The Phoenician course set to reopen following Phil Smith redesign
The Phoenician Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona, will reopen for daily-fee and resort play on 1 November following a redesign by Scottsdale-based golf course architect Phil Smith.
The 10-month redesign and renovation project has seen Smith transform the previous 27-hole facility into an 18-hole course, with most of the Desert nine removed to make way for resort expansion. Smith rerouted the course among existing fairway corridors, developing newly contoured holes as well as rebuilding and resurfacing green complexes.
“This really has been a rebirth of The Phoenician and now its golf club,” said Smith. “Our goal with the course redesign and renovation was to give each player the opportunity to make an informed decision before every shot by employing fundamental design strategies to create a great golf experience for resort guests and daily-fee golfers. Everything is now right there in front of the golfer, as there are no blind shots or blind hazards. We’re thrilled with how the golf course looks and plays.”
Greens, which now feature TifEagle grass, allow for additional pin placements. Tees, fairways and rough are 419 bermuda. The club says that all tees and bunkers were repositioned to provide the best strategy for each player’s skill level.
The layout, which has views of Arizona’s Sonoran Desert, now offers four sets of tees ranging from 4,594 to 6,518 yards. By transitioning to 18 holes, turf was reduced by approximately 45 acres. This, combined with a new irrigation system, will lead to increased water conservation.
Construction work was managed by Troon’s senior vice president of golf course development, Ron Despain, and the club’s golf course superintendent, Tom Bush.
The club has also outfitted its golf car fleet with the ‘Shark Experience’. High-definition touchscreen displays and built-in speakers with Bluetooth connectivity allow golfers to stream music, watch live sports, news and entertainment, receive golf tips from Greg Norman and get yardage information.
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The Phoenician Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona, will reopen for play following a redesign by golf course architect Phil Smith
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The 10-month redesign and renovation project has seen the 27-hole facility become an 18-hole course
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“This really has been a rebirth of The Phoenician and now its golf club,” said Smith
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