A look inside Tiger Woods' first U.S. golf course, Bluejack National

While golf is a beautiful sport, it’s a challenging one that sometimes gets a bad rap as being stuck up and stuck in the past. The rules and expectations of the game have a tendency to drive people away, rather than bring them in.

When you throw in the persona of places like Augusta National and other uber elite clubs, which shroud themselves in beautiful secrecy, it isn't hard to find out why the game is often viewed in a less than appealing light.

At Tiger Woods’ first golf course in the United States, located just 40 minutes from College Station, you instantly realize this place isn't like that. While it possesses all the beauty and exclusivity of a place worthy of holding a major, that status isn't their main priority.

That’s awesome…and rare. But, don’t get me wrong. The first thing that strikes you is the beauty. It was that way for Tiger Woods, too.

“When I first came here, I was shocked,” He said in a video promoting Bluejack earlier this year. “I view Texas as being flat. With the pine trees, the landforms and the movement in the topography, I just didn't expect this to be right outside a major metropolis like Houston.”

The rolling hills and 100 foot pine trees found across the 7,475 yard course are certainly not something people would normally associate with this area. The hospitality shown towards the 550 members and their guests, however, is seemingly right in line with an Aggies core values.

The people involved in Bluejack have deliberately, yet genuinely, tried to harness more of what country clubs used to be. In the old days, a club wasn't a place to hide away, (although it provided that luxury) it was a place where families could come and enjoy themselves, at every age.

According to the President of Bluejack National, Casey Paulson, the focus is on treating people right, while allowing them to have as much fun as possible.

“The biggest thing for us,” Paulson said. “Was that no matter how great the physical things are, like the course and the clubhouse, there is nothing as important as how you treat your guests, your members and each other.”

That means making people feel welcome and invited. Not something you normally associate with a golf club. And while everyone would hopefully strive for that goal, Bluejack has tangible, physical elements that would allow them to do that.

From a golf perspective, that starts with the Playgrounds.

“The 18 hole golf course is going to be phenomenal, which is expected,” Paulson said. “What’s not expected is the 10 hole short course, the Playgrounds. The holes are 30 to 100 yards, so you just need a bag of wedges and a putter.”

If you’ve ever played a par three course, or even been to a Top Golf, you know that the draw isn't just golf. It’s about allowing people to learn the game, without the pressure and difficulty normally associated with it.

For Woods, that’s an area of this design that hit home with him, too.

“My five year old son loves to come out and play with me,” Woods said.” And I’m always trying to put him in positions that would be realistic of a hole to him and sometimes, it just doesn't work. You cannot carry it over a marsh, you cannot carry it over a bunker that far. I think being able to incorporate that family atmosphere, and that flexibility is an ability we have at Bluejack National.”

Paulson touched on that aspect as well, “What is special to me about (The Playgrounds) is that good players can go out and try to beat each other, while at the same time, I could see a dad taking his four year old kid who has never played before. Or, a lady that plays tennis and doesn't even play golf, out there with a five iron in one hand and a chardonnay in the other. It has a multi-use capability that is really neat.”

That’s an integral part of what Bluejack is doing, but when you bring in a 14-time major winner to design your golf course, that’s going to be the headline.

Over the course of four visits, Tiger Woods and his team have turned what was once Blaketree National (a course many Aggies were familiar with), into something that may well be an indelible part of his legacy off the PGA Tour.

Not unlike the practice time it took to claim his 79 victories, Tiger came in ready to work.

“From a design standpoint, (Tiger) has been incredibly involved,” Paulson Said. “He’s been focused on every single shot and has been fantastic to work with. He’s focused on every angle and how shots can be played around the greens.”

Besides the golf expertise he brings, there’s also the fact that it’s Tiger Woods. With that name involved, people are going to pay attention.

“Another thing I have to say about Tiger, and this is Captain Obvious speaking, but he has the ability to move the needle from a marketing standpoint. I knew it would be a big deal,” Paulson said. “But it has been way bigger than that.”

In addition to the golf, there’s also “The Fort” It’s an area designed for all aspects of a family.

While there’s the usual pool and grill area, there’s also a replica Fenway Park wiffle ball field, a sixty yard flag football field, a treehouse and a zip line. To Paulson, that element was just as important as the golf.

“Those are thoughtful things that are unique and fun,” He said. “We talk about kids using them, but they are going to be generational. You’ll probably take me yard one day over the Green Monster, because that is what we want it used for.”

That sounds like fun personified, but it also may be helping to serve a broader purpose. As mentioned earlier, golf is struggling to reach younger generations.

Why play golf in a polo and khakis when you can go play basketball in shorts a t-shirt? No matter how hard dads try and convince their kids, that just isn't cool. Which is part of the reason this place is.

“I think you’ll see a skateboard kid who has been hanging around the fort all day having fun magically make his way over to the Playgrounds and he’s going to start to think golf is cool,” Paulson said. “He’ll be okay down there because nobody will tell him what to do. He can have his shirt untucked, wearing board shorts and that is all okay. I hope he then starts to think golf is okay, then he wants to take a lesson and before you know it, he is on the first tee of the big course.”

With the focus Texas A&M has always put on families, treating people right and working hard, I don’t think it’s a stretch to say this place will fit right in.

So, Aggies, let’s give Tiger Woods, Casey Paulson and all those involved with Bluejack National a big "Welcome to Aggieland."