Looking out at the amazing Augusta National Practice
Facility early last week it was evident that the goal was to simulate all of
the shots and looks of the iconic course.
There was the same attention to detail in creating the new Conway Farms
Short Game Center. Golf Course Architect and Designer Dennis Wise has replicated
many of the same situations you face while playing the Conway Farms course.
Pristine bent grass pitching and chipping areas and “Conway”
rough to simulate those difficult shots from around the greens allow for
optimum practice. Couple that with bent
grass run off areas and a variety of bunker shots and
you can have a great practice for everything you will confront at
Conway. All of this, organized in its own amphitheater, will be a perfect place to get lost for an hour with
your wedge and putter.
During practice sessions, members will be using one of the
highest spinning golf balls on the market with the TaylorMade Project A
ball. Its super soft urethane cover
makes it an optimal short game practice ball.
These are placed in a small handsome white leather basket that will
hold approximately 35-40 practice balls. The small number of balls is to
approximate the number of short game shots during a round. Bringing
focus and intensity toward each shot in practice it likely will carry over to
the course.
Rather than pitching or chipping from one spot to a single
target, my hope is that this new short game practice area will inspire movement around the entire practice area and hitting toward
various targets optimizing practice.
Practice like you play is the theme throughout the short
game area. Every two weeks a new nine hole
course will be set up encompassing the different shots needed for success on
the course. Tee markers and flags will be organized to flow through the two
greens in a way to test your skills from bunkers to flop shots to a chip and
run shot. What a great way to measure your practice or enjoy
a nice escape with a beverage at twilight.
Another great way to start or finish the day is at the new
practice putting green. On the other side of the practice tee from the short game
area is the new 10,000 square foot putting green. Ample space for those members who are working
on their putting and perfectly located next to the first tee for warming up
before the round. The space on this green will be a great improvement to lag
putting and also is much flatter which is better for working on the mechanics
of putting.
The short game area at Conway Farms offers a beautiful
environment to enjoy practicing and improving all
of the shots of the short game. And the expansive new putting green will
provide the best environment to work on the most important part of the game.
Practice is an essential component to any great golf club and with the
completion of the new East Practice Tee, Short Game Practice Center, and
Practice Putting Green, Conway Farms is head of
class in Chicago golf.
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| Jeff Mory Director of Golf / Conway Farms Golf Club |
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