CITY OF FORT WORTH

from Texas Golf Insider - Landa Park- Summer 2022

LAGO VISTA GOLF COURSE

Meadowbrook Makeover

Historic Fort Worth Golf Property gets an Update

By Art Stricklin, Contributing Writer

The hugely successful renovation of Rockwood Park Golf Course helped transform Fort Worth public golf for the better and now city leaders are planning on using the same formula on the city’s oldest and most historic golf course, Meadowbrook in east Fort Worth.

“We consider the Rockwood Park transformation so successful for Fort Worth golfers, we are using that as the model, the template for future projects.” “With the recent bond measure passing, that’s certainly what we want to do for Meadowbrook,” said Dave Lewis, the Assistant Director for Fort Worth Park & Recreation Department.

Fort Worth will spend $7 million and use the same architect - John Colligan Golf Design - who transformed Rockwood Park, to perform the same golfing magic on Meadowbrook.

The 18-hole facility opened in 1924 as a nine-hole private course for the elite Fort Worth golfers of the day. The Great Depression caused the course to close and it fell into disrepair over the years. In 1936 the city purchased the course, eventually expanding it to 18 holes and it has seen plenty of changes over the years, but nothing like the upcoming transformation.

“We couldn’t be more pleased with the work John Colligan and Trey Kemp did at Rockwood Park and we think they will do the same at Meadowbrook,” said Lewis. “It has a number of unique holes with elevation changes and water and we think this re-design will only enhance the player experience.”

Meadowbrook will close in the fall of 2023, according to Lewis, and reopen in Spring or early summer 2025.

“The question we’ll have with this course and every Fort Worth course we touch is how will we make it better?”

The new course is proposed to open as a par 70 layout at 6,400 yards from the back tees.

“Our goal at Meadowbrook is to celebrate its impressive past, but prepare for

Meadowbrook Golf Course

the future and make it better,” said Lewis.

“Like most courses, it’s got all kinds of positives to work with. There are a number of places where water comes into play, plus some elevation off the tee boxes and around the greens. Its natural features are something any architect would like to work with, which is why we’re excited for John (Colligan) and Trey (Kemp) to transform this historic piece of Fort Worth golf property.”

Among the major improvements to the course will be a new and modern irrigation system, along with a complete replacement of the green complexes and a rerouting of some of the holes to take away some difficult or unneeded shot angles.

“The goal for Meadowbrook is to complete a sustainable and enjoyable course for the future,” Lewis said. “This is a course people love to play, but it’s like an old car, there are times you have to work on the things which are broken and need be fixed for it to be enjoyable again.”

“The new Meadowbrook will be fun to play and have less financial strain on the city. In the future, we will do work on the clubhouse and maintenance yard, but have a blueprint from Rockwood Park. We know it worked and it will work again at this great course.”