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.