December 2022

GOLF GOLF HISTORY

“I was there from the beginning, marked every tree on the Canyon, laid out the center line for every hole and was there for the construction of the course,” Kosak recalled. “I was fortunate Jim Bartlett and Dick Bailey believed it was important on having a superintendent on site from the start of construction.”

THE PUTTING COURSE “The Putting Course was a collaboration and Dick Bailey was behind a lot of it,” Kosak explained. “Dick created a rough scale on paper for the pods. It was a three-pod system vs. one-pod because it would affect more lots.” The building of the course was not without issues and it started with the location. “There were challenges getting to the site. There were no roads in place, just dirt paths,” explained Kosak. “It was very hard to get large trucks to the site.” And there was also some pretty severe terrain. “The site was a rocky hillside. On the first pod, I tried to dig with a backhoe, but the ground was too rocky to build a trench,” Kosak detailed. “Since I couldn’t dig a trench I used a flat drainage pipe that was new on the market. Using the new flat pipe turned out to be a good idea because it has held up 32 years, I believe.” “Then I completed the install, starting with a sand/peat moss base, drainage pipe and irrigation. I even installed the drinking fountain at the end of the cul- de-sac. It is very unique and one of the best putting courses ever built,” shared Kosak. “I believe it was only $106,000 to build. Dick didn’t charge for his design and I did the work as an employee of Forest Highlands.” “With everyone’s help, we enhanced the value of the lots and it was a lot of fun building it. Dick Bailey was great to work with, he created a plan with slopes and shapes and I executed his plan. It was a ‘Build-it-and-they-will-come’ kind of thing,” said Kosak, who moved on in 1992 as General Manager of Mira Vista Golf Club in Fort Worth. “I am extremely proud of the Canyon Putting Course,” Kosak concluded. “Forest Highlands was one of the best projects I was ever involved with… I just love the place.” To access the Forest Highlands Putting Course, take Griffiths Springs to the western section of the Canyon and follow the sign to the 18-hole, 3-pod layout, complete with scorecards and pencils.

William Godfrey is an author, golf historian and biographer. He and his wife, Wendy Huck Godfrey, became Forest Highlands Members in May 2021.

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