We've all been there before, tied after 18 holes. Perhaps there are a few skins on the line or the 18-hole Nassau hasn't been decided. A pushed bet isn't any fun. Bragging rights aren't bragging rights unless someone actually wins.
What do you do? We're not pros. It's not feasible to go back and play the 18th hole again. Besides, most courses don't exactly condone that behavior -- something about the greens fee not covering 19 (or more) holes.
Whitestone Golf Club in Benbrook is about to offer a unique way of breaking ties.
The club plans to debut a new putting course it hopes to showcase in myriad ways, including offering players a chance to settle bets without resorting to the dreaded putt-off on a practice green.
The "Texas Dozen" is a 12-hole, par-26 putting course that is the brainchild of Somerset Golf Group president Beryl Artz, Whitestone superintendent Paul Smith and Whitestone architect Jeff
Brauer. Artz, who owns and operates Whitestone and Lost Creek Golf Course, hopes the putting course will open in mid- to late-August.
"We think it's something that will distinguish us a little from everybody else," Artz said. "It'll be neat, unique and challenging."
The Texas Dozen has a definite Texas flavor, from the planned Texas-shaped flagstone hole markers and the native plants such as bluebonnets that will "dress up" the course. The holes also carry Texas-themed names, such as Byron's Big Bend (one), Armadillo Run (three), "Bantam Ben" (eight) and "The Hawk" (nine). The first hole honors Byron Nelson, and holes eight through 10 honor Ben Hogan.
Rest assured, this is no miniature golf course with green carpet for grass and a windmill in the middle of a fairway. (There are plans for a windmill to add to the country flavor, but it won't be
in play.)
This promises to be a difficult course complete with sand traps. There are no wooden boards to keep errant putts from trickling off the fairways. Each hole features the same Eagle Tif Bermuda grass that is on the 18-hole golf course's greens.
Artz said he has thought about this concept for quite some time after seeing similar courses in California. One particular course in Costa Mesa caught his eye. The course is located in a corporate setting, near some buildings.
"Guys could sit around, eat sandwiches and putt on their lunch break," Artz said.
Whitestone hasn't decided what it will cost to play the course, or how the course will primarily be used, but Artz and his staff aren't hurting for ideas. He has talked about having weekly or monthly putting tournaments with prizes.
Source: Fort Worth Star Telegram (Texas)
