Phelps’ innovative design unveiled in North Dakota

Fargo, N.D. - The 12-hole Osgood Golf Course, which was designed by Phelps Golf Design, recently opened. Phelps’ lead architect, Kevin Atkinson, was among the featured speakers at the unveiling. The city hired Phelps to design the course and practice facility, which includes:

The 12-hole Osgood Golf Course offers players a variety of playing options.

· A nine-hole, links-style layout routed into distinct, three-hole loops that bring golfers back to the clubhouse on every third hole, allowing them to play three-, six- or nine-hole rounds.

· A three-hole practice loop – with two par 3s and a par 4 – that replicates 150-yard approaches, tee shots over water, sand shots out of fairway and greenside bunkers, uneven lies and pitch shots. Eight teeing grounds around the practice holes allow golfers to simulate anything from a 60-yard par-3 to a 515-yard par-5.

· A separate practice range with bentgrass target greens and sand bunkers that can also be converted into a six-hole chip-and-putt course.

“The idea was to build something that is fun for kids and adults,” Atkinson says. “We wanted to give the park district and head pro Lisa Schwinden the opportunity to be as creative as they wanted to be. If they want to create four three-hole loops, they can do that. If they want two six-hole loops, they can do that. They will come up with their own ideas of what works and does not work. The beauty is that the facility is incredibly flexible and a lot of fun to play.

I especially wanted to give juniors the opportunity to goof around and simply make up their own games. That is the type of thing that gets them hooked and keeps them involved in this wonderful game for life.”

Phelps Golf Design planned the Osgood Golf Course with players of all ages and abilities in mind.

Greens fees for nine holes are $12 weekdays and $14 on weekends.

“People can also pay $5 to just do a three-hole loop,” says Jim Larson, Fargo park district director of finance and human resources. “That lets us attract the business person who wants a quick noontime golf fix and then have something to eat at the course restaurant before heading back to the office. We think this helps fill a need for a more efficient game that allows people to play some challenging golf in a quicker fashion so that it fits into their busy schedules.”