Wigwam resort - Patriot golf course - no. 18
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Wigwam resort - Patriot golf course - no. 18
The no. 2 handicap hole, the 464-yard par-4 18th, belies the short length of the Patriot golf ourse at The Wigwam resort just west of Phoenix. Mike Bailey/Golf Advisor
Wigwam resort - Patriot golf course - no. 15
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Wigwam resort - Patriot golf course - no. 15
Here's a look from behind the island green par-3 15th on the Patriot Course at The Wigwam resort just west of Phoenix. Mike Bailey/Golf Advisor
Wigwam resort - Patriot golf course - no. 14
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Wigwam resort - Patriot golf course - no. 14
The most formidable bunkers on The Wigwam's Patriot Course come on the driveable, par-4 14th. The green presents some challenges too. Mike Bailey/Golf Advisor
Wigwam resort - Patriot golf course - no. 12
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Wigwam resort - Patriot golf course - no. 12
At just 329 yards, the 12th on The Wigwam's Patriot golf course is certainly a scoring opportunity. Mike Bailey/Golf Advisor
Wigwam resort - Patriot golf course - no. 9
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Wigwam resort - Patriot golf course - no. 9
The ninth is the most difficult par 3 on the Patriot golf course at The Wigwam with its length (almost 200 yards) and trees. Mike Bailey/Golf Advisor
Wigwam resort - Patriot golf course - no. 3
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Wigwam resort - Patriot golf course - no. 3
One of the keys to scoring on The Wigwam's Patriot golf course is playing the par 5s well. The third is only 477 yards from the tips. Mike Bailey/Golf Advisor
Wigwam resort - Patriot golf course - no. 2
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Wigwam resort - Patriot golf course - no. 2
The second hole on the Patriot Course at The Wigwam is a 207-yard par 3. Mike Bailey/Golf Advisor
Wigwam resort - Patriot golf course - no. 15
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Wigwam resort - Patriot golf course - no. 15
While the Patriot golf course at The Wigwam is only 6,000 yards long, there are a few tricky holes like the short par-3 15th. Mike Bailey/Golf Advisor
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Fewer bunkers, better conditions make The Wigwam's Patriot golf course more resort friendly

LITCHFIELD PARK, Ariz. -- The renovations continue at The Wigwam resort, this time with the second of three golf courses to be redone in recent years, the Patriot Course.

Like The Wigwam's Gold Course, which was renovated a year ago by Tom Lehman, the Patriot Course is also a Robert Trent Jones, Sr. design, but at 6,000 yards, considerably shorter. This time the work was done by Key Golf -- a renovation and maintenance firm based in Nevada and specializing in Southwestern-style courses. Key Golf has collaborated with The Wigwam's ownership group, JDM Partners, to carry out the work.

"The Patriot Course looks and feels like a new golf course," said Leo Simonetta, director of golf at The Wigwam Golf Club. "The new white-sand bunkers set against the emerald green and striped fairways look amazing. In addition, the new irrigation system will allow our agronomy team to offer consistent and pristine playing conditions on The Patriot Course."

Like the Gold Course, bunkers were removed and renovated. In all, the Patriot Course has 31 fewer bunkers with the remaining 38 modernized with new shapes and white sand. The golf course's bunkering now has a splash-up, flat-top design. Further work included the replacement of 880 sprinkler heads throughout the course, as part of the improvements to the irrigation system.

Mike Bailey is a former Golf Advisor senior staff writer based in Houston. Focusing primarily on golf in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean and Latin America with an occasional trip to Europe and beyond, he contributes course reviews, travel stories and features as well as the occasional equipment review. An award-winning writer and past president of Texas Golf Writers Association, he has more than 25 years in the golf industry. He has also been on staff at PGA Magazine, The Golfweek Group and AvidGolfer Magazine. Follow Mike on Twitter at @MikeBaileyGA and Instagram at @MikeStefanBailey.
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Fewer bunkers, better conditions make The Wigwam's Patriot golf course more resort friendly