The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club
It seems fitting that one of the giants of the golfing fraternity has had a strong hand in the creation of the latest venue for the 2009 Accenture Match Play Golf Championship.
The indefatigable Jack Nicklaus, himself a winner of no fewer than 73 PGA Tour events, of which 18 were sought-after majors, is the accomplished designer of the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain.
Nicklaus designed golf course
Since he bagged his clubs for the last time, Nicklaus has been busy adding his celebrated signature to golf courses all over the world. His latest venture has been in Dove Mountain, Arizona, where he has been responsible for creating 27 holes of golf. The first 18, the venue of the 2009 Match Play competition, is on course for completion in January, only a month shy of the Match Play kick off!
The course is set in some wild and wonderful territory, arguably the pride of Arizona, and Nicklaus and team have made every effort to blend the golf course requirements in with the surrounding Sonoran Desert.
The lofty Saguaros Cactus, one of the trademarks of the area, have been well incorporated into the golf setting and Nicklaus has gone out of his way to entrench aesthetic appeal at virtually every hole, ensuring sweeping views of the nearby Tortolita Mountains.
Although the surrounding area is considered the wettest desert in the world, the $60 million Dove Mountain Estate is fully committed to the environment, and all golf course irrigation is done with recycled water. Just as well, as the Sonoran Desert is home to 60 mammal species, 350 bird species, over a hundred different reptiles and well over 2000 indigenous plant types.
Par 72, 7800 yards
Mindful that 64 of the world’s top golfers will be giving the course its maiden championship run, Nicklaus has made it as challenging as possible but with the added incentive that any good play can and will earn birdies…or even an eagle or two!! The tournament course is a par 72, measuring in at 7810 yards and Nicklaus has earmarked plenty of premier view sites for the gallery of fans expected to pile in to Dove Mountain early in 2009.
“I tried to create a challenge for Tour players by incorporating good shot values and strong strategy”, said the man fondly dubbed “The Golden Bear”. “Obviously we�re tailoring the golf course towards the Match Play Championships, in the area of 7800 yards. At this altitude though, you�re taking about 4% off that so you�re basically at a 7500 yard golf course, which is fine for professionals�…..let�s wait and see!
