One of the few golf courses to open in the U.S. this year, the Max A. Mandel Municipal Golf Course in Laredo, Texas opened for public play yesterday, Oct. 19. Affectionately nicknamed The Max, this project is the vision and collaboration of the City of Laredo and the well-known and highly respected Max A. Mandel family. It is the first city-owned public golf facility in Laredo.
Designed by Robert Trent Jones II, the course is strategically situated on 270 acres of sandy terrain. The site pa
rallels almost a mile of the Rio Grande River, and looks across into Mexico. Holes 8, 9, 15, and 16 play directly alongside and overlooking the river. The par 72 golf course measures 7,200 yards from the tips, and offers an excellent balance of drama, playability, risk, and reward. It also traverses deep arroyos and navigates through 30-foot-tall mesquite woodlands and open farmland.
“We understand how an exceptional new golf course like this can enrich a community,” said Jones, who has created more than 270 courses in more than 40 countries on six continents. “The impact reaches beyond just those who play golf. It reflects upon the identity of Laredo, which may now be seen as an even more inviting place to develop businesses and raise families.”
An interesting aspect of The Max is the way it was crafted. Jones designed a “courses within the course,” with the closing nine presenting returning loops of three holes and six holes flanking the practice facility. The concept allows for play of three, six, nine, or 18 holes, as well as to provide instruction for new golfers. Each hole integrates “family tees” to encourage participation by parents and children.
The $6.6 million project – the price includes roadways, golf course, clubhouse, and maintenance facility – was made possible through 390 acres north of the city donated by the family of the late Max A. Mandel, a Laredo bank executive involved in a variety of civic projects.
“This golf course will be the catalyst for business development and investment in our community,” said Mayor Raul G. Salinas.
For more information about the course, visit www.themaxlaredo.com.
Rick Stedman is an avid golfer, RVer, and writer who lives in Olympia, Washington. Rick writes a golf column, “The RV Golfer,” which is published every month in rvlife.com. He can be reached at rstedman@gmail.com.
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