Bulldozers are moving in Minnesota! After an eighteen-month planning process Missouri-based contractor Mid-America Golf & Landscape won the public bid and has broken ground. The redesigned and rebranded Loop at Chaska will reopen in 2022.
In early 2019 Artisan Golf Design was hired by non-profit Barrier Free Golf and the City of Chaska to transform their 1971 Robert Trent Jones-designed short course into a showcase for accessible golf.
From the Barrier Free Golf website:
The project goals are to reimagine and renovate Chaska Par 30 to make it a place where everyone in the community feels welcome, and where research-based approaches to golf course sustainability and environmental stewardship are embraced.
The renovated golf course will be:
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A national demonstration project that shows how golf course design can grow the game by appealing to new populations – especially golfers with physical and sensory impairments,
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a showcase and laboratory that integrates the latest golf industry research in the areas of sustainable management and environmental impact,
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a learning and training center for new and returning golfers of all ages and abilities;
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inviting and fun for golfers of all skill levels – from beginner to pro – incorporating design features from other popular short courses around the nation; and
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most importantly, a place where people can come together as full members of the community – around their common passion for golf.
By redesigning the Chaska Par 30 to reflect these aspirations, Barrier Free Golf will open up the sport to thousands of new players, foster a greater sense of community and create a model for the growth and sustainability of golf that can be replicated across the country.
Artisan Golf Design is thrilled to be helping with this remarkable project.