The project at the Litchfield Park, Ariz. property focused on removing bunkers, modernizing and reshaping the remaining bunkers, and updating the irrigation system on the 51-year-old golf course that was designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr.
The Robert Trent Jones Sr.-designed Patriot Golf Course at The Wigwam, in Litchfield Park, Ariz., reopened on October 17th after an extensive bunker and irrigation system renovation, the club announced.
Led by Nevada-based golf course renovation firm Key Golf, in collaboration with The Wigwam’s ownership group, JDM Partners, the renovation work focused on removing bunkers, modernizing and reshaping the remaining bunkers, and updating the irrigation system on the 51-year-old golf course. Thanks to the updated irrigation system, the newly overseeded course will reopen in “phenomenal condition,” the club said.
During the renovation process, 31 bunkers were eliminated while the 38 remaining bunkers were reshaped into a “splash-up, flat-top” design. White sand now fills the bunkers, replacing the former tan sand.
In addition to the bunker renovation, the course’s irrigation system was revamped, with more than 880 sprinkler heads were replaced with newer, more water-efficient heads.
“The Patriot Course looks and feels like a new golf course,” said Leo Simonetta, The Wigwam GC’s Director of Golf. “The new white-sand bunkers set against the emerald-green and striped fairways look amazing. In addition, the new irrigation system will allow our agronomy team to offer consistent and pristine playing conditions on The Patriot Course.”
The Patriot Course enhancements are the latest in a long list of improvements at The Wigwam. In recent years, more than $30 million has been invested into the property on multi-phase resort and golf course renovation projects, including new interior décor; a new pool complex with both adult and family areas; new restaurants and bars featuring al fresco dining and entertaining areas; and a variety of new social areas and event lawns.
During the summer of 2015, The Wigwam’s famed Gold Course, also a Robert Trent Jones Sr. design, underwent a similar renovation as The Patriot. During the Gold Course renovation process, the Lehman Design Group eliminated 30 bunkers and relocated and reshaped numerous others. Bunkers were strategically placed for today’s game, while fairway/target lines were moved left and right off the tee, to eliminate the straight, “bowling-alley feel” the course once had.
In addition, all Gold Course bunkers now have the classic sod-down design, with grass flowing over the bunker’s face.
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