MYAKKA CITY, Florida – Not all great golfers have evolved into great golf course designers. Nick Price is one who did, as underscored by his just unveiled Soleta course, located a few miles east of Sarasota, FL.
As a golfer Price, now 67, was one of the great ones. No doubt about that.
He was the No. 1 player in the Official World Golf Rankings for 43 weeks in the 1990s, a decade in which he topped the PGA Tour money list twice, won the PGA Championship twice and the British Open once and took back-to-back Western Open titles in 1993 and 1994.
Oh, yes. The South African-born Price was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2003. Enough said about his playing ability, though his heyday was three decades ago.
Price found his way into course design, but it took a while.
“I started with architecture toward the end of my career but didn’t want to do anything,’’ he said. “You don’t want to when you’re playing well.’’
Four years into his career on PGA Tour Champions that changed.
“I developed a serious elbow injury and had surgery,’’ he said. “When I came back after a year I couldn’t play, so I retired.’’
And a career in course design kicked in. He did 11 co-designs with established architects like Tom Fazio and Steve Smyers before creating his own course. He started his own design firm in 2001 and has has his name on 27 courses (as either designer or consultant) in the Dominican Republic, Ireland, South Africa, Mexico and China in addition to Florida. He lives in Hobe Sound, which is also the site of McArthur Golf Club – a layout he co-designed with Fazio.
Soleto is something different. The name is from the Native American word for sandhill crane. It’ll eventually be a full-fledged family-oriented private club with about 275 local members and another 100 national ones. At least that’s the plan. On the December day when Soleto officially opened Soleto already had 170 members. Initiation fee is $115,000.
What makes the course special are its meandering (Price calls it “free-standing”) tee areas. They’re as long as 120 yards with eight sets of color-coded markers on each tee. (Only three were designated for play on opening day).
The tee areas aren’t of the runway style at more courses. The Soleto tees are spread around; some even have doglegs.
“I want the members to understand the versatility of the course and enjoy its variety,’’ said Price. “I’ve played on all four corners of the world and have gotten to see a lot of different types of golf. This one is more links-style but I want them to keep in mind that they don’t have to play from a certain spot.’’
Soleto was built on what had been a cow pasture. About 2,000 trees were moved in the construction process. Water comes into play on only two holes (Nos. 11 and 16) and the scorecard says the layout can be played as short as 5,145 yards or as long at 7,411 yards – with plenty of options in between. The No. 8 green is 65 yards long.
Also most noteworthy is the liberal use of sugar sand, a white variety indigenous to the area. It’s all over the layout and creates all sorts of challenges. In short, you have to make contact with the ball first. If your clubs hit the sugar sand first no telling where the ball might go.
The course is a par-72 with the 598-yard fifth the longest par-5. The par-3 seventh is the most picturesque hole and seems the most fitting as the signature hole. The Fish Camp behind the fifth green and sixth tee box is located near the Myakka River and will be used for special events. No. 17 provides the always popular driveable par-4, measuring between 236 and 333 yards.
Price made 22 trips to Soleto from the start to the completion of construction about a year later.
“There were times you had to be here a lot,’’ he said. “That what makes a golf course playable.’’
Soleto is going to be much more than a special golf course. It’ll have a new clubhouse, 93 homesites (but in view from only two holes) and racquet sports facilities.
Price isn’t the only popular golf personality involved in the project. David Leadbetter, the famed instructor, designed the 30-acre practice facility that will open soon. It has the latest in TopTracer technology, with four cameras covering all 16 hitting bays on the range. There’ll also be a chipping green, a putting course and a par-3 course to be called the Colt (the name for a small crane). The short course will have six greens and nine tee boxes.
