TUCSON, Arizona – Ponte Vedra Beach-based Palmer Course Design recently completed a $5.5 million renovation project at Starr Pass Country Club & Spa, a true desert golf course known for its challenging layout and design. The world-renowned golf course architecture company added nine new holes and remodeled the original 18 at the famous resort.
"Palmer Course Design is a first-class organization that is very good at what they do: creating beautiful courses that are enjoyable for golfers at every level," said Starr Pass Owner Peter Ansley. "When you work with Palmer Course Design, you get the attention of a true golf icon, Arnold Palmer, as well as the talent and skill of Ed Seay and the entire Palmer team. There was no other company to do the job. It had to be Palmer Course Design."
Starr Pass, site of the Tucson Open from 1987 to 1996, was known for being one of the most demanding tournament courses. Its infamous hole No. 3 was named the most difficult hole on the PGA Tour in 1996. According to Palmer Course Design Project Architect Eric Wiltse, the reconstruction of the original 18 was planned with golfers at every ability level in mind and resulted in a more user-friendly course with more visible, shallow sand bunkers, softer, larger greens, and wider fairways. Palmer Course Design also added a "Palmer Tee" for golfers who hit their drives like the pros and enlarged the practice area to ensure more players would benefit from the facilities. Starr Pass ranges from a challenging 7,000 yards to a more manageable 5,213 yards, allowing professional players and weekend duffers alike to enjoy the championship resort course.
"Starr Pass is a spectacular golf course with some of the most beautiful scenery found anywhere in the country," Wiltse said. "Remodeling the original 18 will allow more players to enjoy this amazing golf experience."
The new nine holes at Starr Pass were designed to compliment the changes made to the original 18 while showcasing the natural beauty of the terrain and native landscape of the Sonoran Desert. There are exciting elevation changes and fewer forced carries on the new track that has four holes situated just outside of the JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa. According to Ansley, many of the resort’s guests have commented that they would return to Starr Pass just for the golf.
"The new nine are a wonderful addition to our resort," Ansley said. "They test the serious players while still providing a fun outing for golfers with a higher handicap. Palmer and his team met everything we were looking for with both the design of the new nine and remodeling of the original 18."
For more information about Starr Pass, visit www.starrpass.com.
Founded on the philosophy and standards of excellence set forth by the game’s ambassador, Arnold Palmer, Palmer Course Design has created some of golf’s most memorable and awe-inspiring courses throughout the world. With nearly 300 active projects and open golf courses in 38 states and 23 countries, Palmer Course Design applies fundamental design elements to any style of course and is committed to providing a great golf experience as the company continues to develop its exciting new designs.
For more information about Palmer Course Design, call (904) 285-3960 or visit www.palmerdesign.com.
Contact:
Erik Larsen, Executive Vice President
Palmer Course Design
Phone: (904) 285-3960
Fax: (904) 285-2119
erik@palmerdesign.com
www.palmerdesign.com
Maxine McBride, President
Clockwork Marketing Services, Inc.
Phone: (904) 280-7960
Fax: (904) 280-2567
maxine@clockworkmarketing.com
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