Power Ranch Golf Club launches greens and bunker renovation project
Course will invest approximately $2.6 million to update facility
Power Ranch Golf Club is closing its doors from May 15 through early September to complete a renovation of its greens and bunkers.
Led by Gary Brawley Design, the project will culminate in new greens that are easier to maintain, provide expanded areas for pin locations and create a more enjoyable and playable experience, according to the course’s ownership, Thompson Golf Group.
While the course will be closed, the practice facility and climate-controlled golf academy will still be open and Slate Bistro, the course’s indoor-outdoor eatery and bar, will operate on modified hours.
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Power Ranch Golf Club is closing its doors from May 15 through early September to complete a renovation of its greens and bunkers.
Led by Gary Brawley Design, the project will culminate in new greens that are easier to maintain, provide expanded areas for pin locations and create a more enjoyable and playable experience, according to the course’s ownership, Thompson Golf Group.
While the course will be closed, the practice facility and climate-controlled golf academy will still be open and Slate Bistro, the course’s indoor-outdoor eatery and bar, will operate on modified hours.
Power Ranch Golf Club, previously known as Trilogy Golf Club at Power Ranch, is located at 4415 E. Village Parkway, Gilbert.
Opened in 1999, the course was designed by golf course architect Dick Bailey. The par-71 course features 18-holes of championship level golf that wind through the Queen Creek wash.
The greens are original to the golf course, which was built in 1998. During initial construction, “push up greens” were installed, a more affordable option that consists of “pushing up” the native soil to create the shape and elevation of the green before adding a layer of sand and planting the grass.
However, the continued maintenance of the “push up greens” has become overly difficult and expensive to manage, according to a release.
The green and bunker renovation project will instead install U.S. Golf Association specified greens. Th result will require less maintenance and allow for deeper root growth and more effective drainage, which reduces the possibility of disease and creates a more consistent surface, ownership said.
“A high-quality putting surface is the most important part of the golfer’s experience and can leave a lasting impression about a facility,” Ryan Thompson, CEO of Thompson Golf Group and Power Ranch Golf Club, said in the release.
Demolition on the back nine holes began May 1, leaving the front nine open for play.
Demolition will begin on the front nine May 15, effectively closing the course for the remainder of the summer.
The green surfaces will be stripped and dug to an average depth of 14 inches. The stripped dirt and “waste” will be used to reshape and shallow the green-side bunkers. The demo will also eliminate several fairway bunkers, expand tee box complexes and create other features on the golf course.
Following the month-long demolition, the USGA greens construction will begin. The construction portion of the renovation is led by National Turf Inc., which has completed several projects at Power Ranch in the past year, including a new practice putting green last summer and a pond bank restoration project last April.
Finally, Power Ranch will replant the greens using a process called “sprigging.” Power Ranch will sprig the greens with TifEagle Bermuda grass, a species of grass considered ideal for hot and cold weather and overall playability.
“This is a long and intense process,” Thompson said in the release. “But the improvements are worth it. We have a strong local following in the summer months, the new greens will greatly improve the experience compared to years past. We look forward to a September opening with a fresh look and the improved playability of new bunkers and excellent greens.”
Loyalty cardholders and passholders will have access to Longbow and Dove Valley Ranch, the other courses under Thompson Golf Group, with preferred pricing during specific times while Power Ranch is closed.
Those interested in keeping up with renovation news and timeline can visit www.powerranchgolfclub.com/green-renovations.
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