Omni PGA Frisco Resort

Knowing a major championship host was being built simultaneously next door, West architect Beau Welling was equal to the task of building something for the rest of the golf world to truly enjoy at PGA Frisco.

The West differs from the East on two fronts. The first is the West’s more rambunctious terrain; it tackles the property’s large central hill three times where the East’s routing features two climbs, both somewhat more gradual. As a result, carts are the norm at the West, as opposed to the East’s mandatory walking caddies.

Whereas the East’s undulating greens are generally convex (and vexing), the West’s putting surfaces are more whimsical, though plenty challenging in their own right. The abrupt ridge that bisects the par-3 3rd green is an early indication of the West’s different approach. It works; many weekend visitors who blow into town for three rounds will play the West twice and the East once. That’s a high compliment to Welling’s design sensibilities.

Enthusiasm around short courses has been one of the most encouraging recent developments in golf, and while The Swing doesn’t necessarily break new ground, it ably miniaturizes the experience found at PGA Frisco’s big courses.

It’s maintained to a similar standard as its siblings, but its sub-90-minute playtime helps make the experience feel breezy. So, too, do the milder evening temperatures in which it can be enjoyed, thanks to its forest of floodlights. Like most courses of its ilk, it’s best enjoyed with one or two wedges, a putter and a beverage.

As professional golf becomes more and more alien to millions of recreational players, the requirements of championship golf design have become more and more challenging. At Fields Ranch East, Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner mostly succeeded in building a course that will test the best and beguile the rest.

The East typifies contemporary golf architecture’s two main focuses – on bunkering and green design. Some 90-plus large, deep bunkers lie in wait at seemingly every strategic turn, and the large, firm and fast putting surfaces lean on considerably contour to defend par. Golfers with a shaky short game may find themselves picking up on several holes, but should also be enough birdie opportunities to keep them interested, especially if they play the correct tees. Good thing, too; because the average pace of play (walking, with mandatory caddies) tops 5 hours, you wouldn’t want to be out there getting beaten up for that whole time. There are no weak holes until the awkward par-5 18th, but the run from 13 through 17 – long par 3, shortish par 5, short par 4, long par 4 – is the star here.