The Wigwam's Patriot Course to Reopen October 17 after Bunker, Irrigation System Renovation

(LITCHFIELD PARK, Ariz.) - The Wigwam’s Robert Trent Jones Sr.-designed Patriot Golf Course will reopen October 17 after an extensive bunker and irrigation system renovation. Lead by Nevada-based golf course renovation firm Key Golf, in collaboration with The Wigwam’s ownership group JDM Partners, the renovation work focused on removing bunkers, modernizing and reshaping the remaining bunkers and updating the irrigation system on the 51-year-old golf course. Thanks to the updated irrigation system, the newly overseeded course will reopen in phenomenal condition.

During the renovation process, 31 bunkers were eliminated while the 38 remaining bunkers were reshaped and now have a splash-up, flat-top design. White sand now fills the bunkers replacing the former tan sand. In addition to the bunker renovation, the course’s irrigation system was revamped as more than 880 sprinkler heads were replaced with newer, more water-efficient heads.

“The Patriot Course looks and feels like a new golf course,” said Leo Simonetta, director of golf at The Wigwam Golf Club. “The new white-sand bunkers set against the emerald green and striped fairways, look amazing. In addition, the new irrigation system will allow our agronomy team to offer consistent and pristine playing conditions on The Patriot Course.”

The Patriot Course enhancements are the latest in a long list of improvements at The Wigwam. In recent years, more than $30 million has been invested into the property on multi-phase resort and golf course renovation projects, including: new interior décor, a new pool complex with both adult and family areas, new restaurants and bars featuring al fresco dining and entertaining areas, and a variety of new social areas and event lawns. During the summer of 2015, The Wigwam’s famed Gold Course, also an RTJ Sr.-design, underwent a similar renovation as The Patriot. During the Gold Course renovation process, the Lehman Design Group eliminated 30 bunkers and relocated and reshaped numerous others. Bunkers were strategically placed for today’s game, while fairway/target lines were moved left and right off the tee, thus eliminating the straight “bowling-alley feel” the course once had. In addition, all Gold Course bunkers now have the classic sod-down design, in which grass flows over the bunker’s face.

To learn more about The Patriot Course, The Gold Course and all of The Wigwam’s golf options, visit Wigwamgolf.com.