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Director of Golf Operations
Jeff Hochman
Director of Golf Operations
USGA ONSITE VISIT REPORT – SEPTEMBER 8, 2021 IMPROVED AESTHETICS, PLAYABILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY
“From my perspective, the recent renovation on the South course achieved all of the intended goals to improve the aesthetics of the golf course, facilitate easier and more efficient golf course maintenance, and to improve sustainability through turf reduction, irrigation upgrades and removing a considerable amount of bunker area. I have seen 20 to 30 or more golf course renovations over the past four or five years and I can say only a small percentage have been as successful as this renovation on the South Course at Sun City Grand. Congratulations to all parties involved.”
The above statement is what was said in the latest Onsite Visit Report by our United States Golf Association Agronomist in September of 2021. Staff is very proud of the final project and appreciates everyone (Golf Long Range Planning Committee, Golf Advisory Committee, Finance Advisory Committee, Sun City Grand Board of Directors, and a lot of resident input) that had a part to play in the project. The Granite Falls South renovation has been received very well. The changes included addition of the new tee box, renovation of the orange tee boxes, bunker changes with new liner/sand and a much more desirable putting surface along with some irrigation improvements. With all/any new greens project, they will be firm until they begin to mature and obtain an organic/ thatch layer just beneath the turf to help soften them up. Golfers experienced the same conditions back in 2007 when the greens on Granite Falls North #1 and #18 were changed out to experiment with different varieties of turf. As the weather has started to heat up staff has started to perform some mechanical practices to help soften them up. They will only continue to improve as they mature. This summer, the Cimarron and Desert Springs courses will have the forward tees constructed like Granite Falls South and the red tee will be added. The Request for Proposal (RFP) was sent out in early March for the Granite Falls North course to have similar improvements done in the summer of 2023 like Granite Falls South.
The Request for Proposal (RFP) was sent out in early March for the Granite Falls North course to have similar improvements done in the summer of 2023 like Granite Falls South. The goal is to continue this process in 2025 at Desert Springs and 2027 finishing up with Cimarron.
