Interviews

Oakmont: An interview with Gil Hanse

With the 2025 US Open arriving at Oakmont, Richard Humphreys spoke with the architect, who renovated the course in 2023, about what to expect

Martin Ebert: Design journey

With a portfolio that includes eight of the ten Open venues, Mackenzie & Ebert occupies an enviable position in the golf design industry. Adam Lawrence spoke with principal Martin Ebert to learn how they got there

Designs for the big screen

Chad Goetz and Agustin Piza discuss their design decisions for the virtual holes that featured in the first season of TGL

Bob Harrison: Wizard of Oz

The Australian designer has had a long career and, like many of his countrymen, has spent much of it away from home. Adam Lawrence listened to his tales from the road

Ben Cowan-Dewar: Shock and awe

Golf development firm Cabot now has properties in six countries. Richard Humphreys speaks with co-founder and CEO Ben Cowan-Dewar about what makes a great site, selection of golf course architects, and more

Team building

Turfgrass has launched its US arm with the appointment of John Lawrence, Adam Moeller and Brad Owen. Richard Humphreys speaks with them, Turfgrass founder John Clarkin and director of agronomy Julian Mooney to find out more

Brian Curley: Life of Brian

The designer has surely clocked up more air miles than anyone else in the business. Adam Lawrence caught up with him in between flights to discuss his career and his new venture with Jim Wagner

Oakmont: An interview with Gil Hanse

With the 2025 US Open arriving at Oakmont, Richard Humphreys spoke with the architect, who renovated the course in 2023, about what to expect

Martin Ebert: Design journey

With a portfolio that includes eight of the ten Open venues, Mackenzie & Ebert occupies an enviable position in the golf design industry. Adam Lawrence spoke with principal Martin Ebert to learn how they got there

Designs for the big screen

Chad Goetz and Agustin Piza discuss their design decisions for the virtual holes that featured in the first season of TGL

Bob Harrison: Wizard of Oz

The Australian designer has had a long career and, like many of his countrymen, has spent much of it away from home. Adam Lawrence listened to his tales from the road

Ben Cowan-Dewar: Shock and awe

Golf development firm Cabot now has properties in six countries. Richard Humphreys speaks with co-founder and CEO Ben Cowan-Dewar about what makes a great site, selection of golf course architects, and more

Team building

Turfgrass has launched its US arm with the appointment of John Lawrence, Adam Moeller and Brad Owen. Richard Humphreys speaks with them, Turfgrass founder John Clarkin and director of agronomy Julian Mooney to find out more

Brian Curley: Life of Brian

The designer has surely clocked up more air miles than anyone else in the business. Adam Lawrence caught up with him in between flights to discuss his career and his new venture with Jim Wagner

Alice Chambers
/ Categories: News

Pacifico course at Punta Mita reopens after first phase of renovation

Golf course architect Jim Lipe has completed the first phase of renovation work on the Pacifico course at Punta Mita, near Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

The former Nicklaus Design associate has focused on greens, surrounds, bunkers and tees for this phase, which saw the course reopening in late November.

John McIntyre, director of golf at Punta Mita, said: “At this time we are still in the recovery phase for some aspects of the phase one work – in particular the Trinity Zoysia surrounds have proven slow to establish. That said, the entire team is extremely happy with the new TifEagle Bermuda greens complexes, our newly built and contoured greenside bunkers, and the general improvement to the entire greens complexes over 19 holes.”

“Every golfer will feel the updates and changes we've made,” added McIntyre. “Core golfers will notice specifically the attention to details that this project focused on – roughly 30 per cent larger and more contoured greens, gorgeous bunker designs, and the added playability of the Zoysia grass around the greens. All these details combine to make the player experience more enjoyable and memorable.”

Watch: footage of the renovation work on the Pacifico course at Punta Mita

The second phase of the resort’s five-year renovation plan is due to start in April 2022, concentrating on greens, surrounds and tees on its Bahia course. “Punta Mita ownership and management need to review what we’ve learned during phase one and translate the acquired knowledge into our plans for phase two,” said McIntyre.

Phases three and four will include replacing grass on fairways with Trinity Zoysia.

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    Jim Lipe has focused on greens, surrounds, bunkers and tees for this phase of renovation work at Punta Mita, as seen on the seventeenth hole

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Alice Chambers

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