A tourism industry news update from the Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau
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SCOTTSDALE COURSES UNDERGOING THE KNIFE
Over the past several months, three of Scottsdale’s most popular courses haven undergone significant transformations. But these changes are a bit more extensive than your standard nip and tuck. Soon, the courses will unveil their natural good looks and enhanced conditions.
Among the first to go under the knife — or backhoe — was the iconic Raptor Course at Grayhawk Golf Club, former host site of the PGA TOUR’s Frys.com Open. Though its finish was already among the strongest in the state, the remodel of three of the final four holes will enhance playability and ensure an exceptional golf experience well into the future. Famed designer Tom Fazio was called upon to rework his original design. He recounted holes Nos. 15, 16 and 17, bringing them in closer proximity to the rest of the course. This new configuration gives you plenty of options as you head into the home stretch. For media information, contact Jeff Locke at jlocke@commlinks.com or 480-348-7540.
Keeping pace, SunRidge Canyon Golf Club, considered among the “Top 20 Best Courses You Can Play” in Arizona by GOLF Magazine, embarked on a summer-long project to further bolster the course’s status. Primarily, this work consisted of rebuilding and resurfacing the putting greens with Champion Ultra Dwarf Bermuda grass, while softening undulations to give SunRidge Canyon some of the fastest, best-rolling greens in the state. A number of bunkers were redesigned and the fairway landing areas were expanded on holes Nos. 2, 3 and 11. And the practice area was expanded to accommodate a new home for Hot Stix Golf, a leader in technology-based golf club fitting. For media information, contact Brett Brooks at bbrooks@troongolf.com or 480-477-0480.
Finally, the former Tegavah Golf Club in northeast Scottsdale has a new name and new ownership to go along with an ongoing redesign by PGA TOUR star and former Ryder Cup Captain Tom Lehman. The club was purchased by Shea Homes of Arizona and renamed Verde River Golf & Social Club. Though eventually it will be a private club, Verde River will welcome daily-fee guests for the next several years. Lehman is busy enhancing the golf course, focusing his efforts on rebuilding green complexes and bunkers, as well as modifying the sequencing and routing of several holes to enhance the overall golf experience. The finished product, as well as a new clubhouse by award-winning designer Bing Hu, will be unveiled November 2016. For media information, contact Jeff Locke at jlocke@commlinks.com or 480-348-7540.
SCOTTSDALE’S GOLF NUMBERS ON THE RISE
Bolstered by the results of a recently completed market study, Scottsdale proves to be one of the few reliable bright spots for golf participation in the U.S. Conducted on behalf of Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau by Sports & Leisure Marketing of New York, the study relied upon data collected from more than a dozen Scottsdale golf facilities, representing a wide variety of price points, course types and geographic locations within the city. The study found the number of rounds played in Scottsdale was up approximately 3 percent in 2014 compared to 2013. Likewise, golf-related revenue was up 3.8 percent over the same period. This comes at a time when participation in golf across North America has been generally flat. This bodes well for Scottsdale’s continued leadership as a primary destination for core and avid golfers. Separate from the study, but reflecting its general trend, Scottsdale CVB’s golf-focused website, experiencescottsdalegolf.com, saw visitor traffic increase 32 percent and page views increase 15 percent over the same time period. For media information, contact Jerry Rose at jrose@commlinks.com or 480-348-7540.
HONORING COORE AND CRENSHAW
This November, Golfweek’s course raters, editors and managers, as well as luminaries from the world of golf and ardent fans of the game, will gather at We-Ko-Pa Resort & Conference Center to honor the lifework of Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, creators of We-Ko-Pa Golf Club’s heralded Saguaro Course. According to Golfweek’s Bradley Klein, Coore and Crenshaw have transformed the face of the American – and world – golf scene over the past 30 years. Their naturalistic, organic design style helped usher in a new aesthetic in golf course design. In Scottsdale, Coore/Crenshaw have three highly regarded golf courses – the Saguaro Course at We-Ko-Pa Golf Club and the North and South Course at Talking Stick Golf Club. During the three-day event Nov. 15-17, participants will discuss, honor and experience Coore and Crenshaw’s work with meetings held at We-Ko-Pa Resort and Conference Center and golf rounds hosted on the Saguaro Course at We-Ko-Pa and at Talking Stick Golf Club. For media information, contact Jeff Locke at jlocke@commlinks.com or 480-348-7540.
THE COMPETITION IS HEATING UP
As the temperatures start to drop in Scottsdale, the competitions start heating up. Pros are already itching to get back on the courses in this Sonoran Desert oasis, so don’t miss seeing them in action during upcoming tournaments in Scottsdale this fall and winter.
The Champions Tour concludes its season on Scottsdale’s Desert Mountain Golf Club’s Cochise Course during the The Charles Schwab Cup Championship Nov. 5-8. Catch the top 30 players on the Tour’s official money list – and some of the most accomplished players in PGA TOUR history – compete for the title, as well as their shares of the $2.5 million purse. Entry into the championship event is based on points earned throughout the Champions Tour season at all official Charles Schwab Cup events. Among those expected to compete are Jeff Maggert, Colin Montgomerie, Bernhard Langer, Marco Dawson and Esteban Toledo. For media information, contact Gerald Goodman at GeraldGoodman@pgatourhq.com or 480-237-2100, Ext. 20.
Also beginning in November, the Thunderbirds and the PGA TOUR will begin work to prepare the TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium Course for the Greatest Party on Grass, the 2016 Waste Management Phoenix Open. Work will commence to build the grandstands and stadium style seating necessary to accommodate the largest galleries of any golf event in the world. During this time, the course will remain open for public play, giving visitors to Scottsdale a unique opportunity to play a true TOUR-quality venue leading into the main event Feb. 1-7, 2016. For media information, contact Tiffany Nelson at TiffanyNelson@pgatourtpc.com or 480-585-7309.
BUILDING BETTER GOLFERS
Scottsdale remains a hotbed for game improvement. Long-time stalwarts such as the Fore-Max Golf Fitness program at The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa, as well as technology-based testing, diagnostic and club-fitting services like Cool Clubs, remain as popular and effective as ever. And with some new additions to Scottsdale’s repertoire, now you have even more opportunities to improve your game in Scottsdale.
Among the new additions is the EXOS Golf Experience Powered by Troon. This three-day immersive program tailors EXOS’ elite training program (clients include San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick and PGA TOUR professionals Graham DeLaet, Ricky Barnes and James Hahn) to meet the individual needs of amateur players. Training and evaluations are done both at EXOS’ training facilities and Troon North Golf Club. You’ll receive highly individualized instruction by EXOS’ integrated team of golf instructors, performance specialists, registered dietitians and physical therapists. This results in a fitness program designed to optimize your individual performance and health throughout your lifetime. For media information, contact Brett Brooks at bbrooks@troongolf.com or 480-477-0480.
Another high-tech option is the Robo Golf Pro Boot Camp at Scottsdale’s Boccieri Golf. Boccieri’s Research and Performance Center offers an intense, three-day program of golf instruction and analysis. Its centerpiece is an 800-pound technical marvel – the Robo Golf Instructor. This behemoth and its custom-designed computer program allows Boccieri’s team to program physically correct your golf swingsbased upon your physique and ability. As a result, you are able to feel the proper positioning and sequence of your perfect swing. With repetition and personalized coaching, your new swing becomes ingrained through muscle memory. Limited to four players per session, the Boot Camp aims to provide immediate improvement and includes Titleist Performance evaluation, daily session on the Robo Golf Pro, one round of golf at Desert Mountain with Boccieri teaching professionals, a complimentary custom-fit Heavy Putter, and much, much more. For media information, contact Sandra Boccieri at sandraboccieri@boccierigolf.com or 480-361-4339, Ext. 202.
Remember to log onto http://ift.tt/1disXR3 for additional tourism news, press kits and releases, media tour information and more. And you can always turn to our public relations team for additional assistance, from photo needs to story ideas. If you are interested in being considered for a group or individual media tour, please fill out the form here. To keep up with Scottsdale’s latest news and happenings, follow @ScottsdalePR on Twitter, @ScottsdaleCVB on Instagram or visit http://ift.tt/19xKcMX.
Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau Contacts:
Laura McMurchie, VP of Communications
Direct: 480-429-2253
lmcmurchie@scottsdalecvb.com
Megan Neighbor, Director of Communications
Direct: 480-889-2716
mneighbor@scottsdalecvb.com
Stephanie Pressler, Communications Manager
Direct: 480-889-2719
spressler@scottsdalecvb.com
Clare Hahne, Communications Coordinator
Direct: 480-889-2709
chahne@scottsdalecvb.com
Jerry Rose, Vice President, Communication Links
Phone: 480-348-7540
jrose@commlinks.com
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