Thunderbird Country Club, Rancho Mirage’s oldest 18-hole golf course, underwent a two-year renovation. It was more than simply replacing older grass with newer.
“It was keeping the history of the property and revitalizing the course. I also re-did bunkers to make them more appealing,” Nick DeKock, director golf at Thunderbird, said. It was an incredible opportunity to replace the grass and to create hybrid walls. You can kill two birds with one stone, if that’s your thing.
The summer 2021 renovations were completed with the re-opening on Nov. 19. The course was still open for play in spring and winter, but the nines that were built in 1951 were closed to play in April. This was in order to complete extensive greens, fairways, and tree work.
Tripp Davis, an Oklahoma-based architect, made some changes to the course’s first three holes and practice areas in the summer 2021. DeKock stated that the course still plays on the same footprint as it was before Davis’ work, especially with bunkers has brought the course back to life.
Thunderbird officials were able to remove all turf from the course by closing on April 1, much of it being Bermuda grass. Mini verde, a newer variety of hybrid grasses such as tifdwarf, was also planted on the course. This grass is becoming more popular because it requires less supervision in winter.
Davis and his team cleared the course of grass and began to add movement to fairways, reshape bunkers and bunkering, as well as eliminating features such as the lake to the left side of the seventh green.
DeKock stated, “I’m so impressed by the bunkers and reshaping the greens.” “I believe there is more intrigue and interest in playing the golf course. It has been a huge success with members.
The bunkering surrounding the greens was created to look like the Santa Rosa Mountains. There are jagged edges at the bunkers at top of the mountain range. DeKock stated that other bunkers were added in order to create a more layered appearance of bunkers around greens.
DeKock stated that bunkers are more visually appealing and easily visible.
The renovations at Thunderbird Country Club have made bunkers reshaped throughout the course. This bunker is located in front of the fourth hole. (Photo by Larry Bohannan/The Desert Sun).
Some greens and trees are changing
The course’s footprint has not been changed. The green on the 11th hole was moved 32 yards back to 392 yards from its back tees. These tees are called the Ryder Cup Tees. They were named in honor of the course hosting in 1955 the Ryder Cup. The tees at the 12th hole were moved up 30 yards. This created a par-4 of 295 yards that is drivable, depending on how the tee arrangement.
The green on the 17th hole has been moved 20 meters, but it is now located laterally to the left to allow for a more active lake during the approach shot. The bridge that connects the 17th and 11th holes is also new.
DeKock also made small changes to the tee box layout to blend it in with the fairways. This gives the tee box a natural, minimal look. Many trees were removed from holes like the par-4 13. A number of trees were removed from the right side of the 13th fairway, opening up more landing areas for players. Additionally, a large eucalyptus near the green was cut to allow for better views of the mountain ranges to the south.
DeKock believes that Davis helped to preserve the tradition of the oldest 18-hole desert golf course, while also giving the course a solid facelift after 71 year of play.
Thunderbird Country Club’s renovations have made bunkers around the course more aesthetically pleasing, such as this bunker right in front of the fourth hole.
DeKock stated, “I believe the members should feel very proud of their course, which is what they are.” It should be there for many decades.”
