Arizona Biltmore Golf Club, the main attraction, is now open in Phoenix, nearly 15 years after the club acquired the property. The renovation took eight months during one of the most scorching summers ever recorded.
Tom Lehman’s redesign of the Adobe Course is now known as the Estates Course. A modern clubhouse is now open, with all the latest apparel and gear. Golfers have already begun to play on the new fairways with their views of Camelback Mountain and the Phoenix skyline. But there is still more in store, such as a new ballroom, restaurant, and balcony.
The 18-hole layout was given the name Estates to reflect the exclusive high-end enclave that is this Phoenix community. The Biltmore was home to 36 holes, the Estates Course being situated on a large piece of land while the Links Course weaved through the neighborhood.
Biltmore Golf was built in the late 1920s and occupies prime real estate.
Jerry Colangelo is one of the JDM Partners owners who bought the Biltmore in 2009 during the economic downturn. The Arizona Biltmore is the best piece of real estate in the middle of a large city.
The Arizona Biltmore Golf Course in Phoenix (Photo by Golfweek).
The Estates Course is a par-71 course that plays at just over 6,700 yards. It’s surrounded by multi-million-dollar homes and the Wrigley Mansion, but it’s also within walking distance to the Arizona Biltmore resort.
After extensive discussions with homeowners, industry experts and stakeholders, the work on the golf course began in April 2023. Lehman Design Group had to also battle Mother Nature during the course’s reopening on November.
It was compounded with one of the worst Summers. Lehman, who had just returned from the PNC Championship with his son Sean in Orlando, told golfweek that he didn’t know exactly how many trees had been lost. It was a bit of a misfortune and a little bit of a bad luck that happened to the project. “The summer was cruel to the plants.”
The venue is one of only a few Phoenix area courses that has mature, large trees. This requires some creative shots from time to time.
The Biltmore, built by the chewing-gum magnate William Wrigley Jr. during the 1920s, has hosted movie stars and presidents. The walls of the Adobe Restaurant were covered with large framed pictures of George H.W. Bush, Gerald Ford and Richard Nixon were all spotted on the grounds. A painting shows Lehman kissing his only major title, the British Open in 1996, and the Claret Jug.
The restaurant will be demolished as part of the renovation. However, the framed photographs will adorn the walls of the Gallery that is still being built adjacent to the Ballroom.
Lehman and Colangelo have been friends since the early 1990s when Lehman moved to Scottsdale with his family. Colangelo, at that time, was known for being the owner of the Phoenix Suns. He had also served as general manger and head coach. He pursued a championship in the NBA but ultimately failed to achieve it. However, he brought a major sports title to the town when, as the managing general partner of Arizona Diamondbacks he lifted the World Series Trophy just four years after their first baseball game.
The Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix in the 1920s
Colangelo says that despite his age, it is still fun to build things. He also owns a Wigwam property in Litchfield Park, along with David Eaton, Mel Shultz and their JDM partners. This gives the group an asset in the rapidly growing west side of Phoenix’s metropolitan area.
Colangelo said it was crucial to have a local contractor to renovate the Biltmore golf course. Lehman met that requirement.
Lehman said, “I’m not sure how many times I’ve visited that golf course in the last five-year period, but it must be hundreds.” He plans to play a PGA Tour Champions full schedule in 2024, while remaining somewhat active in design and renovation. “Living nearby, I was very accessible to them.”
The Arizona Biltmore Golf Club features photos of U.S. Presidents. (Photo: Golfweek)
The Estates Course is a parkland style layout that allows for a less-than-perfect tee-shot to land in a friendly spot. The large undulating greens provide some great putting options. Near the 18th tee, there is a lake that was created to store water for the course. A meandering stream runs along the sixth hole.
The Estates Course is not expensive Scottsdale desert golf, nor does it try to be. That’s okay. It’s its playability that makes this course fun. The fifth hole, for example, brings golfers back to the first-tee. This allows those who want to sneak in a five-hole late-day loop the Estates Course.
A large building, still under construction near the 18th green, will feature an outdoor gathering area for post-rounds. New restaurant, the Pantry, will offer quick bites to those on the go. The balcony on the second floor will be a great place to watch sunsets. A large ballroom will be available for parties and celebrations. Perhaps even a piano-bar, which was Colangelo’s favorite pastime from his NBA days.
Colangelo stated, “We have an opportunity to have a brilliant future.”
