Under
the direction of 2006 Ryder Cup Captain Tom Lehman and his design
team, the Omni Tucson National Golf Resort & Spa, home to the PGA
Tour's Chrysler Classic of Tucson, has begun construction on a new
desert style course to complement the resort's traditional parkland
Orange/Gold championship course.
In addition, two holes on the championship course will be redesigned
to lengthen and tighten the holes in time for the 2006 tournament,
pending approval of the PGA Tour. The remaining 16 holes will remain
unchanged.
"With Tom Lehman's signature, the new desert course will become
a much-in-demand destination for golfers," said David Morgan, general
manager of the resort. "And, it will complement and enhance our
reputation as among the finest golf and spa resorts in America."
Ranked in 2004 as one of America's top golf resorts by both Golf
Digest and Condé Nast Traveler, the Omni Tucson National Golf Resort
& Spa served as the host for the PGA Tour's Chrysler Classic of
Tucson for the last time, February 23-27, 2006. The course began
hosting the Tucson Open in 1965.
"I'm looking forward to doing my part in creating a golf course
that the members and guests will enjoy, find interesting, feel challenged
by and look forward to playing again and again and again," said
Lehman. "Hopefully everyone's expectations will not only be met
but exceeded."
Lehman
and his team will create the new desert course by adding nine holes
to the existing nine-hole Green course. The new nine will be built
on an undeveloped parcel along the eastern edge of the property.
In designing the course, Lehman's objectives were to utilize and
protect the natural washes and native vegetation, to create a seamless
appearance between the two parcels and to fashion a layout that
will require golfers to hit a variety of shots.
At 6,418 yards, length will not be the primary challenge. Rather,
Lehman's design incorporates strategic fairway bunkering that will
require players to place their tee shots carefully while a set of
green complexes will call for thoughtful approaches and a deft short
game.
"Our goal is to create two distinctive golf experiences in a single
resort," said Morgan, general manager. "By offering both a PGA Tour-caliber
championship course and a desert-style layout with a southern Arizona
flavor, we are enhancing the playability of our facility for resort
guests and members."
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