Arizona Golf Insider - April 2024

ARIZONA GOLF the insider

Photo by Chris Leach - @rover Front & Back Cover Photos by Alex Johnson - @helloimalexjohnson

Arizona Biltmore Re-opening

The Arizona Biltmore Golf Club opens their new clubhouse this May. The 19,400 sq. ft. building includes the new Adobe Bar & Grille, a grab-and-go market called The Pantry, a state-of-the-art golf simulator room, as well as 6,000 sq. ft. of event space in The Ballroom. The Adobe Bar & Grille will feature a stylish center bar plus a beautiful dining room, both open to an expansive patio with views of the Estates Course and downtown Phoenix.

Foothills Golf Club

From May 13th through mid-October, Foothills Golf Club will conduct a renovation that spans greens on all 18 holes, practice greens, and the vast majority of tee boxes— providing superior playing surfaces for the entire year. AZ Management & Investments, along with Troon, are dedicated to rejuvenating this WeiskopfMorrish classic, bringing a true gem to the Ahwatukee Foothills Community.

Ak-Chin

Southern Dunes

Sunlight, moonlight— semantics. Ak-Chin Southern Dunes begins plans to bring more night golf to Arizona via lighted #miniDunes. Just one more reason to always keep your clubs in the car.

2024 PAC 12 Men’s Championship

The 2024 Pac-12 Men’s Golf Championships are set to take place April 26-28, hosted by Arizona State University, at the Desert Forest Golf Club. Visit pac-12.com for team standings as well as event details.

Words by Preston McFarland, Senior Brand Advisor

Primary Colors

Obsidian

Our hero color.

Secondary Colors

Pays homage to the red rocks of Sedona and romantic sunsets of Southern Arizona.

Tee integration

Spines draw connection to 1923 2 spines on the left arm & 3 spines on the right arm Saguaro integration

Logotype is approachable, yet traditional and playful (lowercase)

Logotype is handwritten & imperfect---just like our golf game

Rooted in subtle colors of the typical desert landscape.

Bring on the monsoons.

Contrasts nicely across the deep and vibrant greens, and bright blues of course photography.

Alabaster

Red Rocks

Dark Gray

Light Grey

Signature Hole

The I-10 west will take you to the beach, if you drive far enough. The I-17 north will take you to aspen-laden forests, if you drive far enough. But if you take State Route 74 west from the I-17 and hang a right about eight minutes past Lake Pleasant, you’ll find yourself immersed in perhaps the most intriguing destination that the two-lane highway leads to. A drive that’ll account for about 40 minutes of your morning regardless of where you’re coming from is worth every mile and every minute. We can most certainly guarantee that.

That’s right, situated between one of the Valley’s most notorious off-roading areas and a church camp is Quintero. What was originally slated as a private club in its inaugural year, Quintero Golf Club is Golf Digest’s #1 public golf course in Arizona for 2024. A premiere destination for both Arizonans and visiting golfers alike, the track is nestled amongst the valleys of subtle desert mountain peaks.

Words & Photos by Alex Johnson

What remains amongst the residential roads that lead to unobstructed cul-de-sac views is the artistry of Rees Jones. The renowned designer painted fairways along the desert’s contours and layered tee boxes on the faces of the property’s mountains that are resemblant of the lily pads floating in the streams that feed Castle Hot Springs just 20 miles north.

Drawing parallels to the rugged desert scene, this course is not for the faint of heart—with a margin of error that’s slim to none, miscalculating your yardage or shanking a 5-iron can be as fateful as bringing too little water on a summer hike in the sultry Sonoran Desert.

Contrary to the ruthlessness of the course and the challenges it presents, such as a natural ravine dividing a fairway into two sections on the thoughtfully crafted par-5 8th hole, the smell of creosote bushes and the sweeping vistas are as equally welcoming as the gracious staff who commutes to this oasis on a daily basis to tee up Arizona’s best golf.

Hole 8 - Par-5

The number one handicap on the course features a split fairway, courtesy of a wash, making it nearly impossible to clear off the tee box.. Challenge accepted? After clearing the wash, the hole plays another 25 yards uphill.

Photo by Alex Johnson

Go

Words by Scott Fluhler

Let’s hear it for the greenskeepers.

It’s a cold winter’s morning in Phoenix, Arizona. The time is 5 a.m.—still an hour or more until the first peaks of sunlight will crest the horizon. Golfers across the city, most still fast asleep, dream of the tee shots to come. But before any of them ever set foot on the fairway, a dedicated team has already made first tracks.

Golf’s true dawn patrol— the greenskeepers.

As golfers, many of us may not understand the scope of their contributions but we can certainly feel it as we gaze out over 100 or more acres of a beautifully manicured course (and that’s only the grass, some properties push 200+ acres that require maintenance).

Whether it’s edging sprinkler heads or repairing sprinkler heads, cutting greens or rolling greens, mowing tees or cleaning up broken tees, a lot of time and attention goes into setting the stage for the world’s greatest game.

Back of the napkin math nets out to at least 54 man-hours each morning just for daily maintenance, not including the speciality and seasonal projects such as verticutting greens or aerating for overseeding. It’s about time these artisans got the recognition they deserved.

“I just love being outside. Especially when the overseed comes in. The grass is almost metallic when the sun comes up over the crest. It’s like an angel,” shares Craig, a groundskeeper for Phoenix Country Club.

by

Photo

Alex Johnson

“[It’s about] making it look like a painted picture. It takes a lot of work—the artistry. We’re crafting the perfect playing conditions to make people happy,” adds Ryan Voyles, Phoenix Country Club’s superintendent.

Steaming coffees in hand, the groundskeepers’ day begins much in the same way our rounds do—on the first tee. The only difference? It’s pitch black out and there’s not a glow ball in sight. Beams of flashlights and headlamps illuminate the wispy puffs of breath around everyone’s heads. Shuffling in place, getting their blood flowing, the team receives their orders for the day.

Craig Werline, Phoenix Country Club’s Director of Agronomy, might send a pair of undergrads from Grand Canyon University out to rake bunkers. A task that, even with the two of them, could take up to four hours.

“I always put a game plan together for the following day before I leave, but the challenging days are when I come in the morning and guys call out or don’t show up,” says Werline.

For instance, after a quick drive through the back nine with his superintendent Voyles, Werline might flag a leaking irrigation pipe off the fairway on hole fourteen.

“Something like an irrigation break could change the scope of work… you’ve always got to be willing to pivot,” says Werline.

So Werline pulls someone from the mowing team to quickly patch it before too much more water is lost—a monumental task given the increasing scarcity of the desert’s most precious resource. This leaves the mowing team one short and with someone calling in sick the night before, he’s now two short. The entire property contains 85 acres of grass that needs mowing between fairways, rough, tee boxes, and greens, so the lack of staff can be punishing.

Worse yet, a mower from their fleet of sixteen—which spans across tees and approach mowers, fairway mowers, rough mowers and greens mowers— needs a wheel replaced.

However, every day the list of “things to accomplish” inevitably transforms.

So without missing a beat, Werline’s second-in-command, Voyles, steps up.

Voyles underscores one of the most underappreciated aspects of the greenskeeper’s experience—the work needs to be done, one way or another. Which means that to be a greenskeeper is to be a true team player. Because ultimately, no matter who actually does the work, it’s about one thing—the golfer’s experience.

Navigating the nuances of the Rye-Bermuda mix, morning temperatures dictating green speeds, members’ feedback from the day before, and areas of the course that have been over-saturated overnight can be a day-to-day and sometimes, a week-to-week dance.. Werline says, “We’ll hit balls in the morning and see how it’s feeling.”

“It’s about evaluating and maintaining the course with the eye of the golfer. We strive to always be in tournament form for both regular member play and potential events,” Voyles added.

Selfless is how these teams talk about their craft. On one hand this selflessness manifests in the culture they sow among one another. A sentiment echoed by the General Manager of Poston Butte Golf Club, JC Wright.

“We have a small team but they’re passionate individuals. It’s a different type of passion… they wake up at 3 a.m.—the oddest hours—bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. It could be 115 or 30 degrees out and waiting for frost to break, to them, it doesn’t make a difference.”

And on the other hand, their selflessness applies to everything they do being in service to the guest. They willingly adopt a hospitality-like mindset because, ultimately, their work is about preparing every inch of the property for the guests that tee it up later that morning.

At Phoenix Country Club, Werline’s crew has the protection of a roomier tee sheet to allow for additional time each morning to prep the course—members don’t start teeing off in the winter until 8 a.m. But for Wright and his team at Poston Butte, the public “rabbits” arrive early.

Photo by Alex Johnson

“Fast golfers who catch the maintenance, you’re the rabbits… [When you catch the crew], understand that delaying their project means delaying their break and delaying timelines into days and sometimes weeks ahead,” Wright reveals.

Rick, a greenskeeper at Poston Butte agrees, “Challenging days are when we’ve got early tee times and a lot of golfers. We really have to hustle.” On the public courses especially, the only time the team can cut the rough is when golfers are playing. So accounting for stoppage due to play, mowing the rough on Poston’s 200 acre property takes up to twenty hours.

Patience and understanding were two themes shared by all. Battling with the challenges of understaffing, equipment failures and a constantly evolving list of priorities, alongside last-minute fixes, greenskeeper crews are certainly the unsung and often unseen heroes.

Heroes that we, as golfers, could stand to take the opportunity to appreciate more often.

“The greatest compliment I can get is hearing golfers saying that we’re doing a great job. It’s not from my boss, it’s the golfers,” shares Bo.

“They’re always diligently working towards improving [your] experience… I think of golf more as a hospitality business at this point,” Wright says.

“They have immense pride in what they do,” Werline adds.

And behind that pride is another core theme that emerged in speaking about why they do what they do—passion. “I love being outdoors, getting up early and being outside. I’m off work by 9 a.m. four days a week,” shares Bo, a retired salesman with a smile spreading from ear to ear.

The team hails from all sorts of backgrounds and professions—each drawn to their craft for any number of reasons. Rick, a retired fisherman from Alaska says, “I actually like the heat. I lived up in Alaska for 50 years… so, yeah I don’t mind it.”

And as you might imagine, being around the course this much leads to a passion for the game as well. Whether they found it in retirement or a young student looking for seasonal work and some free golf—everyone has their reason. “I’m just a big ole golf nerd so keeping this place looking nice for everybody is fun,” shares Carson, a greenskeeper at Phoenix Country Club and self-described “snowbird” who comes down from the northwest to work winters at the club.

When it becomes about passion, tasks take on a whole new meaning. It becomes about so much more than cutting a fairway. The game within the game is revealed.

Richard, a groundskeeper at Poston Butte talks about his love for fairways. “When seasons change, you transition from Rye to Bermuda grass. And in the mornings when it’s still dark, it can be difficult to see. So you have to really focus to make sure you follow the lines—it’s a challenge, but I enjoy it.”

Photo by Josh Hanson - @joshuakhanson

Finding the sometimes subtle moments to appreciate connected everyone. The sights, the sounds, the smells.

“You just can’t beat the scents in the fall when the Texas sage gets ready for winter. It gives off a different smell than the spring,” Richard continues.

“The best sound on the golf course is a mower,” Voyles says, “If you hear a mower in the morning, then you know things are going to plan. But you can also hear if a mower has an issue from across the course. When something’s off you can definitely tell.”

Each person holds such a deep knowledge and reverence for their discipline.

Surrounded by golfers hyperfocused on one of the most challenging individual sports around, it was apparent in hearing from everyone that greenskeeping is a team sport in the purest form. An idea best summed up by Craig, the greenskeeper from Phoenix Country Club.

“When a few blowers get together—they kind of sync up and it gets a hum going. Yeah, that’s my favorite sound.” Almost like an orchestra, their success is found in the collaboration of all team members.

Everyone contributes, helps one another, and celebrates their collective success.

Selfless in their motivations, they hold an intense pride for their craft.

“As soon as you walk two feet on property, it reflects [us],” says Werline.

So the next time you tee it up, remember that behind every raked bunker, every perfectly rolled green, every shrub, cactus, and bloom—is a passionate team of agronomy artisans that deserves your appreciation.

Let’s hear it for the greenskeepers.

by

Photo

Alex Johnson

IT’S COMPLEX

There are only two parts of a golf course every player is destined to put their spikes the tee box and the green. However, as golf course designer Gary Brawley puts it, “You can have marginal tees and fairways, but if you have great greens, people will continue to come back to play that course.”

One of the most time-consuming and expensive (on average 30% of a maintenance budget) parts of the course to maintain—and for good reason—greens are the focus of not only the designer and maintenance team, but of every golfer as well. Upon visiting Brawley at one of only five putting courses in Arizona, Brawley pulled back the curtain on the multi-step process of designing greens.

Words by Alex Johnson

Photo by Josh Hanson

The Green Complex

“It’s more about the green complex, as a whole, than just the green surface. I focus on how everything surrounding the green complements what’s happening on the green itself.” From the size of the green’s collars—heavily influenced by the club’s inherent preference of walking or riding—to the approach shots and potential hazards, a green is the culmination of all variables that create a golf course.

Beneath that beautifully contoured carpet of grass is an entire ecosystem, primarily focused on drainage, which largely impacts what’s happening above ground. “Everyone thinks the greens are just created, but it’s not that simple. I have to set everything up based on how water is getting out of there.” It begins with four inches of gravel and 10 to 12 inches of sand, in and out sprinkler heads on the perimeter of the green, complemented by slopes and contours that direct both the ball and water where they need to be, respectively. The green complex is complicated.

The Speed-Slope Equation

Brawley paints a picture, “Think about the drive from Sedona to Flagstaff. You can only go about 35 miles per hour right? That’s because it’s steep and curvy. But the drive from Phoenix to Palm Springs, you can go 80 miles per hour. That’s because it’s flat. Same thing with putting greens.”

More slope = less speed. Less slope = more speed.

In order to build putting greens that people enjoy, Brawley has to understand the club’s demographics and styles of play. Some clubs want faster greens, while others want slower greens.

“I like to have some contour and some character to the greens because it needs to be fun. Right? But it’s all about finding balance and that balance is different from course to course,” Brawley divulged. Not only do slopes and contour provide fun, they also enable players of all skill levels to get balls to the pinnable areas of the green.

Designing for Variety & Inclusivity

One of the greatest challenges of designing greens is providing a variety of hole locations that are agreeable to every golfer. By dividing each green (which averages ~6,500 sq.ft.) into three to five pinnable areas, Brawley creates greens within greens. “In between the pinnable areas is where I can utilize contour to make transitions or steeper slopes in the green,” explained Brawley.

Brawley’s designs cater to both high handicappers and scratch golfers. For instance, “If I have a back right hole location around a bunker, I’ll make sure there’s a contour in the green to feed a putt back there so that the high handicapper who’s not

as confident in their wedges doesn’t have to fly it. There’s a balance of air and grounding, and that’s where the surroundings come into play.”

Collaboration is Key

It takes a village to do it right and alignment across all stakeholders— from the owner to the designer to the director of agronomy—is key to the success of any course re-model, particularly the greens.

Matthew Rusch, Director of Agronomy at Thompson Golf Group, is a future-thinking man. “What it comes down to is the ease of future maintenance. We work very closely with our designer and owner to make sure we are providing a plan that is sustainable from a water and budgetary perspective, as well as one that increases the enjoyment and course availability to our golfers,” said Rusch.

It goes without saying, the goal is to always get to the green (in as few strokes as possible of course). But it doesn’t matter whether you drive the green or get there in three, if you’re putting on a surface reminiscent of asphalt, you could be there all day.

Great greens make for great rounds. Great rounds make for happy golfers. Happy golfers make for a successful golf course, and that’s in large part because of the greens.

Pinnable Areas

Irrigation Ins & Outs

Speed & Slope

Hazards

Slopes Approach Surface Direction

*For illustrative and insightful purposes only. Welcome into the mind of a golf course designer---safe place to visit, dangerous place to stay.

Punch Bowl Effect

Biarritz Style Green

Don’t it always seem to go That you don’t know what you’ve got Till it’s gone They paved paradise

OPEN MINDS

And

up a

put

parking lot - Joni Mitchell, “Big Yellow Taxi”

Sticks and Stones (and Pars)

GRADUATING FROM IRKED TO IDEA to activation was bizarre, even for Terreno Baldío’s initial participants—most of whom are connected to the city’s arts and media world.

“At first, it was just something fun to talk about and I’d humor Steve,” smiles Brklacich, who, off-course, runs a corporate recruiting company. “We were kicking around ideas, but for me, as a lifetime golfer, this did kinda sound like a strange idea. And even the first time we laid out a course at our initial lot, I still thought it was really weird.”

Situated on a vacant urban lot in the Roosevelt Row Arts District near the farmers market, the debut course was chosen with both purpose and promise.

“In the case of the first course, we knew that it was city-owned land— specifically, for the Arizona Cardinals stadium as that was one of the locations they were considering,” recalls Weiss. “So, people started land banking in this historic neighborhood that pretty much just got flattened.”

As the debut three-hole course took shape with wiffle balls, mobile

hitting mats and faux greens, flat land found instant rise.

“In our first-ever round,” smiles Brklacich, “I turned to one of the other guys and said, ‘This is way more fun than I expected. Just don’t tell Steve I said that.’”

With Brklacich serving as sentry Spock to Weiss’s quirky Kirk, the game found counter-culture context. “Very early on I said, ‘All we need is a 7-iron.’ And hats off to Tin Cup on that,” Brklacich says. “Really, the 7 is all you need to drive, chip and putt. The technical aspects of the game are still there.”

Swing by swing through the desert dust, course routing was a matter-organic.

“It kind of combines the fun of childhood—figure it out, make it up,” continues Brklacich. “It’s just a matter of first figuring out where to put the tee box, hit it, see how far it goes and if you can get on in regulation, that’s where the green goes.”

Terreno’s first round came with a curious gallery.

“The only time we’ve ever had law enforcement stop to ask us what the hell we were doing was that very first round at our first course,” Brklacich laughs.

“We were playing, a squad car pulls up and the officer said, ‘We heard you guys are hitting golf balls around here?’ We started explaining they were just wiffle balls and they got a kick out of it and watched us play for about 20 minutes.”

With added rounds, Terreno traction took further hold. The city site would find high-rise neighbors offering golf claps during play, the club set up a Facebook page to welcome new members and local TV offered some coverage of the curious concept.

And, to Weiss’s delight, visibly making use of a vacant space removed neighborhood taboo.

“In the case of this first course, we took an empty lot that everybody avoided and, next thing you know, we see people tossing frisbees, playing football and walking their dogs,” says Weiss. “We actually activated the space and when this happens–things change... People in the neighborhood started using the space. So, we felt from the beginning that we were actually doing something good for our city.” Thus further proving golf’s ability to catalyze community even to those ‘outside’ of the sport, and foster positive human interaction.

Few Rules, Ample Intrigue

OVER TIME, as Terreno Baldío has become nomadic, its game has found further definition.

After the debut course became a parking lot (oh, sweet irony), the club moved to a space east of Central on Columbus before eventually shifting to a third course, southwest of Thomas and Central on 1st Avenue. Since 2020, Terreno has laid stake at a vacant space in another centralPhoenix neighborhood.

Working with a mantra of asking for forgiveness, not permission—Terreno’s members have experienced far more swing duff than neighborhood guff.

“You see the neighbors coming by to wave; and, yeah, sometimes they play with us,” says long time club member Justin Katz. “And, the more they see us out here, they’re like, ‘Wait, is that a thing?’ And that starts the conversation.

The more people who make use of this space, the more eyes on it— the safer and more activated the place becomes.”

Just as Katz, a creative director and consultant, sees Terreno Baldío as “a public art project” aimed to revitalize space, his playing competitor, Phoenix-native Robert Sentinery, a local arts magazine publisher and editor, believes that the game isn’t played sans statement.

“The real estate market in Phoenix is very boom-and-bust; it’s always been that kind of town,” Sentinery says. “There are these situations where there was once a home on this site and some speculator came in here aiming to make a fortune building condos, and then the market turns and they end up with this empty lot. So, yeah, we are saying something in coming out here and activating these forgotten spaces, these spaces in-between.”

While the guerilla game’s edicts lay somewhere between golf’s original 13 rules dating to 1744 and the USGA/R & A’s modern-day 25 rules, the Terreno play isn’t without its competitive juices, camaraderie, context and gentlemanly etiquette.

Working with black-and-yellow SKLZ wiffle balls, each player is provided a cut swath of astroturf to tow, used for each pre-green shot. Per the putting surface, slick carpet squares are cut with PVC cups, 4-inches in diameter, slightly smaller than a regulation golf hole.

Carded at a par-36, the three holes on the current Loma Linda course are played thrice for a full round–with the routing of:

Par-5 1st (approximately 170 yards)—Dogleg left and featuring the faux “Fiery Lake of Doom”— players can’t cut the corner over the imaginary O.B.; while the turn marker toward the green initially began with a spare tire at the corner, it has since been replaced by a small stack of concrete.

Par-4 2nd (approximately 170 yards)—Straightforward, with a daunting tree hazard behind the green; once a small bush back in 2020, the tree now serves as a formidable opponent to par.

Par-3 3rd (approximately 60 yards)—Shortie finish, but sure to provide pressure for the third and final loop around.

While the club once left its greens in-place between rounds at past locations, having the surfaces stolen from its current locale has resulted in Brklacich adding to his duties as Terreno’s “Head Pro.” In addition, he now holds the dual

title as “Director of Agronomy”, which involves bringing the carpets home between rounds and ensuring the surfaces don’t crimp.

Taking the greens actually gives Weiss a sense of guilt.

“I know it sounds funny, but I actually feel a little bad about that because it seems more elitist,” he says. “We love the idea that, when we’re not there, people could still be playing.”

Between turf tries, the grounds prove a “true desert golf course; not Disneyized,” says Weiss, whose words prove both apt and humbling. Bounding balls are simply subject to the cause and result of the gravelly, barren and archaic terrain, whether that sees a wiffle top-spinning 30 feet past the green, kicked 20 feet askew by an ill-tempered pebble or stopping next to an emptied airplane booze bottle left asunder

by a non-Terreno passerby who opted not to practice Weiss’s “leave no trace” preach.

With a nip from an omnipresent flask helping to assuage bogeys (or worse) and an awaiting “10th hole” social hour, a consistent component to the game, Weiss’s greatest vision for Terreno Baldío is a round that doesn’t even include him on the tee sheet.

“In a perfect world, this idea is dynamite for spaces which are either underused or underutilized,” he concludes.

“As much as I enjoy people coming out to play with us, I’d love even more for people to mimic what we’re doing and set up their own courses in other places; and, if they do that, I hope they’d have the same respect for the land and respect for the people surrounding that land. Oh, I can also hope that they only use wiffle balls.”

FAIRWAY DAYDREAMS

Road trips, a staple of summer. Spinning your tires through the desert’s undisturbed and unforgiving landscapes will lead you to some of golf’s most incredible courses. But for most, it’s the destination that makes the journey worth it.

However, inconspicuously situated along the side of the highway, amidst the intersection of the Sonoran and Mojave deserts, is what’s left of the manifestation of a golfer’s imagination. A roadside wash inhabiting a 100-yard par-3 featuring an island tee box and a fairway with arena football-style walls. The designer? Unknown.

And if you didn’t have a reason to stop, this slice of paradise would remain, unknown.

Clear the water and fly to the green or risk playing your second shot from the desert’s fairway---impeccably ill-maintained, sun-baked clay. Or, play it off the wall. Here, everything is in play. The best part? You don’t need a tee time, a collar or a cart. All you need is a ball, an iron, and some good luck.. Good luck finding it because it doesn’t exist.

Dream on, dreamers.

It’s 5 o’clock somewhere!

Smiling in the face of skepticism, this fashion plate has the bravado to make the course his runway. He looks like a tall glass of water and his pants have me feeling four drinks in.

* Listens to ASAP Rocky once.*

I’m living for the versatility of this look – game time by day, meet-yourbabushka by night. The red accent repetition, mix of materials and big grin carry this look home.

Come on, Barbie, let’s go party.

Someone’s archival 80’s Workout Barbie escaped her box and I’m not mad about it. Welcome to the real world, Barb, and thanks for bringing neons with you.

Photos by Alex Johnson & Preston McFarland @preston_m

Words by Susan Zienty - @susanzienty

Susan Zienty is a New York-based shoe designer by day and slow fashion designer by night. She specializes in custom, silk-centric designs handmade to measure.

Furry,

flirty & thriving.

This look feels of the moment in an understated way I can appreciate. However, I have a bone to pick with women’s brands. First, we sacrifice pockets. Now, our bags can’t fit our phones. Help.

Chicken at 165º .

Impenetrable fashion sense at 200º. This guy can multi-task and it’s apparent. I’m not sure where he’s heading after his shift, but he’ll be going there fast. A man who embraces pink and purple in unison deserves applause.

Watch out Britney & Justin, a new denim duo is running it back.

I’m not sure the Canadians signed off on this tuxedo, but the petition has my initials. The commitment to denim feels almost patriotic at this point. I love a jort that skims the knee.

“I didn’t realize it was this type of grass.”

I’m unclear of this pair’s intended destination (the Pacific Northwest feels like a hike), but they’re the only ones I trust to have an umbrella on hand. I appreciate their commitment to synchronicity.

This ain’t Texas. Ain’t no hold ’em. There’s a new sheriff in town.

This cowboy is taking a hint from Queen B and laying all his cards down, down, down. The mixed-material print play is a sophistication beyond my wildest, western dreams. Paisley is now trending...

I’m rarely at a loss for words, but this gentleman’s look speaks for itself. His printed tracksuit, fresh kicks and exquisitely groomed ‘stache are second to none.

JUNIOR LOOPERS BRIGADE

Teen caddies are trending in Arizona—at last.

Thirteen-year-old Gianni Fuentes stood at rapt attention as he listened to the directive. He didn’t appear to be distracted by the staccato “hoot-hoot” hooting of an owl in a nearby eucalyptus tree, nor by the ominous storm clouds rolling in, bringing an otherworldly illumination to the brick-red Papago Buttes.

“Be engaged,”

boomed the adult voice.

“Put yourself right where you need to be.”

Gianni nodded. This wasn’t a junior varsity football practice, however. Gianni and seven other teenage boys, aged 13 through 16, were gathered at the third hole at Phoenix’s Papago Golf Club on a Friday afternoon in early March while participating in a caddie training session. Wait—kids caddying in Arizona? That happens in other states, but not here, right? Wrong. A youth-based caddie movement is taking hold in State 48.

Photos by Alex Johnson

Young caddies, such as Gianni, are learning about the game and about life under the auspices of a new organization, the AZ Caddie and Leadership Academy (AZCLA).

Started by Brandon Rogers, PGA, in May 2023 and based at Papago GC, AZCLA is a 501(c)(3) community youth golf and character development program where young men and women, aged 13 and older, learn the art of caddying and acquire life skills to be utilized on and off the golf course.

A critical aspect of the AZCLA—and a huge incentive for kids to participate—is the Academy’s official partnership with the Evans Scholars Foundation, an organization tied to the Western Golf Association in Chicago that provides college scholarships to deserving students. These prestigious scholarships cover tuition and housing for one year

and are renewable up to four years by the Foundation. It’s not easy to land one. In addition to meeting requirements such as caddying for a minimum of two years, recipients must also maintain a certain GPA, show financial need and display a commitment to school and community activities. You don’t have to be an actual golfer, however, to earn the prize.

Having exceptional character is a key component to earning an Evans award. AZCLA endeavors to bring that out in its caddies by offering them twice-a-month classes with subjects that include communication, financial literacy, the college admission process, service vs. hospitality and mindfulness. When you pair with an AZCLA caddie, you’re not just getting a bag-toter, you’re acquiring a remarkable young person.

Founder and Executive Director Rogers drew from unmatched experience with youth caddies in Arizona and paired it with a vision of what the future could—and should—hold. He served as the head pro at Desert Forest Golf Club for 24 years and it was there in 2015 that he established a youth caddie program. Three of his young charges went on to be Evans Scholars. Then the light bulb lit up.

“Over the decades at Desert Forest, over casual conversations with members, they would tell me about how they got introduced to the game of golf by caddying,” said Rogers. “One day it dawned on me. No young person in Arizona is getting introduced to golf through caddying. I decided to start a caddie program, but only for kids. We think there are kids out there that could get introduced to the game of golf this way. And what better way to grow the game?”

It’s no mystery as to why there was no caddying tradition among Arizona youth. “Arizona is a unique golf environment, as most of the junior caddying needs to be done in the winter and spring months,” explained Scott McNevin, Executive Director of the Junior Golf Association of Arizona. “The caddie loops need to be on the weekends, as kids [are] in school on weekdays. The kids that want to try to earn an Evans Scholarship must be really dedicated and caddie on many weekends. In Arizona, it’s too hot during the summer months and the demand for caddies isn’t very high.”

Rogers solved that issue by scheduling the AZCLA program from November to May. “If a caddie gets one loop per weekend for those seven months, that hits the figure of 25 to 30 rounds per year needed to satisfy the Evans requirement,” he said.

The cost for a player having to pay a caddie has always been another barrier. “We solve the cost thing by being complimentary,” said Rogers.

“We’re a non-profit that raises money through donations, so the caddie use is free. If the golfer wants to tip, fine.” The final barrier Rogers seeks to overcome—and he wants to tell that story—is why is golf a better game with a caddie? In other words, why take a caddie at all?

“That’s not always been easy to identify,” Rogers acknowledged. “But it comes down to this: Getting around the golf course, walking without worrying about your own equipment is freeing. Once you trust that this caddie has your stuff and is taking care of it for you, you get to walk down the fairway like a walk in the park, [with a] smile on your face and probably have a conversation. On top of it, let’s say the caddie can help with course strategy, raking bunkers, reading putts and even encouraging their player. Having a good caddie also allows you to play faster, in a better rhythm. [Finally] a caddie can help an anxiety-filled player. Instead of worrying about a certain shot or score, that player can put aside some of that angst and focus on the caddie and the conversation. Again, that can be very freeing.”

Referrals to the AZCLA come from a variety of sources, including schools, principals, golf coaches—the Junior Golf Association of Arizona (JGAA), which oversees the Youth On Course program, and even a recommendation from a youth pastor, which is how Gianni found himself at Papago. Most notably, The First Tee, based at Papago, has filled half of AZCLA spots.

On this early March day, it was refresher time for eight members of the AZCLA caddie corps, an opportunity for Rogers and his right-hand man, legendary teaching pro Don Hurter, to gauge the progress of their young loopers.

“Our first camp was last July,” said Rogers. “Some of these kids were part of that. Our first loops on the ground here were [in] October. They’ve been taking loops here and there based on golfer demand. So golfers can request these caddies right now. They’re also caddying at Arizona Country Club and Estancia. My job is to continue to audit their performance.

We’ll do these refresher courses half a dozen times throughout the year just to make sure the knife is still sharp.”

While Rogers is the ringleader, his young caddies are the stars of the show. Having never played golf, Gianni took a spiritual path to his club-carrying, attributing his caddie gig to divine inspiration. His new buddy, 15-year-old Mason, was already a golfer. Each first picked up a bag late last summer. In Gianni’s case, that can be the toughest part of the job.

“Counting the clubs and carrying heavy bags are the biggest challenges,” he said. “And just walking the five or six miles.” Mason concurs. “Once you learn how to rake bunkers, it gets pretty easy,” he said.

“Following the ball when it’s hit into the sun is definitely challenging. But yes, dealing with heavy bags can be tricky.” Both love what they do. “I’m definitely an outdoor person and I just love being on the golf course,” said Mason.

“I’m glad that caddying will help my golf game and my enjoyment of golf.” Gianni believes that caddying is a good job, especially at his age. “And I find it really nice that I get to socialize with people like Mason, make friends and connect with other people.”

Connecting with others isn’t necessarily a walk in the park when it involves caddies and players. The task can be daunting. Interactions call for mental fortitude from the young loopers—in an ongoing, evolutionary process called maturity. On this training day, the eight caddies were learning how to forecaddie as well, a variation to the carry experience, and one which comes with its own set of responsibilities.

“It’s not easy,” said Hurter. “It’s actually a lot more work to manage four players.” Added Rogers, “We’re asking something that is extremely difficult for a 13-year-old, to command four adults on a golf course. It’s challenging, but we’re doing it and we’re going to continue to do it.”

Mike Zoellner liked the progress he saw. Zoellner, a Denver resident who spends his winter in the Valley, agreed to walk Papago with a young caddie and to assess his AZCLA caddie experience. Evaluating the performance of the youth caddies that day, Zoellner stated, “very professional, very well-trained. They have a great attitude. I’ve enjoyed every bit of it and every one of the caddies I’ve met have been true gentlemen.”

As for room to improve, Zoellner echoed what others have said. “They’re a little nervous. I think what they’ll improve upon is just their willingness to carry on a conversation and to get to know the player and for the player to get to know them better. Right now, they’re a little anxious about being in the right place and doing the right thing. But I’m sure all those things will come with time.”

Meagan McEnry knows where caddie dreams can take someone. Currently Senior Manager, Brand Partnerships, for AZ GOLF, McEnry was a shy teenager in the Bay Area who could barely swing a club when her father convinced her to check out the new Caddie Academy program offered through Youth On Course. Initially resistant, she was soon looping at the private California Club and at TPC Harding Park and quickly experienced positive changes.

“The more I caddied, the more I got to work on those interpersonal skills that you don’t really get to learn in school.” In addition, McEnry plunged from a 36 handicap down to 12 and number one on her high school team after one year of caddying. “Watching people play golf for four or five hours transferred straight into my golf game,” she said. “Caddying definitely advanced my passion for golf.”

McEnry took to caddying and it to her; in her senior year of high school, she flew to Seattle for an Evans Scholarship interview—and apparently aced that test. She got a full ride to the University of Washington. “It showed me that you can do anything you set your mind to. So aside from the financial aspect of it, it was an overall confidence boost and it has grown me into the person I am today.”

McEnry gives back by volunteering with the AZ Caddie and Leadership Academy and for Youth On Course. She tries to impress upon the kids that caddying can be a great opportunity, a pathway to a better life. “We’re lucky to have AZCLA here. We want all those kids to have the opportunity. If they do become Evans Scholars, great. If they don’t, they still have that work experience and all those lessons learned.”

An understandable question arises: Given the lack of youth-based caddie presence in Arizona for all these years, are the AZCLA efforts the proverbial drop in the bucket, or will they make a serious splash? McNevin votes for option 2.

“This is a huge opportunity for youth caddies in Arizona and it’s really ready to explode,”

he says.

“It’s needed the right person, who is passionate about making a difference for youth and changing lives, and really providing the right platform. I’m confident that Brandon Rogers is the right guy to lead the new caddie movement in Arizona. Finding the kids that want to caddie, as well as the right mix of private and public clubs to be involved, will be the keys to success of the AZ Caddie and Leadership Academy.”

If kids such as Gianni and Mason are representative, it feels like the youth caddie movement in Arizona is in a very good place.

P IN G MAKES A NAME

The sound of Karsten Solheim’s first putter may have named the company, but it’s PING’s success in the driver category that is helping take the brand to new heights six decades after the birth of the family-owned company.

But that doesn’t mean Karsten’s influence isn’t still being felt in the design of today’s high-performance drivers.

For those unfamiliar with Karsten’s contributions to golf, he was a part-time golfer and full-time engineer who revolutionized golf-equipment by applying physics to club design to make clubs easier to hit. He made clubheads bigger, especially his wooden drivers (more on that later). And, he rewrote the vocabulary, introducing terms like moment-of-inertia, perimeter weighting and forgiveness. At the same time, Karsten pioneered custom fitting, the first to recognize that your clubs

should be built to your precise specifications if you are to play your best golf. The marriage of physics and fitting changed the game forever and landed Karsten in the World Golf Hall of Fame. Today, it’s the advancements in driver design that often attract the most attention, a fact not lost on PING’s engineers and data scientists, who are dedicated to optimizing a driver to fit your game —promising more distance, more accuracy and lower scores.

“In many ways, drivers drive the business,” said PING CEO & President John K. Solheim. “It’s the most talked-about club in the bag and the easiest to see measurable results from. If your drives are longer and straighter, count on your scores going down.”

It’s those measurable results that have paved the way for PING’s success in the driver category.

The early wooden drivers Karsten crafted to increase forgiveness and deemed too big are tiny compared to today’s 460cc speed-generating marvels. Karsten was right bigger was better.

Advancements in materials and design innovations continue to differentiate PING drivers, including the wind-tunnel-proven crown Turbulators made famous by long-hitting Bubba Watson and his pink driver (“I don’t know what they do, but they work.”). A PING driver also carries the reputation as the most forgiving in golf.

IN DRIVER TECHNOLOGY

The arrival of launch monitors in the 2000s, primarily Trackman, changed driver-fitting forever, giving golfers access to their “numbers” and allowing for objective comparisons from one driver to another. Terms like ball speed, spin rate and launch angle suddenly could be heard on driving ranges and in fitting bays around the world.

Not coincidentally, the arrival of the launch monitor matches up with PING’s rise in the driver market.

“Since the early 2000s, PING has steadily improved its position in the driver category,” said Paul Wood, PING’s VP of Engineering. “It started with the G2 driver and continues today with the G430 Series.

Each iteration shows measurable improvement through design, materials, and fitting optimization.

“During this time, launch monitors have grown in popularity and access, allowing us to prove just how well a PING driver performs,” Wood continued. “Before launch monitors, measuring performance for golfers was somewhat subjective. Today, a golfer can experience a driver fitting either on the driving range or in a

To help ensure that success, PING’s driver families offer multiple models, each designed to meet a player’s particular needs—from the slice-correcting SFT (Straight Flight Technology) to the LST, a low-spinning, smaller head that best fits a faster swing speed. In between those models sits a MAX version, which fits the majority of golfers.

“As we like to say, ‘Fitting Matters,’” said Wood. “Take the time to get fit and see for yourself. Better results with your driver means shorter iron

CARBONFLY WRAP CROWN

Coincidence? I think not, see pg. 4.

Too much dip on your chip? on

Picture this.. stuck in your pre-round routine, you walk past the desolate pitch and putt practice area to snag your bucket of range balls. You spend your entire warmup ripping drives on the range and before you know it, you have 10 minutes until your tee time.

You hastily take off your glove and shove your driver in your bag with the headcover hanging on for dear life. You pass the pitch and putt area again.. vacant.

Fast forward to the 18th hole, you’re up one stroke in your skins game and find yourself five yards out from the green.

You grab your wedge and you skull your shot, dropping two strokes to lose the final skin.

Phil Mickelson says, “The only way to win golf tournaments is with your short game.” He knows a thing or two.

Former LPGA TOUR player and current Championships Manager at AZ GOLF, Amy Fruhwirth, agrees. And don’t get it twisted, semantics are no excuse when you find yourself on the outskirts of the green—a chip and a pitch are two very different shots with different outcomes.

There’s a time and place for everything. We caught up with Amy to chat about those differences and sharpen our short game.

Tips by Amy Fruhwirth

Words by Alex Johnson

Chipping vs. Pitching

KNOW THE DIFFERENCE

Chipping

Often described as a “bump and run,” this shot is about creating minimal airtime and maximizing the roll on the green. It’s a consistent, controlled shot that Amy suggests is great for golfers to master due to its reliability and consistency in how the ball rolls out

Setup STANCE & WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION

Commonalities in Setup

While the physics of a chip and a pitch are considerably contrasted, there are similarities between the two when it comes to how you approach the ball and set up your shot.

Pitching

A pitch is more of a lofted shot designed to fly higher with less roll upon landing, making it ideal for overcoming hazards such as greenside bunkers or desert ravines. However, golfers beware: a pitch comes with increased variability and volatility in how the ball behaves after landing.

Ball Positioning

Similar to every other golf shot, depending on where you position the ball in your stance, you’ll have different outcomes.

*for illustrative purposes only, drawings are not exact.

Club Selection Sloped Lies

If there’s one thing we’ve learned over the years, it’s that just about every club has some utility outside of the shot that it’s primarily designed for. Think back to Vijay Singh’s chip-in out of the rough with the toe of his putter or other pros using hybrids and fairway woods to chip out of a denser lie.

Chipping

For your chip shot, don’t be afraid to utilize a variety of clubs based on the desired roll, from your PW, UW and SW to even 7, 8, 9 irons. Experimentation is key.

Swing Path

Pitching

When it comes to pitching, Amy favors higher lofted clubs, such as your 52-60 degree wedges, to achieve the necessary lift. However, be cautious of the risk of blading or skulling the ball.

Adjustments for Sloped Lies

Sometimes we find ourselves with a sloped lie. Amy suggests tilting your shoulders parallel to the slope, in order to maintain a consistent swing path, which will reduce the risk of poor ball striking.

The biggest difference between a chip and a pitch is your swing path. Taking too big of a swing for your chip or too little of a swing for your pitch is going to produce less than desirable results.

Chipping

Think of the chipping stroke as an extension of the putting stroke. Focus on a straight back-and-through motion with the back of the top hand pointing towards the target upon follow-through.

Pitching

The pitching stroke incorporates a fuller swing with a U-shaped path, requiring softer hands and wrists, accompanied by a longer backswing and follow-through.

Key Tips For Success

Practice with Purpose

Always practice with a purpose and find ways to gamify your practice. Set a specific target on the green to dial in your accuracy—use a coin or a tee as your target. Additionally, practice with every club in your bag so that you understand each club’s trajectory and roll characteristics.

Consistency is Key

Confidence and consistency in your stance, weight distribution and ball positioning are foundational for all levels of players.

Creative Practice

Get creative. Experiment with various slopes and lies so you’re prepared for everything during your round. Select less lofted clubs when more green is available and higher lofted clubs when less green is available. Having options is key.

Photo by Preston McFarland -

the fader’s

“Look for the red light and give me the secret knock,” texted PJ Baron, resident food and beverage manager at the Renaissance in Downtown Phoenix. Not sure of the correct beat, I hit the handleless door with a 1-2 thud followed by a fermata and another 1-2-1. I was then promptly greeted by the smiling, bearded face of PJ. Completely unsure of what I was in for, Mr. Baron led me down two flights of stairs into a speakeasy, Melinda’s Alley. Awaiting me was a vibrant, orangey-pink-hued cocktail beautifully sitting in a glass whose stem contoured left to right.. A fade.

Created from the idea of paying homage to golf’s most prolific locations across the globe, The Fader’s Delight was thoughtfully crafted to embody the game of golf—diverse and communal.

From the windy shores of Scotland, home to Botanist Gin comprised of 22 foraged botanicals to the Valley’s very own CHELLY limoncello made from hand-picked local lemons to Erstwhile Mezcal birthed in Oaxaca, Mexico and all the way to Japan for the fantastically fermented lichiko Silhouette Shochu and back to the states for more iconic citrus and stone fruits, this cocktail stands alone.

Tantalizing citrus and herbal notes skim the surface of your taste buds on the front end, only to be greeted with tender smokiness on the back end as you relish the flavors of golf’s past, present and future.

No more perfect a cocktail than The Fader’s Delight to enjoy after a round of sun-soaked, Arizona golf. As summer inevitably roles in, batch this one up and chauffeur your favorite foursome around the globe from the comfort of your own home. Poolside? Maybe.

ingredients

Botanist Gin, infused with Earl Grey Tea CHELLY Modernized Limoncello lichiko Silhouette Shochu Erstwhile Mezcal Pechuga

Fresh Squeezed Grapefruit Juice

Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice

Peach Bitters

Photo by Preston McFarland

Recipe by PJ Baron - @pjvaderbaron | Words by Alex Johnson

19TH HOLE

Johnson

FUTURE FAIRWAYS

Words by Tom Mackin

Here’s

the list of all

of the entirely new 18hole, regulation-size golf courses built in Arizona over the past decade:

Sterling Grove Golf + Country Club in Surprise and The Other Course at Scottsdale National Golf Club. That’s it. On the other hand, course renovations have increased over that time period. Like at The Phoenician, where Scottsdale-based architect

Phil Smith deftly reduced 27 holes to 18 six years ago, and Grass Clippings Rolling Hills in Tempe, which got a huge upgrade late last year and also now plays as a par-3 routing under the lights, the state’s first night golf offering.

Why are brand-new courses more rare than a hole-in-one?

An increasing emphasis on access to and usage of water, a fraught issue nationwide but especially in the Grand Canyon State. Another reason? According to the National Golf Foundation, there are 373 courses throughout Arizona (15th most in the U.S. at year-end 2023; Florida led with 1,262). And considering the overwhelming growth of golf since 2020, creating a plethora of hungry golfers, the Arizona golf community is on the verge of outgrowing the amount of available tracks. So where are the new courses to meet the increased demand? Experts say they’re coming.

“I still think there is room for course growth in Arizona,” said Keith Hanley, Senior Vice President of Operations for KemperSports, which manages courses in Chandler, Sun City and Tucson.

Smith, who recently completed a renovation at Seven Canyons in Sedona, agrees. “I can see real opportunity for growth in the expanding housing markets of the west and southern Phoenix metro area, as well as Tucson and other communities,” he said. “I could easily see more golf courses being built to support the potential growth in the resort and housing industries.”

And those new courses might not be your run-of-the-mill, standard 18-hole layouts.

“I think what we’ll see in Arizona is more ‘reimaginations,’ where we see some courses rebuilt with a new theme,” said Arizona native and course architect Forrest Richardson.

“As far as fresh new layouts, I’d plan on some new short courses (like a 20-hole, par-3 course he has designed plans for in Laveen) and maybe, in some select regions, a few new projects.”

That reimagination process may also mean changes to golf course clubhouses, which could be designed (or redesigned) as a community food and beverage business, rather than solely serving as a pre- or post-round amenity for golfers.

Historically, golf course properties have exclusively benefitted golfers. However, the landscape is changing, and according to Gregg Tryhus, President of the Arizona Golf Alliance and President of the foundation that oversees Papago, a municipal course in Phoenix, it must continue to do so.

“Given the economic challenges of operating affordable golf today, more courses need to take a community based approach to their food and beverage. That was the model for Papago, and it’s working. The added benefit is that Papago is a publicly owned facility that is now being shared with a significantly wider public audience than just golfers.” The Papago facility now serves as a communal gathering space for non-golfers and golfers alike.

Creating community is also part of the vibe emerging at Grass Clippings Rolling Hills, where plans call for a 14,000-square-foot lawn area that could be used for live music concerts, farmers markets, flag football and other events that will attract more than just golfers. In addition to bringing a brand of energy seldom seen at golf courses, the move will add to the positive economic impact the game already has on the state.

“A significant part of our economy is driven by golf,” Tryhus said.

“We have 66,000 direct jobs and generate over $6 billion of annual economic impact. That’s considerable.” Those numbers would grow exponentially with new courses or redevelopments, and their ripple effect would extend far beyond the tee box: To the hotels where golfers stay, the bars and restaurants where they eat and socialize, and even the Uber drivers who cart them around from place to place.

Still, there are numerous obstacles any new project must overcome before shovels, and eventually tees, go into the ground. Smith believes the golf industry must help communicate to the public the fact that most golf courses are irrigated with reclaimed water. “We need to continue to change the narrative and perception that golf is bad for the environment,” he said.

When done properly, golf courses can create wildlife habitats, provide flood protection, reduce soil erosion and surface temperatures, and release more oxygen.”

Richardson also points to water usage, and the accompanying infrastructure to deliver treated effluent water, as barriers that must be overcome. “We have lots of recycled water, we just don’t have it where we need it in terms of golf,” he said.

Another reason for new or reimagined courses? Tryhus believes access to golf could play a role in the decision-making process for corporate leaders considering a move to the state, and therefore being a small piece of the puzzle that impacts Arizona’s overall economic health and growth across a variety of industries.

“If you’re a large company, one that could possibly bring hundreds of jobs with it to Arizona, and you’re told it’s a 10- to 13-year waitlist to get into a club, are you coming?” he said. “Or are you going to pick another state?”

Photo by Alex Johnson

2023 AZ GOLF AWARDS

Kirsty Hodgkins Women’s Player of the Year

Chris Kamin Men’s Player of the Year & Mayfair Award

Steve Dallas Dr. Ed Updegraff Award

Corey Weworski Women’s Senior Player of the Year

Tim Blau Legends Player of the Year

Scott Johnson Doc Graves Volunteer of the Year Award

Mary Pomroy

Dorothy Pease Champion of Golf Award

Jeff Benton Men’s Senior Player of the Year

Photos by Preston McFarland & Brandon Genson

Photo by Stanley Liniarski - @stan_liniarski

Mayan Palace at Vidanta Puerto Peñasco

Do you like long walks on the beach, romantic golf ambience, and ice-cold cerveza? Our Mayan Palace Member Trip is a match made in Mexico.

The next Member Trip is scheduled for October 2024 with registration opening mid-May 2024. To register visit azgolf.org. For more information around this unmatched Vidanta property visit vidanta.com

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The ball’s not worth the bite.

Photo by Preston McFarland