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

Richard Humphreys
/ Categories: News

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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Slideshow HTML
  • Phoenician

    The Phoenician Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona, will reopen for play following a redesign by golf course architect Phil Smith

  • Phoenician

    The 10-month redesign and renovation project has seen the 27-hole facility become an 18-hole course

  • Phoenician

    “This really has been a rebirth of The Phoenician and now its golf club,” said Smith

Richard Humphreys

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