Arizona Golf Course Upgrades $15M to include lights for Night Golf

TEMPE (Ariz.) — The Rolling Hills Golf Course will be getting a major upgrade.

Project managers anticipate a multimillion-dollar renovation to be completed by the fall of 2024. This includes everything from new golf lighting at night to bars and restaurants.

The Phoenix Zoo and Papago Park are located near the North Mill Avenue course. Arizona State University is located less than two miles away. The Tempe course has been a Tempe institution for over 60 years. It was originally a nine hole course that opened in the 1960s, but it was expanded to 18 holes two decades later. There are tens of thousands golfers who play there every year.

The 1980s expansion was the only major upgrade made to this popular facility. Budget constraints have meant that the City of Tempe was only able to maintain its current course in the last few decades.

A private company, Grass Clippings, is set to do what the city could not. The company, which began as a golf clothing company in 2018, decided in March to invest $15 million in the facility’s renovation.

The infrastructure is in place and there’s a lot of potential. “It’s about putting the money where it hasn’t (been) put before,” said Connor Riley, of Grass Clippings. The company began revitalizing Rolling Hills in July.

Riley said that the project would go beyond just improving the golf course. The goal was to turn it into a “golf and entertainment destination” where people could “come to the property to do more than golf.”

Appealing to a wider audience will likely be critical to the success of the business. Grass Clippings hopes to attract about 300,000 people to its course each year, which is five times more than the current patronage.

• The company hopes to reach that ambitious goal with a slew of golf and entertainment-related upgrades. Five of the most important improvements are:
• Golfers can play until midnight on their course with sports lighting similar to that found in baseball stadiums.
• Re-grassing existing tee box and adding “junior tee” boxes. This is expected to make the course easier to use for children by giving them the option to shoot from a closer place to the hole.
• Riley describes the “family activity yard” as a flexible space that can be used to host anything from small concerts, farmers’ markets and lawn games for children and families at the course.
• Construction of a new bar at the top of the hill on the course as well as expansion and renovation of the patio bar.
• The existing restaurant on the course will be changed to serve what Riley describes as “healthy, fresh Mexican cuisine with cocktails and beverages inspired by Baja Sonoran.”

According to the representative of Grass Clippings, the restaurant serves chicken tenders and is located next to the area where the activity lawn will eventually be situated.

Riley, The Arizona Republic said that night lighting and shade structures on the range will increase operating hours and make it more comfortable in the heat. Riley also added that the increased number of tee-times is expected to be 40 percent. The improved patio and restaurant will attract people who don’t golf to the property. “The event lawn with farmers markets and live music will bring in more people who do not golf.”

Grass Clippings plans to finish the project in four phases, and will have it ready by September 2024. The only hole that will be affected is the 9th, which must be moved in order to accommodate the new lawn.

What is the cost of playing?

As part of their agreement with the company, Tempe officials also negotiated golfing rates that were exclusive to residents. Locals can play golf for $20 in the summer, and $35 at all other times. Non-residents pay $35 or $65. Children and veterans will receive a minimum of a 50% discount.

The city will own the course under the agreement. Grass Clippings, the company that will rent the course to Tempe for the next 30 year’s period of time, will pay about $10 million. The company is entitled to all revenues generated on site, such as golf cart rentals, user fees and food sales.

Craig Hayton, director of Tempe Community Services, said that Tempe’s decision was a good one. The city traded golf revenue in exchange for a regular flow of rent and an upgraded course. He noted that the financial success of Rolling Hills had fluctuated over the years as the city was competing with nearby courses like Scottsdale.

“I believe that the timing (from a financial perspective) has been right for city. “We have had some successful years with golf but it has really been up and down depending on how many local courses are available, or the interest for golf and outdoor activities,” said he to The Arizona Republic.

Hayton said that “I don’t think there are any other lit courses… in Valley.” This is a unique opportunity.