Longtime Southern Nevada superintendent overseeing grow-in of The Club at Sunrise

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.”

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/.