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A new golf course outside Houston has reimagined the traditional par 72, 18-hole design, with a condensed, flexible and eco-friendly layout on less than 65 acres that could become a trendsetter in an evolving industry.

T36 at Baytown opened this week as a first-of-its-kind course: an innovative “double-loop” creation that incorporates double tee boxes and double green complexes that share nine common fairways.

Designed by golf architect Ric Buckton, the compressed routing sits on less than half the normal average footprint for an 18-hole course and tips out at just over 5,200 yards, with eight par 3 holes and four par 5s in addition to six par 4s.

On each nine-hole loop, golfers encounter three consecutive par 4 holes to start, then have a mix of par 3s and par 5s the rest of the way. The course looks and plays differently on each nine due to tee placements, angles and the bunkers in play.

Beyond that, the versatile public facility is hoping to be a standard-bearer in the modern golf movement by offering up the traditional game to a broad consumer base in an innovative and accessible way.

“Our mission at T36 is really three-fold – provide a place where neighbors can gather and enjoy a sense of community, introduce the game of golf to a wider and more diverse audience, and evolve to meet the needs of the modern golfer,” said T36 co-founder David Hinkle.

Among the other unique elements of the course: it utilizes 40% less water than a normal 18-hole course and it has four-seater carts, allowing an entire foursome to ride together, although operators will allow groups as large as five to play together as well as long as they stay on pace.

The community reach of the facility, managed by Troon Golf, extends to a new restaurant – The Birch Kitchen – that’s open daily to the public for lunch and dinner, and seeks to combine the warmth of a cozy eatery with the energy of a sports bar.

Hinkle and fellow co-founder Rio Valeriano came up with the idea for T36 at Baytown, which is located on land once occupied by the Evergreen Point municipal course. That course was closed and acquired by a private developer who in turn sold off the property in two parcels, including one to the City of Baytown.

The T36 team convinced the city to keep golf as a community amenity, developing the unique approach after entering into a long-term lease agreement.

“Baytown’s support for our golf course development marks a pivotal moment for the community, and I’m excited to be part of the modern golf movement,” said Valeriano. “T36 offers opportunities for a wider range of golfers, beyond just the core golf experience. Whether it’s a traditional 18-hole round, a quick nine, or an executive/short course experience, T36 offers a versatile solution for all.”

The unique golf course design is built on less than 65 acres of land, approximately 50 percent less acreage than a traditional 18-hole, par 72 golf course. Located on the former Evergreen Point Golf Course, T36 at Baytown is the idea of developers Rio Valeriano and David Hinkle of Build Baytown I and golf course architect Ric Buckton.

The patent-pending “Double Loop Course” is Buckton’s unique creation and consists of a traditional 18-hole golf course with double tee boxes and double green complexes played from one common fairway. This eco-friendly design utilizes about 40 percent less water than a typical 18-hole golf course.

“Baytown’s support for our golf course development marks a pivotal moment for the community, and I’m excited to be part of the modern golf movement,” said Valeriano, T36’s co-founder. “T36 offers opportunities for a wider range of golfers, beyond just the core golf experience. Whether it’s a traditional 18-hole round, a quick nine, or an executive/short course experience, T36 offers a versatile solution for all golf enthusiasts. By condensing existing courses and providing not just 18, but 36 holes of golf, we’re not only enhancing the golf experience but also freeing up valuable real estate for other uses. The T36 project is a true game-changer, offering something unique and exciting for everyone. It’s a natural win-win.”

The Double Loop course wraps two loops through nine common fairways that are connected to two separate green complexes. This distinctive design allows the developers of T36 to compress a traditional 18-hole, par 72 golf course on to approximately 50 percent less land. The T36 golf course was recently rated by the USGA.

“Our mission at T36 is really three-fold – provide a place where neighbors can gather and enjoy a sense of community, introduce the game of golf to a wider and more diverse audience, and evolve to meet the needs of the modern golfer,” said Hinkle, a T36 co-founder. “From our fun and unique golf course to a food and beverage experience that is full of fresh ingredients and authentic flavors, we’re on our way to accomplishing this mission.”

Troon Golf, the resort and daily-fee division of Troon manages the golf operations, agronomy, food and beverage, retail, and sales and marketing for the property.

Lina De Florias brings the scoop from T36 Golf’s preview opening day at Baytown, unveiling unexpected treasures for the perfect holiday surprises.

Scottsdale, Ariz. (May 18, 2023) – Troon®, the leader in providing golf and club-related leisure and hospitality services, is pleased to announce it has been selected to manage T36 at Baytown, an innovative double-loop 18-hole golf course and restaurant currently under development in Baytown, Texas. Troon Golf, the resort and daily-fee division of Troon will manage the golf operations, agronomy, food and beverage, retail, and sales and marketing for the property.

Located on the former Evergreen Point Golf Course, T36 at Baytown is the idea of developers Rio Valeriano and David Hinkle of Build Baytown I and golf course architect Ric Buckton. Landscapes Unlimited is currently constructing the golf course, which is scheduled to open this fall, while ‘The Birch’ restaurant is set to open in August. The Birch at T36 Baytown will be a modern café with a sophisticated menu of light and seasonal farm fresh dishes as well as ice-cold beverages.

The unique golf course design is being built on less than 65 acres of land, about 33 percent less acreage than a typical 18-hole golf course, and will require about 30 percent less water. The patent-pending ‘Double Loop Course’ is Buckton’s unique creation and consists of a traditional 18-hole golf course with double tee boxes and two green complexes utilizing one common fairway. Every green complex will be separate and will have its own set of sand traps and/or hazards. The T36 Double Loop Course can be played as a traditional blend of par 5s, 4s and 3s, as a par 3 short course, or as an executive course with a mix of par 3s and 4s. A little over 30 groups (approx. 120 individuals) consisting of golfers of all skill levels can play the 9, 18, or 36-hole experiences on any given day.

“Troon checked all the boxes for us including the ability to help accelerate the scaling up of the T36 golf and food/beverage experience across the country; we look forward to a long and rewarding relationship with Troon and their professional staff of industry experts,” said Valeriano and Hinkle.

“T36 at Baytown is an exciting new concept and will be a catalyst to major development on the southeast side of Baytown,” said Mitch Harrell, Senior Vice President of Operations, Troon. “We’re thrilled to be working with Rio and David in bringing the T36 experience to life, both on the golf course and through tremendous food and beverage.”

For more information on T36 at Baytown, visit https://t36golf.com.

About T36
T36 is an evolution in golf and a gathering place for communities. Our developments exist to nurture the game of golf, usher in its next generation of players, and create a “clubhouse” for communities around the country. T36 brings sophisticated amenities, cutting-edge technologies, and top-of-the-line food and beverage services to patrons while creating jobs, a more sustainable approach to golf course maintenance and design, and a positive economic impact on every community we serve. David Hinkle and Rio Valeriano launched the T36 Golf brand with over 60 years of collective retail and development expertise and are committed to creating a one-of-a-kind experience that is accessible to all.

About Troon
Headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., Troon is the world’s largest golf and golf-related hospitality management company providing services at 765-plus locations, including 760-plus 18-hole equivalent golf courses around the globe. In addition to golf, Troon specializes in homeowner association management, private residence clubs, estate management and associated hospitality venues. Troon’s award-winning food and beverage division operates and manages 600-plus food and beverage operations located at golf resorts, private clubs, daily fee golf courses and recreational facilities. With properties located in 45-plus states and 30-plus countries, Troon’s family of brands includes Troon Golf, Troon Privé, Troon International, Indigo Sports, CADDIEMASTER, ClubUp, Cliff Drysdale Tennis, Peter Burwash International, True Club Solutions, RealFood Hospitality, Strategy and Design, Casa Verde Golf and ICON Management. For additional news and information, visit www.Troon.com, or connect with Troon on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Troon Chronicles, Press Room, The Turn Podcast or subscribe to Troon Magazine.

Media Contact:
Rob Myers
Troon
480.477.0506

Ackermann Marketing & PR
Ryan Oglesby
Representing T36
865-584-0550

As they stand on the old Evergreen Point Golf Course, you can almost picture the vision in the minds of national developers Rio Valeriano and David Hinkle. They are the creators behind the T36 at Baytown Golf Course, an innovative double-loop concept, fully operational 18-hole course that will feature exciting dining options as well. To Rio and David, this creation is more than a golf course, it’s the centerpiece of their vision for major development in Baytown. They will tell you they wouldn’t be here without a strong business relationship with Bret Gardella, Baytown’s leader in economic development.

“He’s the one who brought us to town to explore multiple development options and was looking for something dynamic on the southeast side of the city,” said Hinkle.

Gardella was looking for a way to bring big business to town while attempting to revive golf in Baytown. He said, “Bringing golf back to Baytown was a top request from residents. I knew we had this former golf course

property and could do something with it. I had talks with golf developers who had land concerns. I brought in David to see if we could work together on other retail projects. Rio was added to the conversation, and that’s where the project eventually began to gain traction.”

But it didn’t happen immediately. Months went by. Hinkle and Valeriano were unsure they could help Gardella with this project but kept the idea in their back pocket. That’s when fate stepped in. Valeriano said, “I had this chance meeting with a well­ known golf coach to the pros. He mentioned Ric Buckton, a premiere golf course designer, who had a design idea that would revolutionize the way people play golf. After a few conversations and visits with Ric, the T36 idea was born.”

David and Rio’s team, now called Build Baytown I, began to take shape with Buckton setting the course. He has more than 35 years of experience and has worked with all of the big golf names, including Ben Crenshaw, Tom Lehman, Tom Weiskopf, and so many others.

“Ric has designed five courses in the top 100 residential golf courses to play. This is the guy you want when it comes to building a course,” said Valeriano.

He added, “There are holes that will be a part of this course that Ric has saved for the perfect opportunity to use them. There are concepts from his award-winning courses, like The Club at Ravenna in Colorado, that will be part of T36. It’s going to be special.”

Work has been taking place behind the scenes ever since the City Council approved the golf course back in April. As part of the contract, the City will pay Build Baytown I $6 million in incentives to build the golf course. The lease will be for 40 years, before the City takes back ownership, and will be tax-free for 20 years.

Mayor Brandon Capetillo said, “We are very excited for this project, and I am convinced this is going to be the catalyst to major development on the southeast side of town. We also needed amenities for our Hyatt Regency and Convention Center, and T36 is a perfect addition as we look to add more in the area.”

“It’s a responsible agreement when most 18-hole courses are paying $1 million or more to build one hole at a golf course, not including maintenance. This is a deal that packs great potential,” said Capetillo. Landscapes Unlimited, a nationally ranked golf course operator, is managing the course and has had weekly meetings in order to get construction plans approved. Dirt started moving on the property in August with the goal of having the course ready by next year.

Valeriano said, “It was important for these guys to really start doing the ground work. They have the grading permits and irrigation plans. You will see the evolution of T36 in the coming weeks.”

The goal is also for the clubhouse and surrounding area to be a popular community attraction, regardless of your interest in golf. Hinkle said, “We’re also going to take the clubhouse that was already here, make it into a restaurant, and more that we can’t reveal just yet. It’s going to be a great public gathering place, and not just a golf course.”

Gardella said, “We have companies excited about coming to Baytown after hearing about this project. We are talking to them solely because of the birth of the T36 development.”

We are very excited for this project, and I am convinced this is going to be the catalyst to major development on the southeast side of town.– MAYOR BRANDON CAPETILLO

You will also see video production crews at the golf course site and in other places across town. Allegheny Image Factory, a media production company, is documenting T36 from beginning to completion.

Hinkle said, “There is regional and national interest in a documentary-type series that involves building this one-­of-a-kind golf course and the challenges that come with it. The hope is that this will attract even more golfers and visitors to Baytown.”

Valeriano said, “What more could you ask for? The City of Baytown took a chance on us with a project that’s going to change the landscape here for decades to come.”

Golfers can expect to be playing a round at T36 by late summer or early fall 2023. However, the on-site eating options will be ready before that, sometime around May.

“That’s not where it ends. We are here, with this project, for 40 years and expect to be involved in other development projects that will reshape Baytown,” said Hinkle.

Right now, as Rio and David stand on a mound of grass, it looks like a retired golf course with plenty of potential. However, they know it will soon be lush with hunter green grass and expertly designed fairways and greens that will set the city on the right course for the future.