The Falls at Grand Falls & Casino Golf Resort

Touring The Falls With Golf Course Designer Rees Jones

Courtesy of Cat Clark
KELOLAND TV

LARCHWOOD, IA - This past Friday The Falls Golf Course opened up the back nine to members of the media to get a look at the course. I, Cat Clark, left my mark on the fairway and caught up with legendary designer Rees Jones to get his thoughts on his newest project.

"Styles of golf courses change, much like fashion," Golf Course Designer Rees Jones said.

Much like Ralph Lauren has influenced the fashion industry; Rees Jones has put his finger print on over 100 courses, 15 of them hosting a major championship. His latest creation, The Falls Golf Course, was designed to challenge the skilled player, but welcome in the next generation of golfers.

"Since the game of golf is supposedly waning a little bit we are designing courses with less bunkering, more chipping areas, and smaller bunkers. We want more alternate shot approaches and I think The Falls is a perfect example of what golf of the future is going to be," Jones said.

This beautiful, par 72, links style course has no trees and a lot of rolling hills that will create for an array of shot opportunities. The most notable being hole eighteen. This par three is surrounded by water overlooking the course's signature water fall. This hole has already gained a reputation for eating up balls and I learned that the hard way.

"We have a couple of water holes and a couple of really challenging holes like, nine and eighteen, both finishing holes on the nines. You get into the course with a 350 yard par four on hole number one and then you finish with a short par three hole that is going to really gain a reputation around the state," Jones said.

While the eighteenth hole may get the best of you a time or two, there is no doubt that you will get the best of this course. That is why Jones built it for all to enjoy, time, and time again.

"I think people are going to want to come play golf here from afar. The course is already starting to get a reputation with around 250 people having already played on it. I think the fact that it is really manageable for every caliber of player makes it very approachable for people to come from a long distance away to come play, stay, and then come back to again," Jones said.

Although the back nine has had a limited amount of play, all eighteen holes won't be open to the public until the spring of 2015.