Desert Highlands to Renovate Championship Golf Course

(SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.) – Desert Highlands – the original home of The Skins Game and an acclaimed luxury golf club and community in the stunning Sonoran Desert of North Scottsdale – will embark on an extensive renovation project to its Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course.

Spearheaded by Nicklaus Design, the renovation project will include six major components: design enhancements to several holes, greens reconstruction, tee reconstruction, bunker reconstruction, desert de- and re-vegetation, and restoration of the turf found on the tees, fairways and rough.

Nicklaus personally visited Desert Highlands in July 2021 to offer his insight on the renovation and design enhancements, a rare occurrence for the “Golden Bear” these days. The $10 million golf course renovation project is set to begin next April and should be completed by November 2025.

“The plans Nicklaus Design have for Desert Highlands are nothing short of compelling,” says General Manager Desi Speh. “This renovation project will not only further solidify Desert Highlands as one of the state’s most sought-after golf experiences, but also enhance the aesthetic appeal of our community.

“We have every degree of confidence Nicklaus Design will return our golf course to its purest form, while maintaining the quality and status that has been a standard bearer in the North Scottsdale area for over 40 years.”

A major aspect of the renovation will be the design enhancements occurring on several holes of the golf course.  These include:

• A new forward tee box on No. 5 will allow players an easier opportunity to cross the wash in front of the putting surface in two shots.
• Nicklaus advised changing the eighth green complex to better see the putting surface from the landing area. The green will be rotated more perpendicular to the line of play and sloped more from back to front to open the views. The mounding will be brought closer to the right and back of the green to allow some shots to bounce onto the putting surface.
• New tee boxes will be created on the 10th hole to move players away from the back of the range and to accommodate possible practice area expansion.
• A high ridge blinding the alternate fairway will be eliminated on No. 13, creating a slightly longer carry and riskier drivable par-4. Plans also could include relocating the forward tee or building a new one.
• A few saguaros will be relocated on the finishing hole as they set up in front of two tee boxes. An additional back tee also could be built.

“All of the work is in the spirit of the original layout and design intent,” says Director of Agronomy Curtis Tyrrell. “We will be looking to return many of the surface areas to the original sizes and dimensions while modernizing and adapting the contours to the modern game and turf conditioning.

“[The design enhancements] are not major changes; rather, I would call them appropriate adaptations.”

Other highlights of the golf course renovation include:

• Greens Reconstruction: The greens core (internal drainage components, gravel and engineered growing medium) will be excavated and replaced. Also, the green elevations will be reset and adjusted to the surrounding moguls and bowls. This will allow for potentially more pin positions and limit wear in certain areas. In addition, the putting surfaces will be planted with a blend of 007 and 007XL creeping bentgrass from the Seed Research of Oregon.
• Tee Reconstruction: Each tee box on the golf course will be leveled, lowered, and enlarged for better utilization and wear management. The vegetation surrounding the tee boxes also will be removed and replanted with the appropriate density.
• Bunker Reconstruction: The bunker shapes and elevations will all be reclaimed and reset appropriately. Each bunker will be excavated, and the sub-surface drainage, erosion / contamination liner will all be replaced. The bunker floors will be lined with Flexxscape, and Caltega bunker sand will fill each hazard.
• Desert De- and Re-Vegetation: Plans call for the removal of overgrown obstacles blocking the intended line of sights, and the removal of old and dying plant material. The density surrounding all the golf course corridors will be reduced, while several trees will be relocated and new vegetation will be planted.
• Turf Restoration: The existing 419 Bermuda grass on the tees, fairways and rough will be renovated to as close to like-new condition as possible without re-sodding. This consists of removing a layer of organic matter otherwise unreachable with normal cultivation practices, which removes a large portion of the Poa annua seed bank and improves the upper-growing medium structure.

“Much of the golf course infrastructure was original dating back to 1982,” Tyrrell says. “With 40 years time the golf courses aged in many regards, creating poorly functioning, soils and drainage infrastructure. Modern golf course agronomy offers improved infrastructure, components, turf, species and varieties. With declining infrastructure it would be difficult to maintain the high-level conditioning expected.

“Desert Highlands is Jack Nicklaus’ first Arizona golf course,” Tyrrell adds. “This design launched the modern-day, northeast corner of the Valley, and is one of his favorites and most notable designs. This renovation is necessary to provide a new foundation for the next decades and generations of Desert Highlands members.”

Other aspects of the renovation include the resurfacing of Desert Highlands’ famed putting course – the first one built in the U.S. and second putting course in the world.

Desert Highlands’ energetic lifestyle consistently draws discerning and active families – from tennis and pickleball enthusiasts to golfers, pet lovers, and health and wellness enthusiasts. A full social calendar allows residents to fully enjoy this peaceful community.

A year ago, the club celebrated its 40th anniversary and the debut of The Skins Game. Featuring Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Tom Watson in a stroke-play friendly competition, The Skins Game was an unofficial event on the PGA Tour schedule for 26 years, and helped spearhead “made for TV” golf exhibitions that are still prevalent today.

The club also recently updated the clubhouse and fitness center, and opened Jack’s Backyard, an outdoor pavilion behind the club’s award-winning clubhouse. Set against awe-inspiring views of Pinnacle Peak and the unspoiled desert, Jack’s Backyard features numerous lounge areas, patio tables, cushioned fireside seating and two Bocce courts.

The breathtaking desert views also were enhanced at Ventana, Desert Highlands’ elevated dining experience, by incorporating large windows and open floor plans. The club’s 7,700-square foot fitness center now offers cutting-edge MATRIX equipment and design enhancements to several areas including the main floor and locker rooms.

In addition to its 18-hole championship golf course, Desert Highlands boasts an 18-hole professionally designed putting course. Inside, the community provides residents peace of mind with an upgraded state-of-the-art security system, professionally trained security personnel, visitor control and access, and other protection amenities. Among the acclaimed residential services that truly pamper residents and meet their specific needs – shipping and transportation assistance, pool and spa maintenance, home inspections and other customized services.

For more information: www.deserthighlandsscottsdale.com.