Groundbreaking at Arizona course

22 February 2012

The short list of new golf courses currently under construction in the United States has become a little longer after groundbreaking last week at the new Sewailo course in Tucson, Arizona.

Part of the Native American  Pascua Yaqui tribe’s Casino del Sol resort, Sewailo (which means ‘flower world’ in the Yaqui language) is a Notah Begay III signature design. California-based golf architect Ty Butler, ASGCA, is working with Begay on the project, which will be built by contractor Landscapes Unlimited. Begay, the only full-blooded Native American to compete on the PGA Tour, previously worked with architect Jeff Brauer on the Firekeeper course in Kansas, which opened in 2010.

“Sewailo, in conjunction with the recently opened Casino Del Sol Resort, is a unique opportunity to showcase the beauty and tradition of the Pascua Yaqui community,” said Begay. “I’m delighted to see this project come to fruition and confident that the golf course will serve the Pascua Yaqui community for generations to come.”

The course will also include Arizona’s first Jack Nicklaus Academy of Golf. The Nicklaus Academy will include a dual-ended driving range more than 375 yards long, a 2,000 sq ft climate controlled teaching facility and multiple practice bunkers.