The Territory, tucked away in the unspoiled countryside of Southwest Oklahoma, is quickly earning praise and recognition as one of the premier golf courses in the state and region and possibly the nation. Superintendent Brad Babek has been a large part of the early successes.
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Babek, who graduated from Oklahoma State University with a bachelor’s degree in horticulture and landscape architecture, joined The Territory as an assistant superintendent from Pleasant Valley Country Club in Little Rock, Ark., where he served as second assistant under Greg Hansen. Though he experienced challenging water issues before, what awaited him at The Territory was something completely new.
“Like all superintendents, we have to be resourceful with irrigation, but this was above and beyond what should be expected,” Babek says. “It seemed like every time the forecast would call for significant rain, the front would stall or shift and leave us with nothing.
“Obviously, growing grass on a golf course requires a lot more effort than a resident’s typical lawn, and there were dead lawns everywhere you turned,” he adds. “Keeping what grass we had alive and cultivating additional turf was an around-the-clock job. It was touch and go at times, but the end result is fantastic.”
Babek, who earned his promotion to superintendent in large part by how he handled the adverse conditions, continues to struggle with irrigation daily. Recent rains have quelled concerns somewhat, but the area streams and ponds remain well below normal levels.
Tim Johnson, director of golf at The Territory, and owners Rick and Barbara Braught have been seeking alternative sources of irrigation – offering to purchase land between water sources and the course to keep the turf alive and healthy.
“There are options available that can go a long way in relieving the irrigation problems,” Johnson says. “As with anything of this magnitude, there’s a lengthy process to endure in order to receive government backing and the needed paperwork.
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“Climate in this part of the country isn’t necessarily conducive to growing great turf, so what we’ve done here is all the more amazing,” Johnson adds. “The level of playing conditions at The Territory is second to none. That’s a testament to teamwork and many long, difficult hours put in by Brad and his staff.”
The beginning
The Braughts, lifelong residents of Oklahoma, say they were looking for something special when they set out to develop the rolling terrain near the quaint, progressive town of Duncan into a first-class golf course and residential community.
With their multigenerational past in the state and region – Barbara is the granddaughter of T.H. McCasland, the founder of McCasland Oil – the Braughts say they’re creating an economic development catalyst for the area while building something that will stand as a beacon of quality and roots for generations to come.
“Development is inevitable in America, and The Territory is our way of building something that simultaneously respects the land and the region while helping position it for longevity and prosperity,” says Barbara Braught. “The Territory is something for our children and their children, but for their contemporaries and other families and empty-nesters.”
The Braughts, graduates of the University of Oklahoma, have introduced something for everyone in this historic area through which the Chisholm Trail traversed.
The golf course, a Randy Heckenkemper design, is a modified target golf layout with spacious greens and dramatic elevation changes, framed by a variety of native grasses that sway in the ever-present wind and create breathtaking views.
The risk-reward course challenges golfers of all skill levels. With five sets of tees – ranging from 4,845 yards at the forward tees to 7,110 yards from the tips – no player is out of place at The Territory.
The course itself tells a story. With holes named “Rosa’s Ravine,” in honor of the original owner of the property’s wife, and “Oil Boom,” a reachable par-5 with oil derricks reminding the golfer of Oklahoma’s storied history, playing a round at The Territory is as much an ode to the past as it is a look to the future.
Having already hosted the Oklahoma State Amateur last year – in its first full season of play – The Territory welcomed an NCAA Division II Regional May 1-3 and will host the Oklahoma State Senior Amateur in August.
The decision to return to The Territory in successive years had as much to do with the quality of the course as the level of customer service the event participants received, says Mark Felder, Oklahoma Golf Association tournament director.
“We’ve never been treated anywhere like we were treated there, and we get treated well everywhere,” Felder says. “The staff did an unbelievable job taking care of us. It’s a diamond, all the golf anybody needs. It’s a great golf course, and it’s only going to get better.”
Ted Neville, winner of last year’s amateur event, says he was impressed with everything from the eclectic clubhouse – which reminds one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s “organic architecture” – to the extensive practice facility at The Territory. In addition to the natural grass practice range, secluded opposite-side teaching area and expansive putting green, The Territory offers a three-hole short course that can be a warm-up or post-round exclamation point for competitive players or fun for the novice golfers.
“The whole facility was great,” Neville says. “You’re driving down the road, and suddenly there’s this oasis out of nowhere.”
More than golf
For golfers and nongolfers alike, The Territory offers fine dining – with meals created by Chef Tristan Peck, a graduate of the San Francisco School of Culinary Arts – that rivals anything in the region. It also offers a sand volleyball court, croquet lawn and swimming pool.
Whereas many golf communities are dominated by the encroaching homes, open greenspace is prioritized over maximizing real-estate sales at The Territory. Wild turkey, bobcats, deer and other wildlife are a testament to the unspoiled terrain and pristine setting.
The feel of the course also stands out when compared to similar communities. Wide landing areas and extensive buffers make the course seem like a standalone layout despite the community component.
Though utopia may be out of reach, the Braughts plan to bring elements of the idealistic community to The Territory. Free of the overdeveloped ills of many cities, the facility’s intended feel is something from days gone by. That said, necessary amenities are only minutes away. Two schools, dining, churches and a hospital are within close proximity to the property.
“We’re combining old-fashioned family values with modern-day sophistication,” Rick Braught says. “We’re hoping to attract members of the highest caliber, who will be assets to the community and are committed to making the best out of life.”
For more information about The Territory, visit www.territorygolf.com or call 580-475-0075.
Rob Thomas works for Buffalo Communications and is based in Dallas.
