Troon North Remodel Nearly Complete

A major renovation of the two courses at Troon North Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz., is near completion. Tom Weiskopf, original designer of the facility's Pinnacle course and co-designer of the Monument course, is leading the two-year project.

Under Weiskopf's direction, the 36-hole facility is being reconfigured by blending the two courses together and changing the sequence in which the holes are played. When the courses reopen on October 4, 2007, players will find two layouts with improved playability.

Both courses will feature shorter distances between the front and back nines, as well as shorter distances between greens and tees for a more walkable Pinnacle course. To create a consistent overall design, new Pennlinks Creeping Bentgrass putting surfaces have been added to every green and bunkers have been reconfigured or removed on both Monument and Pinnacle.

Weiskopf has designed more than 55 golf courses around the world, with Troon North one of his most celebrated. "The course reconfiguration we have undertaken is something we contemplated in 1996 when we built the second course, the Pinnacle," Weiskopf said. "When work is complete, both courses will be played exactly as the land dictates, the way Mother Nature intended."

Monument will feature a modified 17th hole that has been shortened by 20 yards and changed from a par-5 to a 495-yard par-4. Pinnacle,w hich will change from par 72 to par 71, is being transformed into a more links-style design, with a continuous layout that doesn't return to the clubhouse until the 18th hole.

"Making changes of this magnitude to two of the game's most highly acclaimed courses was something we extensively studied and took very seriously," said Dana Garmany, chairman and CEO of Troon Golf. "In the end, both Tom Weiskopf and I are confident we have improved both golf courses and enhanced the player experience significantly."

For more details, visit www.troongolf.com.