PHOENIX, Arizona – PTI Golf recently completed a unique renovation project at Grand Canyon University Golf Club involving a private/public practice facility. The course is owned by the city of Phoenix and operated by Grand Canyon University.
PTI worked with architect Mike Gogel in creating the short-game practice facility for the GCU men’s and women’s golf teams. The project included expansion of putting greens and creation of a chipping and pitching area.
“We completely reshaped and rebuilt two of the greens,” said David Marcucilli, PTI’s Director of Golf Construction. “We created more pin-able areas. What used to be two tiny putting greens were changed to chipping and pitching greens. And we added a practice bunker and surfaces for hitting into the greens.”
Gogel has developed a reputation for creating outstanding practice facilities, like the one he completed for the University of Arizona at Tucson Country Club in 2021. He’s particularly proud of this effort.
“One of the things we created at Grand Canyon was a wedge practice area,” said Gogel. “We built several sand-filled targets which are great for working on distance control. You can see the sand splash when the ball lands.”
The course is open to the public and features a practice area for public play. But the renovated short-game practice facility is reserved for GCU student athletes. That was one of the challenges for PTI Superintendent Jose Uribe and his crew.
“We had to create a facility that provides the right value and features for the golf teams at Grand Canyon, while maintaining balance with the public facility,” said Marcucilli. The GCU golf coach added his ideas to the chipping areas.
A lot has changed since that sunny day in 1961 when former City of Phoenix Mayor Samuel Mardian, Jr. hit the ceremonial first tee shot at Maryvale Golf Course. It was a momentous occasion for the area, and marked the beginning of championship golf in west Phoenix.
The course, designed by famed Southern California architect William “Billy” Bell (Torrey Pines South), served the area well for over five decades, but was beginning show some age about 10 years ago, when Grand Canyon University stepped up.
GCU entered a partnership with the city of Phoenix and invested a large sum of money into renovating the golf course. Architect John Fought was brought in to do the work, and what had been a solid layout was fashioned into a championship track.
Along with taking on the university’s name, the golf club also became home to the GCU men’s and women’s golf teams, and a friendly venue to the other golf enthusiasts among the student body and staff. An indirect result was a nice bond formed between the city and the university.
At the grand re-opening in 2016, Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton said to GCU President Brian Mueller: “You didn’t have to make this investment, but you chose to do so. It’s an investment not only for the athletic teams at the university, but also an investment in our community.”
And Mueller added, “We want to celebrate this golf course, but really this is as much about hope and transformation as it is about golf.”
Since that day eight years ago the golf course and the community have thrived, as hoped. This upgrade to the practice facility reflects that.
“This has proven to be a very good partnership between the city and the university,” said Jesse Mueller, General Manager at Grand Canyon University Golf Club. “When the deal was worked out, the course was at the point where it could have gone either way. But now it is thriving, providing a solid course for the public and the university golf teams. And it has uplifted the entire area.”
PTI enjoyed working on this special project.
“We should do more jobs like this one,” said Marcucilli. “It’s more intimate than some of our other projects, and with the community involvement it serves a bigger purpose.”
Mueller is pleased with PTI Golf’s effort on the project.
“So far we are very happy with their work,” he said. “Everything has gone according to schedule and plan. PTI has been great to work with.”
Gogel echoed those positive comments.
“I’ve got a long history with PTI, and they are always great to work with,” said Gogel. “They are very flexible – always amenable to onsite changes. They have great individuals, and work well as a team. And they have fun doing what they are doing.”
