Scottish architect David McLay Kidd has designed dozens of golf courses around the globe, including the original layout of Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, in Oregon, and the highly ranked Gamble sands, in Washington. He is now building his first course in southern United States.
Kidd will be designing the course at the new private Loraloma Community in the Lake Travis region outside Austin, Texas. The course is set to be open for preview play by the end of 2024, with a full launch in spring 2025. Kidd will begin construction on the course in this month.
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Loraloma, a 2,200 acre masterplan in the Hill Country will be built to respect the natural beauty of the land, according to a press release announcing plans for golf. Arete Collective, the company responsible for development, has plans that include premium amenities such as fitness, wellness and culinary experiences, along with equestrian, nature and golf. Turnkey homes are available in a variety of sizes, including cottages with two bedrooms to estates with five bedrooms, and villas. Custom home sites will also be available.
Artist’s impression of the David McLay Kidd designed course at Loraloma near Austin, Texas. (Courtesy the Arete Collective).
McLay Kidd stated in a news release that the Loraloma Landscape is more visually inspiring than what’s available in Austin today. “Our goal is for golfers to enjoy this captivating landscape for a world class experience. I will tread lightly to preserve and to protect this land, so that it can continue to be enjoyed for generations.”
The course will feature several holes that are located along the cliffs of the Pedernales river while others offer dramatic elevation changes with views of the Hill Country. The par 72 course will cover 7,060 yards and 120 acres. The fairways and greens will both be zoysia.
The clubhouse of Loraloma near Austin, Texas will be rendered by an artist. (Courtesy the Arete Collective).
Tom Hogan is the co-founder, CFO and former CFO at Augusta National Golf Club. He said, “Arete Collective was thrilled to partner up with an accomplished architect in order to bring this course into reality. We hope that each member and resident of Loraloma will feel McLay Kidd’s sense of adventure and exploration while exploring this vibrant terrain.” The rules of golf dictate that the player must play the ball where it is. “The beauty of the Loraloma Course is that he designed a sustainable, environmentally friendly course around the existing land,” said Tom Hogan, co-founder and CFO of Arete Collective. He was previously the CFO of Augusta National Golf Club.
