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20. OVERSEEDING? | By Lisa Abelar
we’re dreaming of golf.
For sustainability, there is no one ace in the hole.
LIT | By Michael LoRé 26. IT’S Grass Clippings at Rolling Hills shines spotlight on Tempe. THE NUMBERS: WM PHOENIX OPEN | By Tyler Flanagan 40. BY If you don’t know, now you know. 4 A R I Z ON A G OL F I N S I DE R | J A N UA RY 2 0 2 4
8. FAIRWAY DAYDREAMS If we’re not playing golf, 62. OUT OF BOUNDS
By Ed Gowan
To walk or not to walk? That is the question Ed Gowan plugged into ChatGPT.
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12. ANDY STAPLES IS GOLDEN | By Joe Passov
Architect Andy Staples fuses Golden Age principles and fresh ideas for golf course designs that are pure fun.
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ON THE COVER Hole #13 at Pinnacle Peak Country Club, one of very few examples of Golden Age golf course design to be had in Arizona.
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PRESIDENT ............................................... Tim Brown VICE PRESIDENT ..........................................John Souza VICE PRESIDENT ....................................... Tim Hulscher SECRETARY .......................................... Jackie Bertsch TREASURER ........................................... Vera Ciancola GENERAL COUNSEL ......................................... Greg Mast
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T
he crisp, cool air, stacked tee sheets, and influx of winter visitors in Arizona can only mean one thing: another year has flown by. For the AGA, 2023 was a year full of stunning tee box views and once-in-a-lifetime shots. One of my most memorable rounds came at the beautiful Desert Forest Golf Club, alongside club member Phil and industry colleague Todd. A cloud-covered morning following overnight rain left us with the best of scenarios: a low-pressure afternoon and 18 holes to ourselves. With a casual itinerary and no match on the line, our play suffered early on… but we could care less. A few topics made up most of the lively conversations as we walked the newly-seeded fairways – the desert areas flanking nearly every hole separated the group often but failed to stunt the storytelling each time we reunited. Those on-course conversations led to the break at the turn and, with no one behind us, a typical pitstop turned into a quarter-and-a-half of college football, an order of french fries, and a couple run-ins with other club members. “Why don’t we stop for this long every time?”, we naively asked. As prisoners of the moment, we couldn’t wait to hit our tee shots off 10. It was no coincidence we played our best hole of the day. The back nine delivered with an impressive sunset. Heading west, we marched up holes 14, 15 and 16, marveling
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at the colors cutting through the sky off Black Mountain. Turning back east, the short, downwind 17th hole yielded a few birdies before we turned back into the escaping sun one final time. It was an afternoon that grounded and connected the three of us with our natural surroundings and one another. It reminded me of the joys and benefits of walking, instead of riding, alongside one’s playing partners – Ed Gowan explores this ‘lost art’ in later pages. In the clubhouse after the round - tired, not drained - we recounted a few of the better shots from the day. The poor ones took a backseat to the memories made that day. Plenty is in store at the AGA in 2024, as we not only look to make it another memorable year, but look for more ways to uplift the Arizona golf community and continue to elevate the game in our state.
We’d love to hear your Arizona golf stories. Please send any stories/ submissions to info@azgolf.org for a chance to be featured in an upcoming issue of the Arizona Golf Insider.
AZ GOLF INSIDER STAFF
EDITOR IN CHIEF .................................. Preston McFarland CREATIVE DIRECTOR & EDITOR ......................... Alex Johnson CONTRIBUTORS ....... Ameema Ahmed, Lisa Abelar, Andrew Columbro, Dee Ann Deaton, Tyler Flanagan, Joe Foley, Brandon Genson, Ed Gowan, Alex Johnson, Michael LoRé, Cori Matheson, Derek McKenzie, Joe Passov
PRESIDENT AND CEO ........................... Robyn Lambert Lynch DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & BUSINESS OPERATIONS .....Gina Pinaire DIRECTOR OF FINANCE .................................... Andy Holtz PRODUCTION MANAGER ................................... Julie Vance SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES..... Lisa Grannis, Michelle Schneider ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE ...............................Morgan McClellan DIGITAL MEDIA ASSISTANT ............................ Emma Lambert CREATIVE DIRECTION ...... Haines Wilkerson, Hither & Wander Inc. ART DIRECTION ......................................... Michael Min FOR PRINT ADVERTISING SALES CONTACT: SALES@ONMEDIAAZ.COM Arizona Golf Insider (ISSN 2765-9054) is published four times per year by the Arizona Golf Association. It is supported by members’ dues, utilizing $5 per member per year. We welcome all editorial submissions, including letters, but assume no responsibility for the loss or damage of unsolicited material. They will not be returned unless accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Views expressed within these pages do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors or official policies of the Arizona Golf Association. No part of this magazine is intended as an endorsement of any equipment, publication, videotape, golf course, or other entity. No part of this magazine may be reproduced for use as an advertising, publicity or endorsement item without written approval of the AGA. Arizona Golf Insider is offered on a subscription basis for $12.95 annually. Individual copies may be obtained by forwarding $5 to the address above. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Arizona Golf Association, 7600 E. Redfield Road, Suite 130, Scottsdale, AZ 85260-1101
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Fairway Daydreams If we’re not playing golf, we’re dreaming of golf, letting our minds wander off into golf euphoria, sometimes planning our bucket list trips and other times, designing our dream courses. We let AI in on our dreamy thoughts to take us to a place that would, in fact, be a dream to play. Nestled between the high desert’s iconic monoliths amongst a seemingly barren but surprisingly abundant desert, its isolation is palpable. This hole offers a serene escape, with the quiet stirred only by distant golfers. The vibrant fairway provides a stark contrast to the surrounding wilderness of red sands and rugged desert flora. As challenging as the environment is harsh, the placement of the green amidst undulating bunkers requires a precise approach shot. This hole extends an invitation to all comers to relish in the solitude and beauty of a game played at the crossroads of nature’s artistry and human design. Dream on, dreamers.
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Staff Picks
GOLFER'S JOURNAL Preston
Nobody does it quite like our friends at Golfer’s Journal. This publication is truly for the golf obsessed. With epic storytelling ranging from the TOUR’s best to grassroots initiatives and eclectic interest pieces, no stone is left unturned. Golfer’s Journal guides readers through the vast realm of golf with tantalizing, full-bleed imagery and intuitive, playful design throughout. This one is worth subscribing to simply for how nice it looks on your coffee table. And they said print was dead. SUBSCRIBE AT GOLFERSJOURNAL.COM
BYRDIE GOLF SOCIAL WEAR Sharon
Everything seems to be multipurpose these days, so why not your golf ’fits? Founded by two young women, Byrdie Golf Social Wear is made for those who are, well, social golfers. From course to cocktail, every piece of attire coming from this brand performs as well on the 18th hole as it does at the 19th. Head to byrdiegolfsocial.com to ace your next ’fit! BYRDIEGOLFSOCIAL.COM
MINIMI RANGEFINDER BY CADDYTALK Daniel
Lightweight, compact, and rechargeable are just a few of the nice things our in-house money man has to say about this rangefinder from CaddyTalk. In addition to its portability and convenience, the minimi reports the weather, can adjust for altitude when in slope mode, and features a tournament lock mode - this bad boy has almost as many features as an electric car these days. Okay, maybe not - but you get the point. CADDYTALKUSA.COM
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NETFLIX CUP Brandon
Leave it up to the PGA and F1 to convince Netflix to produce their first-ever livestreamed sporting event. By revealing the personalities of athletes in both sports, this is an entertaining and interesting look under the hood of professional golf (and racing). Expect this to be the first of many collaborative media pieces aimed to significantly grow awareness and viewership of both sports. Stream it only on Netflix. NETFLIX.COM/THENETFLIXCUP
CUSTOM CLEATS WICKED SMART GOLF PODCAST
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Have you ever seen your favorite golfer wearing a pair of Jordan 4s or Vans skate shoes while playing a major? Yeah, there’s pretty much only one place you can transform any pair of sneaks from skateboard decks and hardwood floors to bermudagrass fairways. That would be the innovators at Custom Cleats, who do conversions starting at $170. You can now swing hard without slipping in your favorite pair of shoes.
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ANDY STAPLES is
GOLDEN
Architect Andy Staples fuses Golden Age principles and fresh ideas for golf course designs that are pure fun By Joe Passov 12 12 A R I Z|ON ARIZONA A G OL F IGOLF N S I DEINSIDER R | J A N UA RY|2 0JANUARY 24 2024
Hole #2 at Pinnacle Peak Country Club
Don’t call Andy Staples an overnight sensation. After all, the Scottsdale-based golf course architect has logged hours on job sites and drafting tables since the mid-1990s. He planned and co-designed Utah’s Sand Hollow, a Top 100 Modern course, in 2008. However, it’s a fistful of award-winning projects in the past eight years that has catapulted Staples to elite status in design circles. Within Arizona and beyond, Staples Golf Design is now invariably on the short list when clubs are contemplating a new or improved golf course. In the Valley, Staples has renovated features at FireRock Country Club in Fountain Hills and at Pinnacle Peak Country Club in Scottsdale during the past five years. He is currently revising Mesa Country Club, and has earned a master plan commission for Phoenix Country Club. He also consults at Arizona Country Club, where he is a member. In the past decade, he has spearheaded new builds and refurbishments at public, private and resort courses in ten states, as well as lending his talents to one of Canada’s most prestigious clubs, Mount Bruno in Quebec. Staples is in such demand that in the past 24 months, he’s transitioned from a self-described “one-man band” to a present staff of four. Josh Goeden, Joey Chase and Tim Cloninger form the team, along with
recent addition Abby Schmidt, a low-handicap intern by way of Arizona State University and Mesa Community College. While Staples wasn’t born until 1972, the winds of 1920s Golden Age architecture blow through him constantly and permeate every project. Yet, he’s most renowned for his original ideas on sustainability and inclusiveness. In 2022, leading trade publication Golf Inc. magazine voted Staples one of the “9 Most Innovative People in Golf,” citing his “Community Links” idea for transforming a tired municipal course in Hobbs, New Mexico as “compelling and trailblazing.” Though life on the road is inevitable for a busy architect, Staples is a family man at heart, and relishes his time at home with Ashley, his wife of 19 years, and sons Will (15), Luke (13) and John (9). None of his kids have drawn up any golf holes yet, but Luke is “really serious about playing golf,” according to his dad, so perhaps there’s a sketch or two on the horizon. The Milwaukee native still roots hard for his Packers, Brewers and Bucks, but nearly two decades in Arizona have yielded a soft spot for the local teams, with a nod to the Diamondbacks’ remarkable run in 2023. We caught up with Staples recently at his Mesa Country Club renovation project and again by phone while he was on-site at a Cincinnati course A Z G OLF .ORG | AR I Z ON A G OLF I N S I DER | 13
How did you get involved with golf? My dad, Jim Staples, brought me to the game when I was 7. He was a member at West Bend Country Club, which was the original Langford/Moreau front nine. I really was overcome by the game. I played baseball, basketball and football, but I focused on golf. I started practicing as often as I could, including the times I went up to the cottage we had on Lake Camelot in central Wisconsin. The lake had a pure sand beach, perfect for practicing my sand shots.
What stepping stones led you from a tiny course on a lakeshore to a full-time practicing architect? I kept playing golf and tried to play collegiately [at the University of Arkansas]. But I realized I had a better chance of drawing pictures of golf courses than playing them. I studied landscape architecture, worked for Wadsworth [a leading golf course construction company], and got my degree. As a kid you don’t really know what it takes. I quickly learned that it was a difficult business to get into. You had to know the right people. I kind of busted in through the golf construction world and I guess the rest is history. Staples joined Tulsa, Oklahoma-based Jerry Slack and Associates in 1995, and moved to Graves & Pascuzzo the California Bay Area in 1997 before hanging his own shingle in 2003. He relocated to Phoenix in 2004.
How did those early experiences evolve into golf course design? Those practice shots turned to playing to one point on a little slope, which then turned into a flat rudimentary sand green, and nine small areas used as tees. My course was nine short holes of less than 25 yards. I worked on my course every weekend. I transplanted pine trees and even had an island tee box from the dock. One day my dad asked me if I knew that people design golf courses for a living. I was around 12 at the time, and was blown away. I liked to build stuff and I also loved to draw. I knew at that moment what I wanted to do with my life.
Which golf course influenced you most early in your career? I have to go all the way back to West Bend Country Club. Anyone who has seen the front nine there realizes it gets a little steep and aggressive in some areas, but the natural routing of the layout combined with the strong engineered fill pad greens and features, such as the grassfaced bunkers – it was really impactful. At West Bend we learned to play on the first three holes. The third hole had one of these Langford design features off to the right-hand side off the tee, about 160 yards out, which is exactly where a young kid would hit it every single time. You didn’t want to go anywhere close to it, but you sliced it over there because you weren’t
renovation. We chatted about a variety of topics, including the most influential golf hole he encountered as a kid, how Golden Age design colors his thinking, and how he reimagined a golf course to also attract non-golfers.
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Hornstein Creative
Hole #1 at Pinnacle Peak Country Club
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Hole #2 at Pinnacle Peak Country Club
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very good at golf. I remember trying to hit a 9-iron out of that thing and I would keep hitting up the slope and it would fall back down. I remember feeling the joy of actually getting it out of this feature, not once ever thinking that it was a very penal feature. I just assumed that I was not very good at golf. And as I look back now, I think that the design had an incredible impact on just understanding why we love the game so much - that there’s this balance between enjoyment and challenge. We always want to get better. In his approach to design and re-design, Staples adheres to the time-tested philosophy of Golden Age architects. Underrated greats of the era William Langford and Theodore Moreau were highly influential, as was Perry Maxwell, architect of Oklahoma’s Southern Dunes and Kansas’ Prairie Dunes. Architecture scholars have defined the Golden Age of Design as 1911 through 1937, with the highest concentration of truly great courses built in the 1920s. An enlightenment of sorts elevated elite courses designed during the Golden Age period, explained by historian Geoff Shackelford as a time “where early layouts were transformed from mundane and geometrically edged mediocrities to grand-scaled, artistic and strategically designed masterpieces.” Superior Golden Age courses eschewed artificiality. Architects typically employed a light touch on the landscape, preferring to let the site’s natural attributes shine. Why do Golden Age concepts and practices influence so much of what you do? In what ways are they visible in your work? When you talk about the old courses, the Golden Age of Golf Course Architecture, there are things present that you like but you don’t know why, you just like it. It usually starts with a thoughtful and natural routing, where the flow and connectivity let you walk comfortably from a green to the next tee. It’s also the subtle land movements. Where I really focus the Golden Age aspects, though, is in the putting greens. That’s one big difference between Golden Age golf versus the modern age. At a project I’m working on now, you see the modern approach - artificial use of containment, catcher’s mitt mounds surrounding the greens, a focus on easy-to-maintain bunkering and slopes. Golden Age greens typically utilize a simple fill pad, where the emphasis is on the putting surface itself, not on the mounds, with the bunkers and other hazards built into the pads. I’m especially proud of what I accomplished at Meadowbrook Country Club in Detroit. [Using concepts consistent with the architectural style of Meadowbrook’s original designer, Willie Park Jr., from 1916, Staples constructed fill pad-style greens with very minimal mounding, fescue-fringed grassy hollows without sand, and Old World drainage ditches as strategic hazards. Meadowbrook was honored as a “Renovation of the Year” in 2017.] That project launched me into a different level of notoriety. Long before sustainability and accessibility became major buzz words, Staples featured them front and center in his design practices. In recognizing Staples as one of the top 9 Innovators in Golf for 2022, Golf Inc. Magazine singled out his efforts at Rockwind Community Links in Hobbs, New Mexico: “Alongside two new courses for players of all skill levels—a regulation-length 18-hole track and a nine-hole short course—he added an events center, miles of hiking trails, a lake and a picnic area. To
save money, he maximized the facility’s use of fuel, water, electricity, fertilizers and chemicals, and to draw local traffic, he helped establish a First Tee program at the site. “In short, Staples created a facility that can be used by the entire community, not just the small slice of people who play golf. The USGA called Rockwind ‘a blueprint for other communities,’ and the American Society of Golf Course Architects gave it a Design Excellence Award.” Your concept for “Community Links” proved immensely successful and earned you many awards. What is “Community Links,” and could it work in Arizona? Community Links is a paradigm shift for how community leaders should view their golf course, which uses the game of golf as a nexus for healthy living, community pride, and raising our youth. Further, “CL” emphasizes uses for both golfers and non-golfers, which is vitally important today when getting support for investments into failing facilities. Community Links was born with the idea of how do we actually use golf to benefit the conversation and to change people’s minds about the value of golf and not make it so much about water use, chemical use, and an exclusive game for rich guys. That’s the essence of Community Links, to show everybody who doesn’t play golf that there really is a lot of value in a golf course, and it really can be used in ways that aren’t just golf. I think every municipal course in the country has the ability to do this. In 2021, Staples completed two courses for the PGA National Resort and Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. The property was previously home to five courses, including The Champion, a PGA Tour venue and site of the 1983 Ryder Cup and 1987 PGA Championship. Staples replaced The Squire, a 1983 George and Tom Fazio design with two courses, The Match and The Staple. You picked up lots more hardware for what you achieved in transforming the Squire course at PGA National. What did you accomplish there? I was competing against a lot of top architects who had been working in that market. I explored this idea that we could take one 18-hole course and make two courses out of it and address the pace of play and difficulty issues that made the old Squire course the least played layout and the most complained about. The Match is 18 holes, 5,744 yards. It’s designed around match play, not stroke play. It’s perhaps the only course in Florida that’s not rated, because you don’t post a score. It was designed to have a match, not to beat the course. There are no set tee markers during a round. The winner of the previous hole chooses where to play from next. The grass is cut short throughout, emphasizing the ground game and we minimized hazards. Our concept was to design 18 holes where maximizing playability for all skill levels, fostering a faster pace of play, as well as creating a unique golf experience where having nothing but fun was paramount. With the land left over, we created The Staple, a nine-hole short course. Every course the resort had was difficult. The Staple bridged the gap between golfers and non-golfers, a place for beginners and for time-challenged golfers to play. It’s perfect for families. It’s fun, social, wide open, Child Crisis Arizona but every green is interesting enough to make it enjoyable for low handicaps. A Z G OLF .ORG | AR I Z ON A G OLF I N S I DER | 17
Hole #13 at Pinnacle Peak Country Club
You’re now the go-to guy for the Valley’s private parkland layouts. What do you have planned for Mesa Country Club’s renovations? Mesa Country Club was built in 1948 by William P. Bell, the Golden Age architect. We think it was one of the first courses William P. Bell and his son William F. Bell designed together. We’re not really thought of as being a historic state for great old classic golf courses, which is one of the reasons I was hired - because I have those tendencies. The big news item here is the water conservation work in relation to the irrigation system upgrade, the lake reduction plan, and the low water use in out of play areas. This will address the water issues and the upcoming state mandates. The redesign will take the course from 124 acres of turf that we water to something around 100 acres, with the ultimate goal of 90. Saving water is a core value of sustainable golf design. I try to do all my courses in such a manner that is looking 20, 30, 40 years down the line. Water efficiency, labor efficiency - those costs are only going up. So water is a huge aspect. In addition to the water management and turf reduction, Staples will direct rebuilding the greens to USGA specs, restoring green sizes, creating new greens at holes 4 and 5, upgrading the putting surface grass to TifEagle Bermuda, and rebuilding the greenside bunkers. The course will close in February 2024 and reopen in November 2024. 18 A R I Z ON A G OL F I N S I DE R | J A N UA RY 2 0 2 4
You seem bullish on golf’s future and how architecture can contribute to its growth. How so? Great architecture gives a golfer a feeling of enthusiasm for the game, making them want to play more. In that sense, we golf architects help grow the game. I also feel the game is uniquely positioned to capture the portion of our population that is looking for outdoor recreation, healthy activity, and spirited competition. It just needs to be presented in a way that is more accessible and easier for people to get into, with the intention that they become a lifelong participant. It’s a game that can be played well into your 80s, so it will always be there when you need it. We as golf architects just need to keep providing the playing fields that people want to use, provide them in a manner that gives us a bit of flexibility in how they’re accessed, and then ensure they are built sustainably, which allows our clients to make good returns on their investments. What kind of legacy would you like to leave as an architect? One of my influences is Bill Coore [one of golf’s top modern architects and a member of the Arizona Golf Hall of Fame]. I know he influences a lot of people and it’s certainly not unique, but what I will say is that what I’ve learned from Bill is this kind of insatiable interest and quest to teach others and be so humble with his time. I hope that at the end of my career, I’m described a little bit like Bill.
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O v e r s e e d i n g
?
For sustainability, there is no one ace in the hole Words by Lisa Abelar | Photos by Alex Johnson
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Like most golfers, when Trevor Faylor rolls up to a tee box, takes a practice swing or two, and prepares to begin a round of golf, he hopes the conditions of the course play to his favor. And he hopes they match the spiked greens fees, especially as Arizona becomes a mecca for exceptional winter golf. “All anyone ever wants is good playing conditions and consistency,” Faylor said. Faylor is an amateur golfer who lives in Queen Creek and plays up to eight times a month, but his take on ideal course conditions is echoed across all levels of golf management, from superintendents to agronomy teams. And as Arizona and other western states navigate dwindling water availability, courses across the region are looking for ways to maintain consistency of play while integrating more sustainable water management practices. Joe Foley, the Arizona Golf Association’s executive director, knows different approaches are being tested across the Valley at both public and private courses that could increase the number of available golf days, reduce water use, and potentially improve the course’s ecosystem as a whole. “What courses are doing now, they are doing a really good job of researching different grass types that are drought resistant and exploring conversations with members and resort guests around what is the value of playing ryegrass versus bermudagrass,” Foley said. When it comes to water usage and sustainability, turf looms large. Impending changes to water allotment policies, in addition to a desire to uncover sustainable practices that work for the environment and the club, are inspiring innovative trials at clubs across the valley. At Desert Highlands Golf Club in Scottsdale, superintendent Curtis Tyrell has literally been watching grass grow for the past four years. It’s part of a trial the private club is doing to see if a new type of turf performs to expectations, while also eliminating the need for overseeding. “The primary purpose of our trial is the pursuit of excellence,” Tyrell said. “We think we’ve found something that may be able to achieve that, and provide a tremendous amount of benefits from an environmental and sustainability standpoint.” A water-intensive process, overseeding makes many courses unavailable for play for most of October - just as summer temperatures start to break. A future Arizona fall without overseeding, at scale, would be a monumental change “If I have to convert the crop twice a year, I don’t get a lot of real sustainable, longterm system-building. I’m just constantly changing,” Tyrell said of the way Arizona golf turf has been managed for decades. “But, if I could grow one grass and cultivate the plant soil system and microbiology, I could build a plant system that is really more durable.” Those long-term gains, which include better drought tolerance and improved operational efficiencies, are among the benefits of Zoysia grass - a turf the club has been testing with increasing acreage over the past four years. It stays greener longer and its density is agreeable for players like Faylor, who take notice of how clubs react in different types of turf.
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“As a player, ultimately what we get is a very upright lie. The ball sits on top, almost like it’s on a tee,” Tyrell said, noting that the structure of the blend they’re using has an enhanced rigidity. “If we can improve the surfaces, add to our available golf calendar, and decrease watering by not overseeding, and our surfaces were the best in the state, then we’ve really won.” Paradise Valley Country Club is also in the midst of a turf trial, in cooperation with the USGA, with the same type of grass. Rob Collins, the club’s director of greens and grounds, has a similar optimism about Zoysia’s stadium blend. Collins said he is impressed with how quickly it grows as compared to bermudagrass, he appreciates its durability and resiliency, and he’s a fan of the potential it possesses for water reduction. “It’s a really great grass. It’s very resistant to divots. It’s very durable. You don’t get a bounce off of this turf. It gives, but it doesn’t destroy the turf,” he said, noting its playability and conceding that despite its benefits, the jury is still out on whether Zoysia is a long-term substitute for bermudagrass. “I think what it really comes down to is widespread acknowledgement that there’s a water crisis and there’s likely going to need to be an alternative to overseeding.” Bri Kenny, Troon Golf’s manager of environmental science, has been working with clubs to see down the fairway a bit on the issue of water use mitigation. On any given day, she can be knee-deep on regulatory issues, hazardous waste compliance, agronomy-related projects or initiatives that intersect with wildlife management. But water use is a priority, and efforts to minimize it go beyond planting new types of grass. “Really, turf removal is the biggest way you’ll save water,” she said. Data cited in a report prepared by the Arizona Alliance of Golf shows that the state’s golf industry is responsible for about 2% of water use statewide. Regulations over the years have progressively scaled back the acreage permissible for courses, and water allotments on an acreage basis have decreased over time.
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Bermudagrass
Rye grass
In response, some courses are testing or replacing turf - like Alta Mesa Country Club’s complete transition to TifTuf, a bermudagrass blend that doesn’t require overseeding - some are removing turf and others are implementing other technologies. From updated irrigation systems with centralized control and a water station to moisture meters and wetting agents, Kenny said she works with courses across the Valley to find solutions that optimize water use while maintaining the quality of the experience that golfers have come to expect. “People assume golf courses aren’t doing anything and they’re holding on to as much water as they can and they’re not willing to find solutions,” Kenny said. “The public just doesn’t know what superintendents are doing to try to fix it.” The investment in water-saving solutions goes beyond the actual course, too. Matteo Serena is the USGA’s senior manager of irrigation research and services, a position that was newly created as part of the organization’s $30 million commitment to drive down golf’s use of water over the next 15 years. Serena, who is working closely with Collins on the turf trial at Paradise Valley Country Club, is focused on marrying the academic research being done in university labs with actual implementation on courses across the country, but most specifically in the southwest. He said he’s seen a higher demand for change when it comes to water conservation on golf courses in recent years.
Rob Collins, Golf Course Superintendent at Paradise Valley Country Club
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Hole #18 at Desert Highlands Golf Club
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“It’s partially driven by regulation, but also members are becoming more aware and they’re demanding more sustainability. There’s definitely been an awakening,” Serena said, noting that innovation isn’t always an attractive option because it doesn’t come cheap. “It takes time and money. You can’t flip a switch.” Costs certainly loom over the issue, from greens fees to investing in new turf or technology to the cost of sitting tight as water availability becomes increasingly scarce. While applauding the many water conservation efforts Arizona’s golf industry has implemented in the decades leading up to this point, Foley also understands the future of the industry requires further exploration into new practices. “We’ve been able to incorporate very golf industry-friendly stipulations within the management plan to make our sport continue to be viable, and also allow for us to make headway along the research front, turf management front, and turf reduction front, and also not to completely blow up the whole framework,” Foley said. “It’s really on the industry right now.” The downstream impact of water conservation efforts across the golf industry has the potential to ripple through increased course availability in the absence of overseeding, financial savings with reduced water usage, and - for the average golfer like Faylor - a potential savings on greens fees, down the road. “Ultimately, if an agronomy team is able to efficiently manage a course in terms of water and reduce costs there, hopefully it is reflected through greens fees,” Faylor said. “If there’s anything that can be done on the back end to reduce costs and lower the barrier of entry, that would be great.”
Local-Arizona golfer Trevor Faylor
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it’s LIT.
26 A|RARIZONA 26 I Z ON A G OL GOLF F I N SINSIDER I DE R | J A N UA |RY JANUARY 2024 2024
Grass Clippings at Rolling Hills shines spotlight on Tempe Words by Michael LoRé | Photos by Alex Johnson
Jake and Jimmy Hoselton, Connor Riley and Pete Wilson felt a bit like outsiders. Despite growing up playing golf like many in Arizona - which included winning a state championship at Arcadia High School for Jimmy and Connor - the group’s shared interest in the outdoors and action sports like skateboarding and motocross differed from the norm. “We were a group of guys that loved to play golf but didn’t fully align with some of the traditional stereotypes of golf, if you will,” Jake said. Not only did they play golf together, but they got an inside look at the inner workings of a course compliments of Hoselton family friend Drew Annan, director of agronomy at Forest Highlands Golf Club. Inspired by Annan and all the hardworking greenskeepers, the Hoseltons, Riley and Wilson launched golf retail company Grass Clippings in early 2019 in conjunction with a par-3 tournament. Featuring music, JumboTrons, entertainment, food and beverage, and merchandise, the inaugural Grass Clippings Open appeared to be a success, setting F&B and golf revenue records at the course. Or so they thought. “Nothing we did should get you in trouble,” Jake said, sharing that participants were deemed too loud while staying out too late. “We were
just having fun on a golf course. That’s when we said, ‘This is what’s missing: real golf, but entertainment-based and entertainment-driven.’ “We wanted to take this tournament from once a year as our signature event to a new product in golf altogether.” Inspired not deterred, the Grass Clippings team sought to establish their own environment, where similar behavior would be welcomed and encouraged, not frowned upon. Initially looking to purchase or lease land on the outskirts of the Valley, they shifted their focus to a more centralized location, with the intention of making their course the focal point of the community that had given them so much. With most golf courses fighting to break even, let alone make a profit - a 2021 review found that out of 221 local governments that reported running a golf course the prior year, 155 lost a total of $61 million in taxpayer money operating them in the 2020 fiscal year - Grass Clippings prioritized refurbishing and rescuing a local track. “It really didn’t take us long to land on Rolling Hills,” Jake said. Trust the Process Originally designed as a 9-hole course by Milton Coggins in 1955, Rolling A Z G OLF .ORG | AR I Z ON A G OLF I N S I DER | 27
Hills is a city-owned and -operated public course on 93 acres in Papago Park, neighboring the Phoenix Zoo; cheetahs can even be seen from hole 3. Golf architect Gary Panks added the second nine holes in 1987. With no noise restrictions or dark sky ordinances and located at the geographic epicenter between Phoenix, Old Town Scottsdale, Sky Harbor, Paradise Valley, and Arizona State University, Rolling Hills checked all of the boxes for the Grass Clippings team to begin to build their dream. But the metamorphosis wasn’t that easy. Because it’s owned and operated by the city, along with Ken McDonald Golf Course, the City of Tempe put out a public request for proposal (RFP) for the refurbishment of Rolling Hills, so instead of automatically getting priority for their idea, Grass Clippings had to further sell themselves and their vision, bidding against five golf course management companies. Leveraging the local card, as well as their passion for not only turning Rolling Hills into Arizona’s first fully lit 18-hole course, but the greatest executive course in the world, Grass Clippings won the proposal process in 2021 and entered exclusive negotiations with the city. In March 2023, Grass Clippings started a 30-year lease with the City of Tempe beginning July 1 to renovate and revitalize the course. “The City of Tempe’s process to select a partner was focused on four goals: ensuring the long-term viability of public golf, addressing capital improvement needs at the course, providing revenue to the city, and expanding golf and recreational amenities to a wide and diverse audience,” said Craig Hayton, City of Tempe community services director. “The City of Tempe felt the Grass Clippings proposal hit all of those marks, 28 A R I Z ON A G OL F I N S I DE R | J A N UA RY 2 0 2 4
ensuring that executive golf would continue at Rolling Hills into the future.” With plans for $15 million of renovation to the clubhouse, as well as upgrading the driving range to 30 bays equipped with Toptracer technology, 18 fully-lit holes available to play until midnight, and a 15,000-squarefoot putting green, Grass Clippings at Rolling Hills, which can play as both a par-62 or par-54, will be more than just a golf destination with a casual dress code, music, and groups larger than the standard foursome encouraged. Working with Director of Agronomy Scott Hebert, formerly senior assistant golf course superintendent at TPC Scottsdale, and golf course architects Jackson Kahn Design, the crew cleared out space and moved holes to create a 14,000-square-foot open lawn to host farmers markets, live music, flag football, viewing parties, and more. The ability to host large-scale events on a nightly basis serves as an integral part of their business model, increasing the course’s estimated 75,000 strictly golf visitors annually to more than 300,000, given the added amenities. A restaurant with seating for approximately 200 - expected to open in the fall - will feature Sonoran-inspired cuisine, with fresh-squeezed cocktails and cold beer. “Anyone familiar with Rolling Hills knows that the place was in desperate need of rehab work,” Hebert said. “Being your run-of-the-mill municipal golf course with decades of deferred maintenance, it was hard to find anything positive about the place, except for one major thing: its location. The Grass Clippings’ mission and long-term goals for the property are really what drew me in. The opportunity to bring a lighted course to one of the most popular golfing towns in the world, while creating a
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Pictured left to right: Connor Riley, Pete Wilson, Jimmy Hoselton, Scott Hebert & Jake Hoselton
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Putting World
Child Crisis Arizona
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culture that pays tribute to the greenskeepers wasn’t a tough sell to get me onboard. “I knew it was going to be the hardest thing I had ever done in my career, leaving professional golf’s largest stage to go and make something special. Rolling Hills is the ultimate fixer upper and a true test of my abilities as a greenskeeper.” Growing the Game As golf continues to grow and evolve as a result of being a popular outdoor activity during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, increased accessibility through golf-entertainment venues like Topgolf, Five Iron and Popstroke, the rise in golf streetwear, and more opportunities for Black and minority golfers through the APGA Tour and Steph Curry’s Underrated Tour, the sport is more popular and diverse than ever. 32 A R I Z ON A G OL F I N S I DE R | J A N UA RY 2 0 2 4
Roughly one in seven Americans played golf in 2022 as the game’s overall participation base in the U.S. rose to 41.1 million - up from 32 million in 2016 - according to a report from the National Golf Foundation. Last year, almost half (48%) of all golf participants (on- and off-course) were between the ages of 6 and 34. Grass Clippings at Rolling Hills isn’t trying to replace traditional, championship-length golf, but rather serve as a complement to one’s local track, while also inspiring those new to the game to test their skills and have fun in a much less intimidating atmosphere. Not only will it aim to serve as a viable option for experienced and novice golfers alike, but due to its proximity to the airport, it can be a quick pit stop for travelers; Jake said they may even introduce a deal or discount for anyone who brings their suitcase or boarding pass prior to departing or shortly after landing. “We have not actively marketed golf because our courses, up until now, have really been focused on use by local residents,” said Michael Martin, president & CEO of Tempe Tourism. “The plans for Rolling Hills will make it an experience that we can actively promote to visitors and groups because it is going to be a unique setting. So while we have always had Rolling Hills as a golf course in Tempe, the redevelopment of the course will open the opportunity for us to share it even more with visitors to Tempe.” As the Grass Clippings crew continues to earn the trust of all stakeholders, they quickly won over Troon, a Scottsdale-based hospitality management company that focuses on golf and golf-related amenities. Boasting a portfolio of approximately 650 clubs/traditional green grass courses, as well as a caddy services division at 150 locations, the company will manage the golf and hospitality operations at Grass Clippings at Rolling Hills. “I really saw it as a marriage between entertainment and traditional green-grass golf,” said Scott Van Newkirk, Troon chief development officer. “... There’s always going to be the traditionalist who doesn’t want that but I think that’s a small minority today and you’re not ever going to convince them to untuck their shirt and listen to Morgan Wallen when they play golf. Where Jake and we are aligned is that that isn’t where the game’s going.” That’s precisely the goal for the modern-day Rolling Hills, which may serve as a springboard for the brand to replicate its entertainment-driven golf product elsewhere. With the lights officially on at Grass Clippings at Rolling Hills, the once-dilapidated course isn’t the only thing that will benefit from the additional spotlight shone by four local golfers who want to help grow and evolve their favorite game in their community and beyond. “What we’re going to be able to communicate by example and as the final product rolls out through the next 12 months is that it really is going to be the finest executive golf course in the country,” Jake said. “We believe that the land, the undulations, the settings, and the views allow for that to be a possibility. “The community’s already started down there. You can already feel the energy. At the end of the day, it’s everything.” For those curious, expected greens fees are dynamically priced to ensure you can play day or night for under $90, with night rates being elevated over the typical day rate. Significant discounts are expected to be passed along to local Tempe residents, veterans, and junior golfers.
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Practice Makes Putts
The great Sam Snead once said, “Practice is boring, but boring is better than losing.” And some years later Allen Iverson said, “We talkin’ ’bout practice? Not the game, practice?” Words by Alex Johnson | Illustrations by Tyler Flanagan
Yep, today we’re talking about practice. And if you ask former LPGA TOUR player Amy Fruhwirth, who is a three-time collegiate All-American at Arizona State University, and current Championships Manager and resident swing instructor at the Arizona Golf Association, not enough players practice their putting and chipping. While Fruhwirth isn’t the first person to iterate this point, she goes on to reiterate, “The short game is where you’re really going to be scoring. So being familiar with something like this I think can help.” We spent some time with Fruhwirth at the AGA Headquarters learning how improve our short game off the course with only a few common items. - Two books - A few golf balls - Your current favorite putter Settling into her stance amongst the green walls, Fruhwirth explains that because most players have an arc in their putting stroke, the book drill is great for working short putts where the stroke has little to no arc. 34 A R I Z ON A G OL F I N S I DE R | J A N UA RY 2 0 2 4
This simple drill does a fantastic job informing you of inconsistencies within the first 2-3 inches of your backstroke and follow through with the goal of consistently moving your putter straight-back and straight-through the ball with a square face at impact. So, what to look for? Well, if you hit the books during your stroke – your path is either inside-out or outside-in. If your path is good but the face is not square at impact, you’ll know whether the club face is open or closed depending on which direction the ball goes. The drill forces you to maintain your alignment, which, as many of you know, is much easier said than done. Lastly, Fruhwirth suggests working the drill for 10-15 minutes to get the most out of it. That being said, grab your materials, find a hard surface in your home or office, and follow along so you can begin to lower your handicap.
This is Amy after she won the 1992 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links title. We told you, Amy is a winner.
Step One
Step Two
Step Three
Place the two books apart at a distance slightly wider than your putter. Be sure to include a little bit of wiggle room to start. Note: Play around with the gap a bit depending on your stroke.
Place your ball in the center of the books.
Focus on keeping your stroke short and straight, avoiding contact with the books.
Step Four
Avoid this!
Materials Required
To increase difficulty, make the gap more narrow.
Two books, a putter, a few golf balls.
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FOMO Engaged Fear
of
Missing
Out:
Previewing the 2024 WMPO - stacked with events you do not want to miss. By Andrew Columbro
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Photos by Alex Johnson A Z G OLF .ORG | A R I Z ON A G OL F I N S I DE R 37
FOMO Engaged Fear
of
Missing
Out:
Previewing the 2024 WMPO - stacked with events you do not want to miss By Andrew Columbro
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If you have driven down Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard recently, you might have noticed the familiar sight of white vinyl reaching into Scottsdale’s airspace north of the canal. It can only mean one thing - the 89th WM Phoenix Open presented by Taylor Morrison is right around the corner. Don’t we all wish we could look this good at 89? Affectionately known as “The People’s Open” for its eclectic and enthusiastic patrons and commitment to an over-the-the-top experience, the WM Phoenix Open will bring the best golfers in the world to TPC Scottsdale February 5-11 to vie for 500 FedExCup points
and the Waterford Crystal Thunderbird trophy. As part of the world-class field, Scottie Scheffler will be on hand to defend his WM Phoenix Open title once again as he seeks to become only the fourth three-time winner of the event (Arnold Palmer, Phil Mickelson, Mark Calcavecchia), and only the second player to win three straight (Palmer). While the PGA TOUR action begins Thursday of tournament week, festivities at TPC Scottsdale begin the Saturday before with a concert experience unlike anything in professional sports – the aptly named Concert in The Coliseum. Multi-platinum singer and recording artist Post Malone will kick off the 2024 WM
Phoenix Open on a rotating stage in the middle of the iconic 16th hole inside The Coliseum. Last year’s festivities featured Maroon 5, and they played to a packed house of 12,000 strong inside one of golf’s most famous holes. While the iconic 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale is certainly one of the main attractions at The People’s Open, it is by no means the only “must-see” venue at the event. There are plenty of insta-worthy general admission viewing areas throughout the course including the Fairway House presented by Taylor Morrison, where fans can catch the action on the par-3 12th, 13th tee box and approach shots into the 6th green. Just a light walk east is the upgraded Fan Zone, featuring spacious areas to gather, grab a bite to eat, or find some shade to recharge before heading back out to the action. “As hosts, we challenge ourselves every year to innovate and take our fan experience to new heights,” said 2024 Tournament Chairman George Thimsen. “We have the greatest and most dedicated fans in golf. This is why we take immense pride in consistently finding ways each year to elevate the fan experience throughout the entire week, in all areas of our event.” One of those fan-favorite events outside of the actual golf tournament kicks off Wednesday, February 7. That’s right, the ever-popular Coors Light Birds Nest, a four-night music fest located across the street from TPC Scottsdale. The Birds Nest, with its wide variety of music stars, beautiful patrons, and enthusiastic nightlife, is not only a staple of the WM Phoenix Open, but also one of the most unique special events on the PGA TOUR. The lineup for the 2024 Coors Light Birds Nest is shaping up as officials confirmed that 2022 ACM award-winner Hardy and country music’s latest sensation Bailey Zimmerman have committed to kick things off on opening night. Country music star Dierks Bentley makes a much-anticipated homecoming for Thurs-
day night’s show, with special guests Mitchell Tenpenny and Meghan Patrick. Rock & Roll Hall of Fame band Duran Duran will shake things up as Friday’s headliner, performing classic hits like “Hungry Like The Wolf.” More information on Saturday’s show will be released soon. The WM Phoenix Open generates a sizable economic impact for the State of Arizona, but more importantly, has been one of the State’s largest philanthropic engines for nearly a century. The Thunderbirds – hosts of the WM Phoenix Open – announced the 2023 edition of The People’s Open raised a record $14.5 million ($14,533,000) for Arizona charities. This marks the sixth time in tournament history that The Thunderbirds and the WM Phoenix Open have raised more than $10 million charitable dollars in a single tournament. The previous record was set in 2020 ($14 million). The Thunderbirds raised $10.5 million in 2022. “Giving back to our wonderful communities, helping people and families in need, is easily the best part of being a Thunderbird,” said Pat Williams, president of Thunderbirds Charities and tournament chairman for last year’s WM Phoenix Open. “We’re immensely proud of once again topping our previous record of charitable donations and reaching the $14 million mark for the second time. We understand the importance of an incredible support network, including the best title sponsor in sports in WM, the resolve and commitment to excellence of the PGA TOUR, and, of course, the greatest fans in golf. Enormous charitable impact doesn’t happen without everyone working together, and we’re incredibly thankful to be a part of something so impactful.” Whether you’re a golf fanatic, prolific partier, concert connoisseur, or you just have a fear of missing out (aka FOMO), the WM Phoenix Open has something for everyone. Don’t miss the 89th playing of The People’s Open February 5-11 at TPC Scottsdale.
Two-time WM Phoenix Open winner, Scottie Scheffler A Z G OLF .ORG | A R I Z ON A G OL F I N S I DE R 39
3,000 Port-A-Lets on the course
11 Total Aces
277.78 tons of composted material + 719.28 tons of recycled material
on the 16th hole since tournament has been hosted at TPC Scottsdale (36 years)
collected at the 2022 WM Phoenix Open
1 in 1,375 The odds of acing the 16th Hole
1,160 steps or 11% of your daily step goal or .31 miles from the entrance to the famed 16th Hole
The WM Phoenix Open is the 5th oldest tournament on the PGA TOUR
460 Yards Longest drive in WMPO history Scott Stallings No. 15 - TPC Scottsdale (2022)
15 Players have won more than once
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4,800 Recycling & Compost Bins There are ZERO trash cans on the course
1,000+ #1 Musical Hits across all Bird’s Nest Performers since 1987
$124 Million+ Raised The Thunderbirds and the WM Phoenix Open have now raised over $124 million for Arizona Charities since 2010 when WM was named title sponsor
125k+ out of town visitors
$450 Million local economic impact
700+ WM managers, drivers, staff and contingent workers making the 2023 WM Phoenix Open a zero-waste event.
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Up
As Arizona’s oldest club celebrates 75 years, other clubs are building community and growing the game socially and accessibly
Goin’ Clubs Arizona 42 A R I Z ON A G OL F I N S I DE R | J A N UA RY 2 0 2 4
By Ameema Ahmed
As interest in golf continues to permeate across the state, local clubs are integral in creating approachable and accessible spaces for players while leaving lasting impacts within the sport. Some have been around for decades, others are part of the new wave of golf - all working towards increasing access and growing the game. Desert Mashie Golf Club The Desert Mashie Golf Club is Arizona’s oldest club, and continues to serve its mission of making golf accessible to people of all backgrounds and abilities. As the club prepares to host its 75th annual golf tournament this spring, the members are focusing on helping junior golfers gain easier access to the sport and providing them with necessary tools to advance their game. Club President Booker T. Evans said the impact of teaching youth the sport is far-reaching and goes beyond what happens on the fairways. “The objective is not necessarily to produce professional golfers but to produce well-educated human beings who are connected to a game that they can play for the rest of their lives,” Evans says. “Golf … creates a basis for ethics and integrity that transfers well into our business communities and professions.” Acknowledging the unavoidable upfront and continued costs that golf presents, Desert Mashie members are working to make golf accessible financially, too. “One of our biggest things is that we don’t want finances to be an issue why anyone doesn’t play or any junior kid doesn’t play golf,” said Sean Colebrook, Desert Mashie’s tournament and junior director. One of the things they’re doing is hosting free clinics for juniors twice a month. For both Colebrook and Evans, growing the game of golf is a priority. As he reflects on the club’s history, Colebrook says he gets emotional thinking about how A Z G OL F . ORG | A R I Z ON A G OL F I N SI DE R | 43
far they’ve come. He choked up as he talked about it: “To look back 75 years and see where we are now, it still gives me goosebumps.” AZ Under 30 For the younger crowd interested in building community around golf, AZ Under 30 was created to keep people involved with golf as they navigate college and the early stages of their career. Open to people ages 19-29, the club encourages the social aspects of golf, providing a variety of opportunities to meet others through the game. Meagan McEnery, senior manager of brand partnerships for the Arizona Golf Association, leads the club in its efforts. “The whole goal of AZ Under 30 is really to promote access to 44 A R I Z ON A G OL F I N S I DE R | J A N UA RY 2 0 2 4
affordable golf and create a pathway to connect with other people in this age range,” McEnery said. Putting their money where their mouth is, in addition to a discounted handicap index rate, annual membership to the club is only $29, which is one of the ways the club is working towards making golf financially accessible - and more importantly, keeping young people playing. “It’s really easy to break off from golf when you’re 18 or 19,” McEnery said. “Paying for a membership to a course is just not within your budget and AZ Under 30 is a great way to bridge that gap.” The club is growing rapidly and with great feedback from current members, who enjoy the fact that the club is not competitive and is focused on the social aspect of golf.
“What I really want people to understand is that it’s co-ed, it’s affordable, and a lot of the competitions are flighted so anyone can participate,” she said. “It’s a great way to step outside of your comfort zone.” McEnery teased some great venues for upcoming events in 2024, with opportunities to play at esteemed clubs such as We-Ko-Pa Golf Club (Saguaro) and TPC Scottsdale’s Championship Course. Working Women’s Golf Association For a game as social as golf, it’s no surprise that many local clubs focus on connecting people within the golf community. The Working Women’s Golf Association is doing that by hosting monthly golf tournaments for career women to
play in. The tournaments are always on a Sunday at one of the Phoenix Municipal Golf Courses. Club President Vicky Scott said the whole idea of the organization is to meet like-minded people and socialize. “Ladies get to meet ladies they would never meet,” she said. “We’ve got lawyers, dentists, nurses. Just people you might not meet otherwise.” Scott said the club currently has just over 40 members, but they’re hoping to continue to grow. Allowing people of all levels to play is important, and with handicaps ranging from +2 to the 40s, the versatility of the group makes for a welcoming atmosphere. “We like to play with any level player,” Scott added. “We have one lady who just turned 80 and she plays. But the biggest goal is that everyone can get to play.”
The club also allows members to bring guests, and that’s not limited to women, which encourages members to attend with friends, colleagues and partners. Mexican American Golf Association One local club that’s working to help college students afford school is the Arizona chapter of the Mexican American Golf Association (MAGA). The organization is recognized nationally, but the Phoenix and Tucson chapters were charted in 1977 and 1978, respectively. The club, which is open to everyone, hosts monthly flighted tournaments. The proceeds from these tournaments go toward the MAGA Scholarship Program, which has awarded $72,000 in college scholarships to local stu-
dents since the program’s inception in 2015. Scholarships not only assists students attending traditional colleges and universities, but are also available to those attending a trade school or apprenticeship program. The golf community in Arizona is becoming increasingly diverse, growing at a rapid pace while creating community for all types of golfers across the state. Local clubs are critical to growing and innovating golf in Arizona as they continue to welcome people despite their backgrounds, income or skill levels. “If it were me, the only sport in Arizona would be golf,” said Colebrook. “I think, golf, the more people you get involved in it, the bigger it gets. And there’s nothing really negative that can come out of it.” A Z G OLF .ORG | AR I Z ON A G OLF I N S I DER | 45
MEMBER GOLF EXPERIENCE SOUTHWEST IRELAND Join the Arizona Golf Association for another AGA Member Golf Experience Trip Inclusions: Seven Nights in Four-Star Hotels Five Rounds of Premium Irish Links Golf Ballybunion Golf Club Lahinch Golf Course Old Head Golf Links Tralee Golf Club Waterville Golf Links
Luxury Chauffeur Driven Coach Welcome & Farewell Dinners Private Irish Music Performance Sightseeing Visit to the Cliffs of Moher Irish Trip Representative Price Per Person in Euros (€) Based on 28 Golfers
Golfer €4,195 per person sharing room Non-golfer €2,585 per person sharing + €645 Single Supplement For More Information & To Register Your Interest: azgolf.org/travel
Hey Junior, It’s Hardware Season East Valley junior golfers swing their way to championships in 2023 By Andrew Columbro | Photos by Brandon Genson The JGAA announced the 2023 Player of the Year Awards and Sportsmanship Awards across five age divisions at the awards banquet presented by Troon at Papago Golf Course, on November 28. Thanks to Troon’s support, the special night included guest speaker-PGA TOUR player and University of Arizona golf alum Ricky Barnes, with moderator Drew Stoltz from the Subpar Podcast. “Congratulations to all those who secured a spot on the list,” said Scott McNevin, the executive director of the JGAA. “The JGAA experienced an exceptional 2023 season, and we commend not just the award recipients but also every junior golfer who participated this year.” With the 2023 Boys Championship division Player of the Year coming out of Chandler this year, winner Owen Bolles completed the season with five victories, a runner-up, T8 and T9 finishes in 10 JGAA tournaments entered. In all, he fired 9 of 20 rounds in the 60s for a top-ranked 71.39 scoring average. The sophomore went on two impressive streaks, with his most notable wins coming back-to-back at the New Year Classic/FBGA-Mina Harigae PING Jr. Masters and Betsy King IMG Academy Junior. World Qualifier/SWS PGA Jr. Championship. The Chandler local competed in eight AJGA events and had an impressive year on the national stage. Top AJGA performances included three top-10s capped off with a top-5 finish at the K.J. Choi Foundation Junior Championship by SK Telecom. Bolles qualified for the 47th PGA Junior Championships, thanks to his victory at the Southwest Section PGA Jr. Championship, and earned a top-25 finish in the prestigious event at Hot Springs Country Club. Alexis Vakasiuola of San Tan Valley earned Player of the 48 A R I Z ON A G OL F I N S I DE R | J A N UA RY 2 0 2 4
Year honors in the Girls Championship division. Playing with full force while winning five of her last 11 tournaments, she put an emphatic stamp on an incredible year, with the cherry on top being her commanding five-shot victory at the JGAA Fall Classic. Vakasiuola’s stats speak for themselves, proving her consistency throughout the year: 15 top-10s in 17 tournaments, two runner-ups, and a 74.12 scoring average in 32 rounds. Representing Team Arizona at the 2023 Girls Junior America’s Cup and she led them to fourth place against a stacked international field. During her electric run, the San Tan Valley local claimed her first PING Jr. Masters victory at the EGS Willie Low Invitational back in June. Vakasiuola then won the Mesa City Junior Championship with two sub-70 rounds to win in consecutive weeks. Her most impressive wins of the 2023 season included the Betsy King IMG Academy Jr. World Qualifier and the State Junior Golf Championship at Paradise Valley Country Club. Nationally, Vakasiuola’s best finish in AJGA competition featured a T18 at the Jim Click Automotive / HSL Properties Championship presented by the Tucson Conquistadores. Not to mention, earning qualification for the Girl’s Junior PGA Championship. JGAA 2024 membership opened December 6, 2023 and tournament registration for January and February events opened December 13, 2023. JGAA membership also includes enrollment into Youth on Course, a money-saving program that allows JGAA members to play more than 20 local golf courses (1,700 nationwide) for as little as $5. To register or learn more, visit jgaa.org, or contact Scott McNevin (smcnevin@jgaa.org), 602-944-6168.
Alexis Vakasiuola
Owen Bolles
2023 Award Winners PLAYER OF THE YEAR
SPORTSMANSHIP AWARDS
MOST IMPROVED AWARDS
2023 JGAA HOLE-IN-ONES
Girls 10 & Under Kimsey Terrell
Girls 10 & Under Priya Natarajan
Thomas Caffarelli – 12/11/2022 Winter Classic
Phoenix, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
Boys Shravan Ramesh
Boys 10 & Under Cat Dann
Boys 10 & Under Zhenting Liu
Mesa, AZ
Chandler, AZ
Girls 11 – 12 Hayden Nguyen
Girls 11 – 12 Samantha Evangelista
Peoria, AZ
Queen Creek, AZ
Phoenix, AZ 2022 – 93.00 2023 – 83.73
Boys 11 – 12 Cason Dezzani
Boys 11 – 12 Brody Olayvar
Scottsdale, AZ
Tucson, AZ
Volunteer of the Year Rich Atkinson
Girls 13 – 14 Hannah Nguyen
Girls 13 – 14 Aubrey Pizzillo
Phoenix, AZ
Goodyear, AZ
#13 at Ocotillo Golf Club – Golf/Blue Rotation 142 yards
Boys 13 – 14 Zachary Schaefer
Boys 13 – 14 Bo Moore
Tucson, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
Nicholas Butkiewicz – 4/22/2023 Betsy King IMG Academy Junior World Qualifier
Girls 15 – 18 Rylee Stovall
Girls 15 – 18 Raleigh Lard
Litchfield Park, AZ
Scottsdale, AZ
Boys 15 – 18 Kaj Johnston
Boys 15 – 18 Oliver Uribe
Cave Creek, AZ
Scottsdale, AZ
Girls Championship Alexis Vakasiuola
Girls Championship Lena Durette
San Tan Valley, AZ
Scottsdale, AZ
Boys Championship Owen Bolles
Boys Championship Hogan O’Malley
Chandler, AZ
Scottsdale, AZ 2022 – 91.33 2023 – 80.00
Girls Payton Connelly
#3 at Grandview Golf Course 197 yards with his 6-iron
Talan Ewell – 2/25/2023 Phoenix Metro Junior Championship #5 at Stonecreek Golf Club 156 yards with his 8-iron
Zachary Schaefer – 4/22/2023 Betsy King IMG Academy Junior World Qualifier #8 at Bear Creek Golf Complex – Bear Course 142 yards with his 8-iron
Eva Heinz – 4/22/2023 Betsy King IMG Academy Junior World Qualifier
#10 at Whirlwind Golf Club – Cattail Course 202 yards with his 6-iron
Evan Tyree – 11/5/2023 JGAA Fall Classic Presented by Elite Golf Schools #6 at Las Colinas Golf Club 140 yards
Makenna Cox – 7/7/2023 Prescott City Junior Championship
#15 at Antelope Hills Golf Complex – South Course 105 yards with 50 degree wedge
Tempe, AZ
A Z G OLF .ORG | AR I Z ON A G OLF I N S I DER | 49
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CAN’T STOP WON’T STOP LPGA*USGA Girls Golf (that started in Phoenix) Impacts One Million Girls Worldwide By Cori Matheson, Director, LPGA*USGA Girls Golf of Phoenix Photo by Dee Ann Deaton
The LPGA*USGA Girls Golf national program, which first began in Phoenix, has achieved a remarkable milestone – impacting one million girls through golf across its 550 sites worldwide. One of those sites, our local Phoenix chapter, has been a huge part of the success and continues to pave the way. In 1989, a passionate Phoenix-based, LPGA teaching professional by the name of Sandy LaBauve had a unique vision to grow the game, and founded LPGA*USGA Girls Golf. To this day, Girls Golf is the only national program of its kind, and in Phoenix, it continues to specialize in providing safe and engaging, girl-friendly environments. In addition to enhancing the girls’ athletic abilities, its goal is to empower the girls both on-and-off the golf course. According to the 2023 NGF Female Participation Study, golf has never had higher female representation than today. In 1986, girls made up only 14% of all junior golfers, but today, they represent 38% – making them the fastest-growing segment of the golfing population. Mike Whan, CEO of the USGA recollects, “I remember sitting with Nancy Henderson and the LPGA Foundation team back in 2011, discussing how we could get to 100,000 girls. The fact that they’ve reached one million participants a decade later is truly amazing. Most importantly, these stats show up in actual participation, as the percentage of girls represented in junior golf has never been higher.” Not only is the group growing, it is becoming more diverse - 20 years ago, only one in 17 female junior golfers were non-Caucasian, but today, thanks to programs like Girls Golf, 28% of junior participants are non-Caucasian. “Through the LPGA*USGA Girls Golf program, we have witnessed the transformative power and lasting impact of golf for women and girls,” said LPGA Commissioner Mollie 52 A R I Z ON A G OL F I N S I DE R | J A N UA RY 2 0 2 4
Marcoux Samaan. The Phoenix site has had a 30% increase in participation since 2019 and with no plans of slowing down. Thanks to the support of committed national partners like the USGA, who have invested greatly in the national program, the Girls Golf brand has grown considerably over the years, making a lasting impact in communities while helping to change the face of golf. The national LPGA Foundation has committed to raising $13 million over the next seven years to reduce financial barriers to golf and accelerate program growth. Many larger organizations have already stepped up to help the LPGA Foundation reach its goals. The Pebble Beach Company Foundation donated $1.5 million to LPGA*USGA Girls Golf national, the single largest gift to the LPGA Foundation in one year. Individual donors and event partners, including AT&T, Charles Schwab, Chevron, Cisco, Coca-Cola, Lexus, Morgan Stanley, Rolex, Santander, USGA, and Walmart helped make this donation possible with contributions for the national LPGA Foundation and this initiative. Through the power of golf, the LPGA Foundation seeks continued support to empower and inspire #OneMillionMORE girls. To impact the Phoenix area directly, please consider helping them engage and enrich the lives of girls in the Valley. As a 501c3 program of the Junior Golf Association, the organization needs local support, and every amount of support is greatly appreciated. For more program information visit: girlsgolfofphoenix. org and to see how you can help enrich our Phoenix community, visit girlsgolfofphoenix. org/give-back. National inquiries or contributions can be made through girlsgolf.org/give. Together, our energy and investments for the future can impact our Girls Golf Family in Phoenix and beyond. Let’s empower each other to grow our golf family #OneMillionMORE.
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Centennial Showdown Words & photos by Brandon Genson
The Arizona Golf Association’s (AGA) first 99 years featured no shortage of memorable moments, clutch shots and scenic backdrops across the state’s most iconic venues. The tournament players had high expectations to live up to in 2023 as the Association hoped to host its most memorable season yet to celebrate its centennial. Engel and Kamin Battle for Player of the Year It was only fitting that the 2023 season began with Chris Kamin picking up where he left off. Fresh off of his AGA Men’s Division Player of the Year award, Kamin put AGA and Aguila Golf Course staff on course-record watch during round three of the AGA Championship, coming up just short of the record but making a dent in defending champion Brian Blanchard’s lead to win by one stroke to cap the final round. Kamin carried momentum to Wigwam Golf Club the following month, where he carded -15 to run away with his second consecutive Arizona Stroke Play Championship. Going on to give the tournament season a grande finale, Kamin drained a 70-foot putt on Oakcreek Country Club’s 18th hole to clinch back-to-back Northern Amateur titles. With that win, Kamin has won seven of his last nine AGA tournaments. Positioning himself nicely to repeat as the AGA’s Player of the Year (POTY), only one player with his signature bucket hat posed a serious threat to Kamin’s plans. Sam Engel posted strong finishes in nearly every tournament, placing himself squarely in the POTY race with a dramatic win at the AGA 58 A R I Z ON A G OL F I N S I DE R | J A N UA RY 2 0 2 4
Mid-Amateur Championship. In the final round, Engel sank a 50-foot putt on TPC Scottsdale - Champions Course’s ninth hole; he jumped to first with that putt and held on through the back 9 to secure the Kachina. Hodgkins and Menne Highlight Women's Division in 2023 At the Women’s Mid-Amateur, an unfamiliar face quickly made her presence known. Kirsty Hodgkins, playing in her first AGA tournament, ran roughshod over the field and won the Championship by a 6-stroke margin. As a former All-Pac 12 player at the University of Colorado, Hodgkins, alongside her partner, went on to win the Mixed Stix in addition to representing the AGA at the Arizona vs. Utah Shootout. The first seven months of AGA tournaments created much anticipation for the AGA’s flagship events – the 2023 Arizona Women’s Amateur Championship and the 99th Arizona Amateur Championship. Marked by unforgettable performances with the historic Desert Highlands Golf Club serving as the venue and Pinnacle Peak towering over, the Arizona Women’s Amateur Championship was elevated to new heights.
By winning her third Arizona Women’s Amateur Championship, Ashley Menne, the 2021 AGA Women’s POTY and Arizona State University (ASU) standout, joined elite company becoming just the fourth player to win the title on three or more occasions. It took a steady, three-round performance – typical of Menne – to best Goodyear’s Abbey Schutte after she set the pace with an opening round of 66. After clawing back in rounds two and three, Menne carried a twoshot lead into the final hole; hitting her tee shot behind a bush in the native area right of the fairway, she had to punch out into the fairway for her second shot. Her third shot advanced up the fairway, but her fourth sailed over the green past the flag. Needing to get it close to slam the door shut on Schutte, Menne proceeded to make her chip for par, leaving Schutte no opportunity to make up the two-shot deficit. Chirravuri Edges Out Coelho in Dramatic Arizona Amateur Finish At the 99th Arizona Amateur Championship, 17-year old Tyler Spielman set the tone by earning Stroke Play Medalist Honors, firing -9 over two rounds. As the
144-player field narrowed throughout four days of Match Play, Chandler’s Mahanth Chirravuri and ASU’s Kiko Coelho stood above the rest. Chirravuri propelled himself to the Championship Match by chipping out of a greenside swale on the par-3, 12th hole in the semifinals, while Coelho overcame Spielman and 97th Arizona Amateur Champion Kris Marshall en route to the final match. A dramatic Championship Match picked up steam on the back-9. After falling behind early, Coelho trailed by two headed to the 12th tee; he battled back, one-putting holes 12 through 17. Tied headed to the 18th hole, Chirravuri dazzled a crowd of spectators with a 25-foot eagle putt to secure the Championship. With Kamin’s perennial domination, the emergence of Engel and Hodgkins, dramatic finishes in the women’s division and the theatrics of the Amateur Championship, the AGA got a tournament season fitting for its centennial. Carrying that momentum forward, the AGA’s 101st year will feature nods to its past at its marquee events, and a tournament schedule that aims to push the envelope once again and set the tone for the next 100 years.
Play Nine No Problem World Handicap System Scheduled for Much Needed Tune-Up in ‘24 | Words by Derek McKenzie Modernization within the game of golf took a notable step forward with the introduction of the World Handicap System (WHS) in early 2020, providing a singular and consistent manner to assign golfer Handicap Index assignments on a global basis. By most standard measures, this WHS modernization effort has been a success, with over 120 countries now having adopted its use, including more than 3-million active golfers in the United States. However, despite these record global participation statistics, the WHS continually strives to further improve the equity of its Handicap Index (H.I.) assignments; as well as the reach of players and courses it serves. In turn, a few upcoming changes to the 2024 WHS Rules of Handicapping are scheduled for WHS golfer use beginning in mid-January.
differential, for immediate use in the nightly Handicap Index formula recalculation. Incomplete Rounds (10-17 Holes Played)
Similar to the revised treatment of 9-hole score postings, the use of scaling will be utilized whenever someone plays an eligible round - at least 9-holes on a rated nine - but does not complete all 18-holes. In this
growing and equally diverse player base in golf have created demand for shorter courses and tee sets, both to benefit speed of play and to better match a player’s desired challenge or skill level. To accommodate these realized player trends, there is a significant decrease in the minimum length a course or tee set must be in order to be eligible for player WHS score posting use. In particular, the minimum length standard is dropping from: 3000+ yards for 18-holes, to only needing to be 1500+ yards for WHS posting eligibility beginning in 2024 (or 750-yards+ for 9-holes).
icap Index assignments for use. Although in most cases, this will simply include authorization of the standard WHS formula outcome, occasionally there are unique cases when the original formula assignment does not properly reflect the golfer’s demonstrated abilities. To aid Handicap Committees in the identification of these unique cases while streamlining the implementation of appropriate modifications, higher or lower, to best
Handicap Review Reporting Tool
Club-based Handicap Committees are tasked with the ongoing validation of golfer Hand-
Treatment of 9-Hole Rounds
With the launch of the 2024 Rules of Handicapping, each 9-hole round will be independently utilized in the overnight WHS Handicap Index formula, instead of combining separate 9-hole rounds together in the order of posting entry. This will be accomplished by calculating an original first-nine score differential, as normal, based upon the actual 9-hole score posted. Then, use of a ‘neutral’ scoring value for the second nine is automatically applied by WHS technology to ‘scale’ the round’s performance to an overall 18-hole score
instance, the player will enter their abbreviated round in a hole-by-hole posting capacity, WHS technology then projects an ‘expected score’ for any unplayed hole(s) to scale the round’s 18-hole score differential for official handicap formula use. Short(er) Courses Eligible for Rating
Recent trends, innovation and a rapidly
represent the golfer’s ability, a new Handicap Review reporting tool will become accessible to club-based Committees in Q2 of 2024. Please stay tuned to AZgolf.org website for additional detail on these and several other updates to the 2024 WHS Rules of Handicapping, expected for official use beginning in mid-January. A Z G OLF .ORG | AR I Z ON A G OLF I N S I DER | 59
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OLD TOWN TORTILLA FACTORY Dine at Scottsdale's Hidden Gem
Old Town Tortilla Factory is located in the heart of Old Town Scottsdale, where it captures timeless charm with a distinct atmosphere that exemplifies the essence of the Southwest. Our property boasts a 1400 square foot flagstone patio that is surrounded by green vegetation and shaded by 100 year old trees. In the winter months the patio is heated to spring-like temperatures. Our bar, a separate gazebo, offers over 120 premium tequilas and a complete selection of beers, wine and liquor. Our food at Old Town Tortilla Factory is Southwestern with a Mexican twist. Our loyal and experienced staff are committed to serving you the ultimate Southwestern dining experience. Old Town Tortilla Factory is the perfect venue for your special event: • Indoor and outdoor seating • Cool mist system or toasty heated patio • Can accommodate groups ranging from 10-350 • Plated or buffet style dining • Daytime weddings or events available • Live entertainment options and much more
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The Lost Art: Walking a Round Words by Ed Gowen
In my quest to understand the current trends and attitudes among golfers regarding walking versus riding with a caddie, pushing a cart, or carrying their own bag, I turned to ChatGPT for research. Over the past few years, I’ve observed a notable divergence in preferences among groups of golfers, prompting me to wonder if these choices reflect broader societal patterns. While there seems to be a general trend, significant variables come into play. A recent study by The New York Times highlighted a shift in golfing habits, noting that more players today opt to walk their rounds, and some courses have even abandoned motorized carts altogether. Interestingly, it appears that golf courses themselves play a pivotal role in shaping these choices, influencing many golfers’ decisions on where to play based on course rules. Private club policies stand out as a key determinant. In most southern tier private facilities, cart-riding is mandatory, driven by factors such as revenue, consistent pace of play, and course design considerations. The decision often leans towards riding, especially on courses with older members who find it more physically accommodating. Those allowing or mandating walking are in the minority, typically driven by a membership with traditional values, often identifying as “golf clubs” rather than country clubs.
Photo courtesy of Hunter Lent
62 A R I Z ON A G OL F I N S I DE R | D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3
The second group comprises resort or high-end public courses. While these venues traditionally required carts for revenue and pace consistency, the landscape is changing, especially post-Covid. More golfers express a desire to walk, albeit at specific times. The prohibition of walking is often attributed to maintaining a consistent experience, as resort travelers may bring a vacation mindset, complete with music and beverages, impacting competitiveness on the course. Municipal and lower-cost public facilities tend to be more walking-friendly, with a mix of serious competitors, casual riders, and those who enjoy music and beverages during their rounds. Two opposing truths emerge regarding golfers who walk public and resort courses in America: Walking is on the rise, yet only a small fraction of American golfers walk regularly. Research on this topic reveals diverse perspectives, including insights from Golf Pass on the top 100 walking golf courses and the 25 best public and resort courses, along with a study in the World Journal of Advanced Research. Golf Pass findings indicate that some of the most expensive resort courses mandate walking, though few golfers take advantage. The perception that expensive rounds necessitate riding is prevalent, contributing to increased sales of carry bags and power caddies in recent years. The World Journal of Advanced Research delves into the financial aspects of golf course operation, revealing that, regardless of design considerations, golfers play at the same pace whether walking or riding. Additionally, walkers burn more calories, have better focus, and incur at least one fewer stroke per round compared to riders. In conclusion, Golf Pass suggests that walking remains an afterthought for the majority of American golfers, with many casual players associating carts with transporting themselves, beverages, and buddies around the course. The reliance on cart revenue by many clubs, coupled with players’ habits, presents a challenge to changing the status quo. Moreover, the USGA has conducted extensive studies on the costs to turf where riding is mandated, revealing that the financial benefits may not be as substantial as perceived. In essence, golf emerges as a highly personalized experience influenced by social perceptions at all levels. All that to say, I’m a purist - I prefer to walk and carry if the course allows and I’m feeling up for it. Some days I’ll load up a push cart and still enjoy the course on my own two feet, however, as mentioned above, sometimes riding is the only or last resort. To each their own. Enjoy the game! C
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Treat your guests to Old Town Scottsdale’s most inviting patio, featuring some of Arizona’s unique southwestern cuisine. Locally owned and operated, our establishment has the ability to take care of groups of 2-300. It’s the perfect spot to gather for a night under the stars after a wonderful day of golf. 480-945-4567 | www.oldtowntortillafactory.com
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