Lusk: Five new golf courses I can’t wait to see in 2022, from Nebraska to New Zealand

Landmand, Te Arai, among others have golf architecture fans champing at the bit for 2022 to arrive.

After a decade of course closings dominating the headlines starting with the economic downturn in 2008, architects have been busier moving earth over the past several years. Coast to coast as well as abroad, several top-tier layouts have come online from noted architects – think Tom Doak, Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner, Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, even Tiger Woods.

This new year promises more of the same, with the following five new courses being among those I can’t wait to see in 2022.

In keeping with recent development trends, these courses aren’t necessarily close to major population centers. Only one of them – the East Course at PGA Frisco – is near a big city, situated as it is on the northern outskirts of Dallas. The other four on this list? You’ll need planes, trains, automobiles or maybe a boat, and definitely a passport.

Doesn’t matter. Great golf is worth any travel. So in no particular order, here are five new courses I want to sink my nubby spikes into during 2022.

KPMG Women’s PGA Championship future sites through 2031

The KPMG Women’s PGA Championship will continue to visit some of the historic golf venues in the United States.

The KPMG Women’s PGA Championship will continue to visit some  historic golf venues in the United States.

Future sites have been announced through 2031 although the PGA of America is still yet to announce locations for 2024, 2026, 2028, 2029 and 2030.

Of the five known future sites, the famed Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland will have two of them, as will the new PGA Frisco location in Frisco, Texas, the future home of the PGA of America.

There was a groundbreaking ceremony in May and eventually two courses will be built there. Two future PGA Championships, in 2027 and 2034, will also be staged in Frisco.