The Phoenician Golf Club to be Redesigned and Rerouted in 2018

(Scottsdale, Ariz.) – The Phoenician Golf Club will undergo a complete redesign and rerouting beginning in January 2018. The project, which is expected to take 10 months to complete, will transform the club from a 27-hole facility to an 18-hole golf course and is being executed in conjunction with the third phase of a major enhancement at The Phoenician, A Luxury Collection Resort. Troon®, the leader in golf course management, development, and marketing, manages the golf operations at the AAA Five Diamond property and is working closely with golf course architect Phil Smith on the project. The Phoenician’s new course is expected to open for resort guests and daily-fee play in late fall 2018.

The redesign will create one new and cohesive 18-hole golf course with a natural rhythm and flow in the routing while also matching the reputation and quality of The Phoenician. Existing fairway corridors will be used in the rerouting of the golf course, however no hole will go untouched. The redesigned and rerouted course will play to a par of 71 and will offer five sets of player-friendly tees ranging from 4,418 yards from the forward tees to 6,501 yards from the championship tees. The new course will feature consistent bunker styling, while the overall theme of the landscape design will showcase the unique beauty of Arizona’s Sonoran Desert.

“The new Phoenician Golf Club will be a tremendous experience for golfers,” said Smith. “While challenging, everything will be in front of the golfer – no surprise bunkers or blind hazards. Players will have the opportunity to make an informed decision on how to approach each shot.”
Additional details on The Phoenician’s new golf course include:
- Every green will be rebuilt and resurfaced with new hybrid Bermuda grass.
- The new putting surfaces will allow for additional pin placements.
- Fairways will be recontoured, the cart path system will be rebuilt and water features will be reshaped and renovated.
- All tees and bunkers will be repositioned to provide the best strategy for each player’s skill level.
- The new 9th hole, currently Desert No. 3 and Oasis No. 8, will be a long, downhill dogleg left par 4. - The approach shot will be to a peninsula-shaped green that will be well-protected by a lake and greenside bunkers.
- The new 16th hole, currently Desert No. 9, will have a lower elevation than what currently exists, providing more expansive Sonoran views from the main Camelback Road resort entrance.
- By going from 27 holes to 18 holes, turf usage will be reduced by approximately 45 acres.
- A new highly-efficient irrigation system will be will installed.
- The combination of turf reduction and the new irrigation system efficiencies will lead to increased water conservation.
- The rerouting of the golf course will allow for a more contiguous pattern of play, tightening up distances from greens to the next tees and creating an even more enjoyable experience for golfers.

“Ron Despain, Troon’s vice president of golf course construction, has reunited with Phil Smith on this significant project,” said Jim Bellington, senior vice president, operations, Troon.  “Ron and Phil have worked on many projects together over the years, including multiple collaborations at Troon North. Together, we are creating a new and more memorable golf experience for Phoenician Golf Club guests for years to come.”

Smith’s resume includes 24-plus years working with PGA TOUR and golf course-design legends Jack Nicklaus and Tom Weiskopf. Based in Scottsdale, Ariz., Smith has executed numerous high-profile renovations, including work on the TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium Course and Desert Mountain’s Cochise, Geronimo, and Renegade courses.

For more information on The Phoenician Golf Club, visit www.golfthephoenician.com or call (480) 423-2449.

For additional news and information, visit www.Troon.com.