Tyson Course Likely to be Unique to Area

Tyson Open? Johnson Masters? Maybe we’re getting too far ahead of ourselves. But world-renowned golf course architect Robert Trent Jones Jr. nodded in agreement when Johnson Planning Commission Chairman Bud Curry hinted that the planned “world-class” course in his town could host a major tournament in the future.

Jones was in town per request of John Tyson — president, chairman and CEO of Tyson Foods Inc. in Springdale. Tyson resides in Johnson and is having the 18-hole course and gated subdivision with as many as 400 homes built on a 464-acre tract that is mostly on his property.

For a town with a 2000 population of just 2,319, Johnson has managed to bask in the economic rays of Northwest Arkansas while keeping a small community atmosphere. The state-of-the-art Willow Creek Women’s Hospital opened in Johnson earlier this year.

Jones has designed some of the world’s greatest courses. Son of the late legendary course architect Robert Trent Jones Sr., Jones Jr. designed Arkansas’ top-rated Chenal Country Club layout in Little Rock.

“This gives a challenge to outdo ourselves,” said Jones, who has also designed Wentwood Hills in Wales, site of the 2010 Ryder Cup. “[The Tyson course] is an excellent piece of land with some unique characteristics on it. It has natural gifts, and we’ll work with nature.”