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.”