Course will be first in Southern Nevada to
feature Platinum TE paspalum turfgrass
With more than 30 years in the Las Vegas golf industry,
GCSAA Class A Superintendent Scott Sutton has seen his share of challenges. A
superintendent at numerous facilities, including Durango Hills Golf Club, Red
Rock Country Club, Sunrise Country Club (now Stallion Mountain) and Wildhorse
Golf Club, Sutton’s newest project might be his most formidable.
Designed in 1964 by Dick Wilson and Joe Lee, The Club at
Sunrise, formerly Desert Rose Golf Club, was one of the first golf facilities
in the Las Vegas valley and served visitors and locals alike for 49 years
before closing in June of 2013. The course, owned by Clark County, received
extensive damage in a 2012 flood and the decision was made to temporarily close
the course and embark on a mega-renovation of the entire facility.
As part of a $150 million flood control project
implemented by the Regional Flood Control District, the facility has undergone
a complete facelift including a course redesign, construction of a new
state-of-the-art maintenance facility and a 4,400 square foot clubhouse
featuring a golf shop, the Winterwood Grille and extensive patio areas for
special events and weddings.
Golf course architect Randy Heckenkemper of Heckenkemper
Golf Course Design was brought in to oversee the redesign. A veteran architect
who has worked on numerous projects including renovations at McDowell Mountain
Golf Club and TPC Scottsdale, Heckenkemper envisioned using paspalum turfgrass
on the playing surfaces.
Platinum TE paspalum is a drought and salt tolerant
variety of turfgrass that does well with recycled water, has a shorter dormancy
period than Bermuda, can handle hard frosts and is excellent in regards to wear
and traffic tolerance. Paspalum is often used in coastal and tropical climates
that deal with salt water, but its unique qualities also make it an excellent
choice for desert golf courses that play a significant number of rounds.
Seeking out advice on paspalum use in the desert,
Heckenkemper turned to Sutton who was using the turfgrass with some success in
high salt areas at Wildhorse Golf Club in Henderson, Nev.
“When Randy reached out to me and indicated that he had
interest in using paspalum at The Club at Sunrise, it was a project that I
became interested in quickly,” said Sutton. “I had experimented with the grass
at Wildhorse in some areas and I knew the potential that existed if you were
willing to use it on greens, fairways and tees.”
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| The Club at Sunrise's Scott Sutton |
The early results have been positive. “The paspalum is a
great surface to play off,” said Sutton. “The conditions are fast and firm and
the ball sits up beautifully on the fairways and in roughs. High handicappers
and seniors will really appreciate it as it allows you to sweep the ball.”
In addition to the paspalum, the bunkers have been
completely renovated and the facility has removed large areas of turf and
replaced it with desert landscaping that provides increased water savings. “Everything
we have done has been focused on reducing water use and our environmental
footprint,” said Sutton. “As a golf
course superintendent I take that responsibility very seriously.”
Operated by Northbrook, Ill. -based KemperSports, who
builds, owns and manages golf courses, resorts, athletic clubs and lodging
venues across the U.S., Caribbean and Central America , The Club at Sunrise is
scheduled to reopen to the public in early December. “It’s a terrific project for the Clark County
community and KemperSports is honored to be chosen to oversee it,” said Matt
Kalbak, PGA Class A member and director of operations for the project. “Golfers are going to get a great experience
at an affordable price and I know they will be impressed with the changes.”
For more information on the project, or to book a tee
time, visit the website at http://www.lvwashproject.com/desert-rose-golf-course/.
