Challenge
Our challenge was to take an existing all-grass nine holes, blend it with a new
desert-style nine holes and make it match, giving players a great golf
experience.
Solution
The greens of the existing nine were recontoured and strategic bunkering was added. A desert golf experience for those nine holes was created by adding vegetation to match the desert environment of the new back nine. The new nine was kept to the same scale as the existing nine by keeping the fairway widths the same and the bunkering the same size.
Result
At around 6,500 yards the strength of the Sonoran Course lies not in length but in the green contours and surrounding areas. Strategic fairway bunkering sets up the course for a variety of shots that require placement to have the best chance to get close to the flag. The design will allow for a great deal of fun and variety for the members and resort guests alike, round after round. Lehman Design Group also built two new holes on the Catalina Course to allow more room for the creation of the Sonoran Course. The par three seventh hole and the par five eighth hole were rebuilt and were used for the PGA Tour’s Tucson Open.
