COURSE RENOVATION
Kickingbird takes shape 007 bent grass. The overall distance will increase or the impact that Kickingbird from 6,722 to just over 7,000 yards. Golf Course has had on golf in The fourth hole will be converted to Oklahoma, you have to look a 512-yard par-5, with the tee moved no further than the 2021 class inducted back by the green on the par-3 third. Proctor and E.C. Hafer built Kickinto the Oklahoma Golf Hall of Fame. Architect Floyd Farley, whose de- ingbird’s junior program that averaged 250 kids each summer sign of Kickingbird was one and sometimes topped out of his finest, was inducted. at over 300. Mike McGraw Art Proctor, its first profesran it from 1979-97 while sional and founder of a junior coaching at Edmond Megolf program that has transmorial and Edmond North. formed Oklahoma golf, was “I was just part of the inducted, as were brothers machine that Art and E.C. David and Danny Edwards, who grew up in Edmond and Brian Soerensen started and is still going toplayed it frequently. David was one of day,” McGraw said. “Kickingbird has the original Proctor “range rats,” work- always been a great source of junior ing at the course in exchange for play- golf talent.” The course is scheduled to reopen ing and practicing privileges. Now just over 50 years old, the cur- in the spring of 2023 and should be rent renovation ongoing this summer able to host the OGA Junior Boys and at the course should make all those Girls Amateur next year. In 2024, it is scheduled to host an NCAA Division Hall of Famers proud. The breadth of the project shows II Super Regional and Edmond resithat Edmond officials understand dent Billy Mayfair, winner of the 1995 and value their unique history and Tour Championship at Southern Hills, impact. When complete, Kickingbird has been exploring bringing a Chamshould rank among the top complete pions Tour event to the course. The on-course improvements will public facilities in the country. Go to www.kickingbirdgolf.com to be dramatic but off the course the see up-to-date construction pictures changes will be stunning. At the of the new event center, clubhouse, west end is a new 6,670 square foot at-the-turn room, locker rooms, prac- events center able to seat over 145 tice facilities, high tech driving range, and ideal for tournaments as well as meetings, receptions and other comindoor learning center and more. The project will end up north of munity events. Underground will be $19 million and is quite an investment a 7,252 square foot cart barn. The new clubhouse will include a in public golf by the Edmond City sizeable pro shop, sit-down restauCouncil and government officials. “We’re very fortunate to have a city rant, locker room and at-the-turn that believes in golf,” said Director of bar and grill. In the former parking Golf Brian Soerensen. “The course is lot is a three-green practice putting just over 50 years old and this invest- and chipping area, while the driving range will now include the indoor ment is for the next 50.” On the course, a new triple row ir- learning center and an area with simrigation system is going in. Fairways ulators and technology to be similar are being converted from common to a Top Golf experience. The entire Bermuda to the new Tahoma Bermu- range will also be equipped with da, while greens have been cored out TrackMan technology that can be and rebuilt and will be seeded with accessed for a monthly service fee. by ken macleod
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GOLF OKL AHOMA • JUNE/JULY 2022
The new clubhouse, event center and driving range bays under construction in May.
Fairways were stripped of common Bermuda for replanting with Tahoma.
Greens have been recontoured and will be seeded this fall with 007 bent grass.
Artist's rendering of the new lounge area complete with large bay windows. W W W.GOLFOKL AHOMA.ORG
