in basketball.”

The greens on the new short course will be TifDwarf bermudagrass, and the remainder will be sprigged with 419 bermudagrass.

The facility will be used as a teaching ground by the club pros and The First Tee instructors.

The project is being jointly funded by the City of Fort Worth and Rockwood Golf Course, and has also received a donation from the Wadsworth Golf Charities foundation in support of their ‘Links Across America’ initiative.

“The concept has been well received by young and old alike,” added Colligan. “The intimidation factor of being on an 18 hole course has been eliminated and young or beginner players can enjoy learning the game at their pace.”