Sewailo Golf Club....New Troon Course coming to Tucson

[steve8x]

Greens fee of $99 for 12/13 & $119 for 12/14 listed on course website.

[teejaywhy]

Anybody else excited about this?

 

 

Not too excited about this...

 

[fore_life]

Come on Tom, there's a waterfall so you know it must be good

[teejaywhy]

Hopefully there is an arcade and go-kart track!

[fore_life]

Island green anywhere on site?

[itsadryhot]

[quote name='fore_life' timestamp='1387294771' post='8312523']
Island green anywhere on site?
[/quote]

Nope. Thought I saw a clown, but it was a desert mirage... ;-)

[Jefe21]

UofA Mens and Womens Golf teams moved to the course. Havent played it yet but not hearing any five star reviews so far.

[poppyhillsguy]

Backspin the Golf Show will be discussing the course on KGME 910AM Wednesday night at 6pm. They played there last week.

I don't hear them be critical of a course very often, so they'll probably have a biased review on the favorable side.

[Arizonalefty59]

It's going to be a site for US Open qualifying, I'm gonna play it then.

[Jefe21]

[quote name='Arizonalefty59' timestamp='1387326103' post='8315207']It's going to be a site for US Open qualifying, I'm gonna play it then.
[/quote]
Link? Or date?

[puttnforthe8]

[quote name='poppyhillsguy' timestamp='1387323480' post='8314979']
Backspin the Golf Show will be discussing the course on KGME 910AM Wednesday night at 6pm. They played there last week.

I don't hear them be critical of a course very often, so they'll probably have a biased review on the favorable side.
[/quote]

The guys said that the course was nice but definitely needed to grow in the rough. They were all pretty complimentary of Notah's design and thought he did a good job, specifically shots into the green. They did mention that some holes line of vision was not the best or most desired. Also noted that it is a pretty difficult course(or can be) with lots of sand(possibly too much for being a "resort" course. Facility seems to be quite good and they will have 3 ranges eventually(1 specifically for U of A team). They gave top merit to the hotel as well.

[Jefe21]

[url="http://azstarnet.com/sports/columnists/hansen/new-course-a-boon-for-tucson-golf/article_053279ea-0d63-5beb-9b7e-42239bb4b431.html"]http://azstarnet.com...239bb4b431.html[/url]

[quote][color=#7D7D7D]11 hours ago[/color][color=#7D7D7D] • [/color][color=#7D7D7D]By [url="http://azstarnet.com/users/profile/Greg%20Hansen"]Greg Hansen[/url][/color]
Notah Begay designed a golf course that cost about $25 million. Not in golf-mad Florida or along the posh 17-Mile Drive at Pebble Beach, but right here, in Tucson, on Valencia Road.
[size=4]Do you know what used to be on that Godforsaken plot of ground? Dead snakes and sunburned cacti.[/size]
[size=4]Begay ordered construction of 17 waterfalls, dug out space for 14 acres of lakes, and created a meandering path for a mile-long creek.[/size]
[size=4]The stonework to support those waterways cost an estimated $4 million.[/size]
[size=4]This is the type of course you’d build at Hilton Head Island, S.C., the type of eye candy you see while watching PGA Tour regulars at Kapalua in Maui.[/size]
[size=4]Location, location, location does not apply here.[/size]
[size=4]Begay built Tucson’s latest “world-class golf course” a few hundred yards from the Casino del Sol resort — address: Middle of Nowhere — at a time Tucson needed another golf course the way it needs another Modern Street Car.[/size]
[size=4]He built it during a period in which the golf industry in Southern Arizona borders on funereal, in which two established golf courses, Canoa Hills and Santa Rita, have been shuttered, and three others, Forty Niner, San Ignacio and Arizona National, were temporarily closed, foundering with cash-flow trouble.[/size]
[size=4]He built it when two muni courses, El Rio and Fred Enke, had their necks in a financial guillotine.[/size]
[size=4]You can drive for miles on West Valencia Road and see neither a flower nor a green piece of turf, yet Notah Begay and the Pascua Yaquis named this $25 million venture “Sewailo.”[/size]
[size=4]Flower world.[/size]
[size=4]Building and funding Sewailo from casino revenues might have been the easy part. Attracting enough golfers to the first tee — and getting them back again and again and again — will be the trick.[/size]
[size=4]It is expensive.[/size]
[size=4]It is unusually difficult.[/size]
[size=4]And it is a long way from anywhere.[/size]
[size=4]Undeterred, Begay, a Stanford grad, stood at Sewailo’s 10th tee last week — it’s a ridiculously brutal 638-yard par 5 — and winked when someone asked him if “six golf balls” would successfully get him around the course.[/size]
[size=4]“You might hit six water balls on the first few holes,” he said, laughing.[/size]
[size=4]I recorded several impressions on my scorecard:[/size][list]
[*]Uphill green over hidden abyss.
[*]Big carry over water.
[*]Bigger carry over water.
[/list]
[size=4]But that’s golf. Which course doesn’t require local knowledge and a significant financial commitment?[/size]
[size=4]Sewailo isn’t unique. It’s a mixture of Canoa Ranch, Starr Pass and the Dove Mountain Golf Club, minus the views. It’s Saddlebrooke Ranch Golf Club with an extra 300 million gallons of water.[/size]
[size=4]Shade? It’s Gila Bend.[/size]
[size=4]Sewailo isn’t likely to thrive charging golfers $100 a round. The stay-and-play guests at the resort at 5655 W. Valencia Road will disappear from May to September. (Who stays at a casino intent on playing golf, anyway?)[/size]
[size=4]But what gives Sewailo a chance to be relevant is the potential to stage (and probably help sponsor) a Champions Tour event, a week with the LPGA Tour, and play host to several significant college and USGA tournaments. It has already arranged to stage a U.S. Open local qualifier in May.[/size]
[size=4]Sewailo is operated by the Troon Golf management firm, which demands high standards and is among the best in the industry. It operates La Paloma and the Gallery Golf Club. In Tucson golf, that’s a strong endorsement.[/size]
[size=4]UA athletic director [b]Greg Byrne[/b] announced last week that Sewailo will become the school’s home course for at least 18 months. The Wildcats expect to have a separate driving range and practice facility there. But they essentially had the same at Arizona National.[/size]
[size=4]That deal fizzled when Arizona National didn’t properly maintain the course and, in part, because it was so far from campus. Plus the course was relatively short for today’s college players.[/size]
[size=4]Sewailo isn’t any closer to the UA, but is already on the map and gathering momentum. It played host to about 60 golf writers and other media sources last week, including those from Sports Illustrated and ESPN, as well as some from Canada.[/size]
[size=4]When Begay prepared to hit a ceremonial first shot at last week’s opening, he was asked how many PGA Tour events he had won.[/size]
[size=4]“I won Reno-Tahoe,” he said, proudly. “I won the St. Jude Classic. I won the Michelob-Kingsmill, and I won the Greater Hartford Open. I did all of that in nine months.”[/size]
[size=4]He looked at those around him, as if to say, “I’m not a rookie out here.”[/size]
[size=4]In 2001, Begay was sidelined by a serious back injury and never recaptured his form. He is now intent on becoming a course designer on a global scale.[/size]
[size=4]Sewailo, his third project, seems an odd place for him to build a reputation.[/size]
[size=4]“There was a lot of uncertainty when I became involved in this project,” he said. “Times were very tough, but nobody backed off and ran.”[/size]
[size=4]Times are still tough in Tucson golf, but Sewailo is on the tee, taking a big swing. Let’s hope it can carry the water.[/quote][/size]

[Jefe21]

$65 hot deal tomorrow: [url="http://www.golfnow.com/tucson/tee-times/hot-deals/az---tucson/search"]http://www.golfnow.c...--tucson/search[/url]

I cant find slope/course ratings anywhere. Not done yet?

Edit just found this

[url="http://course.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/course/course/sewailogc/"]http://course.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/course/course/sewailogc/[/url]

Onyx - 73.5/138
Ruby - 70.5/128
Jade - 69.1/124

[AzSuperHack76]

Just found out that through the AGA you can book and get 2 rounds, 1 night in the hotel and 25 casino credit for gambling for 299. Not too bad for a night away with the boys or even the wife!

[puttnforthe8]

Went down to play today. It is an excellent course and I really, really enjoyed myself.

While I am not astute at the design details like Tom, I will try and give some details.

The course plays up to ~7200 from the tips. We played it at about 6800 today since we were not sure. Right now, there is just a small temp building for the check in.

First off, the practice facility is very nice. Separate chipping and putting area, huge range that is elevated from the putting/chipping area. Multiple flags to shoot for with nice green areas to hit to.

Not sure what Notah's philosophy about design is, but my guess is risk/reward holes, nice rewards for big, aggressive hitters and huge greens that challenge you to attack the pin with moderate penalty for missing badly.

Off the tee boxes, he gives you multiple lines to take(for every type of golfer). I noticed that for many of the back two tee boxes he did a brilliant job of providing visual illusions(like bunkers running together even though they are 50+ yards apart and slopes/bunker/end of fairway views).

Many of the entrances to the greens ask you to hit a side if the pin is in the front due to interesting slopes. If you miss the green on any side you will be dealing with slopes that challenge you to be creative with your chip shot.

The course provides all golfers an opportunity to score with reachable par 5s, short par 4s, and really good par 3s.

The greens are huge. There are very interesting slopes in every green. Not excessive by any stretch, but force you to read the putt properly and put a good stroke on the putt. The greens rolled fantastic and were relatively speedy(guessing about a 9.5-10). Whether intentional or not, the greens require a nice high shot to hold close to the pins. If not, the ball rolled/bounced about an extra 5-10 yards.

The course has a creek that comes into play on almost every hole(maybe even every). There are some large water features/lakes that are in play off the tee on about a 3rd of the holes. I know Tom and other may dislike the waterfalls etc, they are really not that bad and not intrusive like some other courses. The largest waterfall is on the back of 18. All these falls are a good distance away from the hole and they really did not feel that bad.

As for my opinion of the course...first off, like I said I really liked it. I got a pretty good deal on the price and was not disappointed at all and really would have been satisfied even at a higher price. As for the course, to me it is a cross between Southern Dunes, Whirlwind Devils Claw and Wekopa(only from the perspective of lines off the tee).

As for my negatives, The bunkers are not consistent in terms of the amount of sand...in some places you sink in pretty deep while in other places it perfect. Next, the surrounding area is kind of ugly with utility lines and older houses. The greater/larger area does have nice views of mountains in all directions.

Some other side items: they have a touch GPS system, bev cart, the side areas and trees are built up nicely.

I will be very interested to see how others find the course. My overall opinion is Notah did a very good job and Troon has a very nice course out there.


Link to pics: [url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/13783157@N05/sets/72157639411665095"]http://www.flickr.com/photos/13783157@N05/sets/72157639411665095[/url]

[Jefe21]

Finally got out there. Its nice but so out of place. Barren wasteland all over, no views of what Tucson has to offer. What were they thinking on the 650yd 10th hole? Ridiculous hole, par is a great score there. And whats with the lack of drinking water? That should be a law in Southern Arizona. Hopefully Troon puts some jugs out or else someone could die. Lots of water and sand. The carts were also a pain. They put sensors in them so if you get close to a green or OB they shut down. We were on the cart path in between a green and the next tee box and it shuts down on us. Happened twice and we were on the cart path. Lost the GPS signal twice as well. Its impossible to play that course without it. The white paper scorecards were a nice touch. $25mil and you cant get scorecards made?

 

Tucson golf relies mostly on Tucson golfers. For most its a 50 minute drive for a $120+ round. No one who lives within 10 mins of the course can afford it. They could play a nicer, tougher course at Dove or Ventana for less. Just seems like an absolute waste. Imagine what AZ National could be had they put half that money into it...

 

Unless I find a tee time under $50 I dont think Ill be heading back out there

 

 

 

 

[AzSuperHack76]

Sounds like they need to iron out a few things for sure. But with that being said what kind of shape was it in? From the pictures it looks in decent shape. How were the greens, fast? Bunkers, good sand? Fairways look pretty lush. We are headed down there for a promotional offer via the AGA in the next of months. Thanks!

[puttnforthe8]

AZ...I posted conditions in post right above the last one. They were excellent!

We got bottles of water when we played....guess it got expensive already.

Not sure why you did not like that long par 5, We liked it a lot. I birdied it, cut off the lake and then hit a nice 3 wood.

The cart interlock stopping near the greens was a pain, I agree!

Oh and the under construction, unsafe clubhouse...would rather they had a temporary one for safety and ease!

[Jefe21]

[quote name='AzSuperHack76' timestamp='1390438690' post='8512697']Sounds like they need to iron out a few things for sure. But with that being said what kind of shape was it in? From the pictures it looks in decent shape. How were the greens, fast? Bunkers, good sand? Fairways look pretty lush. We are headed down there for a promotional offer via the AGA in the next of months. Thanks![/quote]
Yes they do. Crazy since the opening was post-poned several times and its still not even near done. I didnt see a single sign anywhere for the course. The entrance isn't very clear because all you see are tractors. Park just south of the Amphitheater and walk towards the small building(pro shop). Once in the cart they make you drive a 1/4 mile in the dirt to get to the range. Then all of the sudden you're surrounded by flowers and waterfalls. Really weird.

Course was in great shape, I'd say 9/10. Tee boxes were pretty good, fairways were great, greens were great. Not quite as much slope as Dove but they roll pretty true. Practice green is so soft, I felt like I was damaging it just by walking. Driving range was really nice, could have used 1 or 2 closer targets though. I feel like they had 3 targets at 190+. Bunkers were hit or miss. Most were in good shape with some wet spots. Couple were muddy.

I play Dove, Ventana and La Paloma all the time so take my negative comments with a grain of salt.
[quote name='puttnforthe8' timestamp='1390439934' post='8512865']We got bottles of water when we played....guess it got expensive already.
Not sure why you did not like that long par 5, We liked it a lot. I birdied it, cut off the lake and then hit a nice 3 wood.[/quote]
We had 2 mini bottles of water each at the start. I asked the starter if there was drinking water on the course and he said yes. Mini bottles were gone by the 2nd green. Cart girl showed up on 3 and gave us 2 more. Those were gone by 4. By the end of the round I think we had 10 empty mini bottles in our cart. Luckily the cart girl didnt charge for them. No drinking water anywhere on the course is crazy. Not even at the bathrooms.

Had a bad drive that I never found thanks to all the range balls near the fairway on 10 and then I hit water on my next shot. Next drop landed on the green and rolled off into the sand. Just killed me.

[puttnforthe8]

you're working to hard on the course if you have to drink all that agua! all those extra shots your taking?

also, don't you think 18 was a bit of a let down? as if they ran out of room due to poor planning.

[Jefe21]

[quote name='puttnforthe8' timestamp='1390518399' post='8519263']you're working to hard on the course if you have to drink all that agua! all those extra shots your taking? [/quote]
Ya...pants were a bad decision
[quote name='puttnforthe8' timestamp='1390518399' post='8519263']also, don't you think 18 was a bit of a let down? as if they ran out of room due to poor planning.[/quote]
We were rushing to finish but ya it was much shorter than it looked standing on the practice range. They put the jade tees way up so it was about 60yds shorter than normal I guess. I hit hybird and it went through the fairway and rolled down the backside of the hill. Almost went into the water. Had like 85 left and the pin was far right. Chipped on and 1 putted for par. Finished strong but 10-14 were ugly for me.

[Shipwreck]

Has anyone played this course since the last 2014 post? I have a good buddy coming in mid Feb from Idaho Falls and want to take him to some nicer courses but without breaking the bank with $100+ places. I can book this for $65/player so I think that's a pretty solid deal. I was also thinking of taking him to AZ National, seeing as how they turned the course around pretty well.

[Arizonalefty59]

Has anyone played this course since the last 2014 post? I have a good buddy coming in mid Feb from Idaho Falls and want to take him to some nicer courses but without breaking the bank with $100+ places. I can book this for $65/player so I think that's a pretty solid deal. I was also thinking of taking him to AZ National, seeing as how they turned the course around pretty well.

Played it the week before Christmas and it was in tip top shape.

[MalsPals32]

Any tips on scoring on this course?

[puttnforthe8]

Any tips on scoring on this course?

 

Don't be a wuss...be aggressive!

[MalsPals32]

Lol, anything more specific?

[puttnforthe8]

Lol, anything more specific?

 

nope...pretty simple tactic for said course