Archive for February 2009
Papago to Host Thunderbird Invitational in Phoenix
23. February 2009 by admin.
PAPAGO GOLF COURSE TO PLAY HOST TO THE
14TH ANNUAL THUNDERBIRD INVITATIONAL
Some of the State’s Finest Junior Golfers will Tee it Up in Prestigious Event on March 7-8
PHOENIX, Arizona (February 23, 2009) – A rebirth has taken place amongst Arizona golf courses. The storied layout of Papago golf course, a city-owned facility that has played host to some of the Valley’s most prestigious events has emerged better than ever after a nearly six-million dollar renovation.
Papago, designed by renowned golf course architect Billy Bell and built in 1962 will be the host site for the 14th annual Thunderbird Invitational which features some of the state’s finest junior golfers. This year’s event will be played on March 7-8.
This year’s field will include defending Thunderbird Invitational champion Cameron Palmer who also finished 4th at the Callaway Junior World Championship Qualifier at Palm Valley Golf Club; Mike Basco, winner of the Mesa City Junior Championship and a 2nd place finisher at the Phoenix City Junior Championship; Evan Markley who won the SWSPGA State Junior Championship and also finished 2nd in the Callaway Junior World Championship Qualifier.
A talented field of girls will include Mieke Canan, the JGAA Girls Championship Player of the Year in 2008. She won the Tucson Conquistadors Spring Classic, Tucson City Junior Championship, Kingman City Junior Championship and the Arizona Junior Match Play Championship; Sun Park, winner of the Southern Arizona Junior Championship at Saddlebrooke Ranch Golf Club. Park also captured the Junior Girls State Championship and was a 2nd place finisher at the Mesa City Junior Championship; Aleah Kim, winner of the Desert Mashie Spring Championship, Willie Low Invitational and Mesa City Junior Championship and Lily Bartell who started the year by winning the Southern Arizona Junior Championship. She also won the SWSPGA National Jr. Championship Qualifier.
Working in tandem with the Thunderbirds and the Junior Golf Association of Arizona, the 14th annual Thunderbird Invitational will feature 60 of the state’s finest junior golfers whose participants range in age from 13-18 and are placed within their respective age groups. Tee times get underway at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday and 8:00 a.m. on Sunday. Spectators are welcome.
Billy Bell learned his craft from his father, William Park Bell. They collaborated on many highly rated California courses. Perhaps best known among the nearly one hundred courses to Billy’s credit is Torrey Pines in San Diego. He also designed Tucson Country Club and Wickenburg Country Club. When it opened, Papago Golf Course quickly became extremely popular with Phoenix residents. It hosted the US Amateur Public Links Championship in 1971 and also has been home to Phoenix Open Qualifying. In its prime, the course hosted more than 100,000 rounds annually. But the years and the traffic had taken a toll on the course and Phoenix city and parks officials decided action should be taken. The course was closed for play on April 4, 2008 and in keeping with the name of its host city, has been reborn, rising again on December 6 to glorious reviews.
“The Thunderbirds work within the world of golf is unrivaled and while so much attention is focused on their sponsorship of the FBR Open, the most well-attended golf tournament in the world, it is their continual efforts with Arizona’s junior golfer that deserves accolades as well,” said Tom Cunningham, Executive Director of the Junior Golf Association of Arizona. “The Thunderbirds are very much connected with this tournament not only financially, but they volunteer their time to assist with registration, starting, spotting on the course and scoring. This event hones the competitive skills of some of our finest junior golfers, who often times, use this event as a springboard for the rest of their JGAA schedule.”
For a complete list of the playing field for the 14th annual Thunderbird Invitational, visit the Junior Golf Association of Arizona web site at www.jgaa.org or call their office at (602) 944-6168.
Golf World Names Top Arizona Golf Courses
11. February 2009 by admin.
SunRidge Canyon Golf Club of Fountain Hills was recently named one of the top Public golf courses by GolfWorld Magazine’s Reader’s Choice Awards for 2009. The magazine listed the top 50 courses in three categories including public, private, and resort. There were four other public courses the made the list including Grayhawk Golf Club, Eagle Mountain Golf Club, the Raven at South Mountain and Las Sendas Golf Club. We offer our kudos for those that made the list.
We thought there should be one more category for the survey called “Best Value.”
Courses such as Rancho Manana Golf Club that has peak fees less than $140 and after 1:00 fees of $105 and twilight fees for as little as $59 (all during the peak Feb-March Arizona season) and it has some of the best views and conditions along with very few holes that are surrounded by homes - only native desert. It is a true favorite among both locals and visitors that play it.
Others that would make the list for “Best Value” include Sanctuary Golf Course in Scottsdale, Club West Golf Club in Phoenix, Palm Valley Golf Club in Goodyear. Although it can be a little chilly during the winter months, one of the best values anywhere is StoneRidge Golf Course in Prescott Valley – it has everything, length, challenge, and views – all for less and often significantly less than $69. Sedona Golf Resort is also a great value with peak rates of $105.
Arizona Golf Course contact and website information is available quickly and easily at www.arizonasgolf.com
LPGA Event Stays in Phoenix
6. February 2009 by admin.
It looks like the LPGA will keep its Phoenix golf stop on the 2009 schedule. It’ll be great to see Papago Golf Course on TV.
Papago Golf Course to Host 2009 Phoenix LPGA Invitational Presented by Mirassou
PHOENIX, Ariz. – The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) and Tournament Golf Foundation (TGF) announced today that the 2009 Phoenix LPGA International Presented by Mirassou will be played March 26-29 at Papago Golf Course in Phoenix, Ariz. Owned by the City of Phoenix since 1963, and long considered one of the country’s finest and most popular municipal golf courses, Papago underwent an extensive restoration project in 2008. The course reopened to residents of Phoenix in December 2008 and is already receiving accolades from the golf industry for its new and improved look.
“The Phoenix event has long been one of the most popular and storied stops on the LPGA Tour, with past champions ranging from Betsy King to Laura Davies to Annika Sorenstam to, most recently, Lorena Ochoa,” remarked LPGA Commissioner Carolyn F. Bivens. “This March we will add an exciting new chapter in the event’s history when our players step foot on this beautifully renovated city-owned course. We look forward to engaging with the people of Phoenix in a truly new and unique way as we compete on their championship course for the first time.”
“Adding to the excitement of unveiling the new and improved Papago, we are thrilled to announce that its freshly restored greens and fairways will soon be filled by the world’s most talented and prolific professional golfers from the LPGA,” said Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon. “We are excited to partner with the LPGA and TGF to ensure this important event stays in Phoenix.”
The Papago restoration project is a direct result of a partnership between the City of Phoenix and the Arizona Golf Foundation, a non-profit arm of the Arizona Golf Association. The project is managed by The Golf Guys, LLC, under the direction of Marvin French, one of the principals at the highly acclaimed Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club in Oregon. As part of the restoration, under the direction of course architect and former Augusta National Golf Club Superintendent, Billy Fuller, all of the greens, tees, fairways and rough have been re-turfed, all of the bunkers have been restored, and select holes have been lengthened so that the course now boasts a championship yardage of 7,333 yards.
“Phoenix is excited that the LPGA has selected Papago Golf Course to host their tournament,” said Phoenix City Councilman Greg Stanton. “The selection of Papago by this prestigious golf tour shows the significant investments made were well worth it and we’re looking forward to hosting these championship golfers”
The four-day, 72-hole tournament has been part of the LPGA Tour schedule since 1980. For the past five seasons, Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club, located just outside Phoenix, hosted the event, which has raised more than $4 million over that time to Phoenix-area charities.
“TGF is proud to add Papago Golf Course to the list of prestigious courses hosting our events over the years,” said TGF President Tom Maletis. “Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club was a tremendous partner, but the LPGA professionals will surely appreciate the Papago Golf Course experience and the proximity to everything the City of Phoenix has to offer.”
For more information on the Phoenix LPGA Invitational presented by Mirassou, go to www.phoenixlpga.com.
About Papago Golf Course
Papago Golf Course opened in 1963 under the design of famed golf course architect William Francis “Billy” Bell and quickly became one of the finest municipal golf courses in the country. It was host of the 1971 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship, and was the neighborhood city course for some of Arizona’s most recognizable junior players, including Billy Mayfair and Heather and Missy Farr. Papago Golf Course sits on the borders of Phoenix, Tempe and Scottsdale, surrounded by the beautiful Papago Buttes and is conveniently located less than two miles from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. For more information, go to www.papagogolfcourse.net or call (602) 275-8428.
About Tournament Golf Foundation
TGF, a non-profit organization is currently the managing organizer and is responsible for the Phoenix LPGA International presented by Mirassou in Phoenix and the Safeway Classic presented by Coca-Cola in Portland. The tournaments feature purses of $1.5 and $1.7 million, respectively. In addition to showcasing the best in women’s professional golf, TGF is committed to benefiting local charities in its tournament markets. Since 1972, TGF has donated more than $15 million to local children’s charities in Oregon and Arizona including Banner Health Foundation, Safeway Foundation, Waverly Children’s Home, Boys and Girls Clubs, Easter Seals, Oregon Junior Golf, Evans Scholars Foundation, the Children’s Course and Police Activities League. For more information, go to www.phoenixlpga.com and www.safewayclassic.com.
About the Ladies Professional Golf Association
The LPGA features a membership comprised of world-class LPGA Tour professionals and dedicated Teaching and Club Professionals (T&CP). Today’s LPGA Tour features the most talented global group of professional athletes who, in 2009, will compete in a minimum of 30 official money events in 10 countries with total prize money of nearly $55 million. In addition to its dynamic Tour members, 1,200 certified LPGA T&CP members serve the golf industry in teaching, coaching and management positions, and oversee programs aimed at increasing the involvement of women, girls and youth in golf. The LPGA’s Vision is to inspire, empower, educate and entertain by showcasing the best golf professionals in the world. Its Mission is to be a leader in the world of sports, to promote economic empowerment for all members, and to serve as role models on and off the course. The LPGA is headquartered in Daytona Beach, Fla. For more information on the LPGA, log on to www.LPGA.com.
Rancho Manana Golf Club Offers Replay Card
2. February 2009 by admin.
Rancho Manana Golf Club Offers Replay Card
Rancho Manana Golf Club is offering “The Best Replay Card Ever!” Every player at the popular Phoenix Scottsdale area course, receives card with three replay options – same day for $25, next day for $69, or any day for 20 percent off with a maximum rate of $99. During February and March the savings from the regular $139 rate is actually almost 29 percent.
“Golfers really enjoy the golf course and often say that they would like to have another try at it during their stay in Arizona. We put this special program together to make it more affordable to play multiple golf rounds at Rancho Manana Golf Club during their visit,” stated, Dale Samar, General Manager of the Golf Course.
Rancho Mañana Golf Club, located in the high Sonoran Desert, in historic Cave Creek, Arizona, boasts some of the state’s most breathtaking views and challenging holes of golf. Situated along an original Pony Express stop and U.S. Cavalry watering hole, Rancho Mañana Golf Club has continually ranked among Golf Digest’s “Places To Play” and regarded as “One of Arizona’s Most Scenic Golf Courses”. It is an experience that truly represents golf in the Arizona Desert.
For tee times, call Rancho Mañana Golf Club at 480-488-0398 or visit www.ranchomanana.com .
