Many of you have been wondering about the activity on the Raptor Course initiated earlier this summer. Tom Fazio’s team is in the process of remodeling three of the holes, (#15, #16 & #17) near Pima Road. The routing change allows the property owner to reclaim land that the city no longer requires to be used for regional drainage. Additionally, it improves access options to that site. And, by eliminating these single-loaded fairway corridor holes, Grayhawk Golf Club achieves a more uniform golf experience that lends itself to a safer environment when that adjacent property development does take place.
The good news is that the construction process is well underway and the now-closed Raptor back nine will reopen October 5th after overseeding. The old, risk-reward drivable hole #15 has been moved and will become a longer par 4 hole, doubling back on what will be a side-by-side configuration for holes #14 and #15. Hole #16 (the “old” #16 is pictured above) will remain a par 3 on the card, and will be angled from the new #15 green toward hole #17 tee. Hole #17 will be shortened by moving up the tee box from its existing position, and this will now become a potentially drivable par 4. Hole #18 is not affected by the change in these three rebuilt back nine holes.
Impact on summer play is minimal. The staff will be running the golf courses under a 27-hole model this summer affording the opportunity to start morning play off of three tees versus the usual two after the completion of the regularly scheduled summer aerification and maintenance has been completed.
Grayhawk Golf Club will remain one of the cool, hip places to play golf, as well as to “hang” after your round at any one of its wonderful restaurant options such as Phil’s Grill or Isabella’s Kitchen.
