The Loop at Chaska

#1 Panhandle - 91 | 63 Yards
Green Shaped by Jim Craig and Brett Hochstein

A warm handshake to start the round!

Our opening hole plays to a deceptive but receptive ‘infinity’ green, which is perched on a shoulder landform. A restored wetland appears to sit just behind the putting surface, but there’s an acre of short grass back there.

On reaching the green the golfer finds a pandhandle contour extending from a broad and soft bowl.

The majority of pins are likely to be cut alonf the right and rear flanks of this long putting surface. A handful of surrounding ‘ball catcher’ contours help to slow down near misses.

Putts within the bowl are relatively easy, but the panhandle can be pinned to present a stiffer challenge!

#2 Skatepark - 157 | 98 Yards
Green Shaped by Brett Hochstein

This huge green is receptive to a running approach from the forward tee. Golfers are presented with a broad funnel which gathers approach shots into the front half of the green. From the main tee, the corner of the wetland enters the golfer’s mind, but the contours of the skatepark off plenty of support for an aerial approach.

Long putts within the skatepark can take multiple routes. Will you traverse the plateau, careen on around the curved bank, or take on the ‘buried elephant’?!

#3 Long - 363 | 317 | 219 Yards
Green Shaped by Dan Bieganek

For golfers of different ages and abilities our ‘Long’ hole will range from a drive and pitch to a full three-shotter.

The orientation of the green rewards an approach from the left of the fairway.

A soft central swale defines the pinnable areas, and creates interest for short approach shots. A generous backboard helps keep the longer approaches to hold the putting surface.

The external contours were inspired by two bunkerless green complexes at Palmetto Golf Club in Aiken, South Carolina.

#4 Double Plateau - 73 Yards
Green Shaped by Jonathan Reisetter

As golfers reach the highest point of the Loop they’ll find our elegant version of the double plateau green.

The front plateau will accept a delicate pitch or a running approach. Pins within the swale will provide endless entertainment. A nose on the edge of the back plateau can be used to guide a running approach left into the swale or towards a back right pin.

The back plateau is deep enough to receive aerial shots. A wide tee offers numerous setup options for the superintendent. The character of the hole will change with each new pin location.

Double plateau greens are found on some of the most loved golf courses in the United States.

#5 Valley - 124 | 105 Yards
Green Shaped by Jim Craig

Our visually striking fifth green was inspired by legendary US architect C.B.Macdonald’s ‘Cape’ template green.

A well-judged running shot on the high side will catch an aggressive contour and feed to the middle of the putting surface. Good players may favor the aerial approach, but could that be the more demanding route? Aiming directly at a left pin is bold play.

Our ‘valley of sin’ is a tribute to to two of the finest closing holes in the old country; the 18th at St. Andrews and the 18th at North Berwick.

Golfers seeking to escape the valley can use virtually any club in the bag. This is a truly entertaining shot.

# 6 Alps - 119 | 114 Yards
Green Shaped by Jim Craig

Golfers turning the corner from #5 are presented with our ‘Alps’ hole. The flag is framed by two ‘mountains’, but how will you attack?

A running approach can chase through the central valley and find the green center. To attack the corner pins an aerial approach is required, but any shot which carries the alps will feed towards the green.

Our memorable 6th hole was inspired by the legendary 12th hole at Fraserburgh in Scotland, and the 9th hole on the Rio Olympics Golf Course in Brazil, which Benjamin helped to build in 2014, working for Hanse Golf Course Design.

#7 Spine - 68 | 62
Green Shaped by Brett Hochstein

Our crumpled 7th green is built around a spine feature which extends towards the tee. The top of the spine can be pinned, but the majority of play will take place on the ‘wings’ of the putting surface. Putts across this green will be an adventure.

The 7th green serves a dual function as a target green for our supervised coaching area. Loop staff have the ability to temporarily remove the 7th green from the golf course by diverting play from the 7th tee to the 8th green. This self-contained area in the corner of the property is perfect for introducing novice golfers to the game.

Two tees present alternate views of the 7th green. The leftmost tee is a fun drop shot. The main tee invites a bump and run approach.

#8 Pizza Box - 136 | 107 Yards
Green Shaped by Dan Bieganek

The famous Pizza Box!

Our eighth green is a tip-of-the-hat to 1920s golf architecture. In the art deco era squared-off greens were all the rage.

Viewed from above the 8th is a slightly wonky trapezoid. When seen from the tee the dominant visual features are an infinity horizon line and a sharp right flank. The left side of the green is partially obscured by a ‘foredune’, which sits in front of the green.

Left pins are obscured by the dune, but golfers who carry their approach onto the downslope will see their ball disappear, and then reappear in the middle of the green. A simple proposition but very fun.

#9 Creek - 103 | 89 Yards
Green Shaped by Brett Hochstein

A meandering creek turns around the ninth green before cutting in front of the back tee. Our creek only flows during storm events but its impact on the hole is ever-present.

An ‘up and over’ contour to the left of the putting surface enables smart golfers to play away from the creek and feed their approach to a back right pin. The back left pins, however, can only be accessed via a bold aerial stroke.

Golfers playing from the forward tee have a hazard-free route to the green.

This receptive green will give up plenty of closing threes. Just avoid the creek.

Minnalayas Putting Course | 30,000 square feet | Open to the Public
Green Shaped by Jonathan Reisetter

How much fun are you willing to have? Backing up to Hazeltine Bvld., this putting course is easy to get to and open to the public. The countours are sure to put a smile on the face of new and experienced golfers alike.

Tracing it’s roots back to the Ladies’ Putting Course at St. Andrew’s in Scotland, the Himalayas concept exists at many golf pilgrimage sites around the world.

Come check it out!

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The Loop at Chaska

9 Holes | Minnalayas Putting Green | Fun Golf. For Everyone.

The Loop at Chaska is a first for the world of golf, a golf course designed expressly for the adaptive golfer. The project is a joint venture between the City of Chaska and Barrier Free Golf. Day-to-day course management is handled by the same team charged with the care of the Chaska Town Course, widely considered some of the best public golf in the Twin Cities.

At the Loop, golfers will experience quality golf architecture, a welcoming atmosphere, and fun. Our architect, Benjamin Warren (Artisan Golf Design), drew inspiration from some of the best courses in the world to create excellent green surrounds that will present challenges for the experienced, low handicapper AND will introduce beginners to quality golf course architecture.

The Loop at Chaska will become a national demonstration project that showcases how golf course design can enable access to golf by appealing to new populations - especially golfers with physical and sensory impairments.

We built the Loop with four important goals in mind:

Accessibility - Making disability access a primary design feature.
Environmental sustainability - carefully managing water, herbicide, and pesticide use. The Loop will become a showcase and laboratory that integrates the latest golf industry research in sustainable management and environmental impact.
Financial sustainability - a design that allows simpler maintenance practices that minimize turf costs.
Fun - a course that is fun for all playing abilities through the construction of world-class putting surfaces, wall-to-wall short grass, and no bunkers.

We hope to see you at The Loop at Chaska!

Photos from the Loop’s Grand Opening, May 5th, 2024

Community Support for the Loop