Arthur Hills natural approach to golf course design, his reputation for being environmentally friendly and his unwavering commitment to excellence all contributed to his being selected as the golf course architect. The golf course opened in July 1998. The open, links-style prairie feel of the course also contributes to ideal conditions for turf grasses. Fifty acres of manicured fairways, tee boxes, practice areas and 13 of the 18 holes are accented by ponds, lakes or other water features. In designing the course, Hills took advantage of the natural landscaping of the area.
Color is provided by the many varieties of wildflowers that mingle throughout the native grasses.
Ever changing contrasts of texture and height adorn the Gaillardia landscape with Bermuda grass blanketing the tees, fairways and primary rough, while indigenous grasses, including blue stem, Indian grass, switch grass and buffalo grass, artfully frame each hole. The roughs, rather than the fairways, are over-seeded with deep hued rye grass. This Championship, one of the most prestigious in all of senior golf, will allow us the opportunity to showcase the many positive aspects of our city and the state of Oklahoma. Our community will enthusiastically embrace this event and follow the competition with considerable anticipation as these legendary players vie for their top 31 spots throughout the season. The challenging par-72 layout encompasses 253 acres in northwest Oklahoma City.