The City of Phoenix, Arizona State University and the Arizona Golf Community Foundation are uniting to create a state-of-the-art clubhouse and upgraded practice facilities at Papago Golf Course in Phoenix.
The new additions will feature a clubhouse restaurant and bar, improvements to public practice facilities that will include new driving range targets and expanded practice range tee surfaces, an exclusive practice facility for ASU's golf teams, and a new entrance to the course off McDowell Road.
Clubhouse construction will begin this month and is expected to be complete in spring of next year, while the other elements are scheduled for completion next fall.
The Arizona Community Golf Foundation is a non-profit organization created to revitalize Papago Golf Course and to advocate the public golf scene in Arizona.
"This will ensure Papago Golf Course can return to being the crown jewel of public golf in Arizona," AGCF president Gregg Tryhus said in a statement. "The clubhouse will be not just for golfers, but also an outstanding place for anyone to meet friends for lunch, dinner or to catch a game on TV."
No City of Phoenix taxpayer funds will be used for the project. Funding for the clubhouse was raised via a contribution from the Lou and Evelyn Grubb Foundation, and the ASU practice facility will be paid for by ASU and the ASU Foundation.
Papago Golf Course will remain open throughout the construction project, but the public practice facility will close in early 2018 and reopen in the fall.
"This is a big win for Phoenix, ASU and golf lovers throughout the Valley," Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton said. "This partnership will spur economic growth in the area, enhance both Papago Golf Course for all recreational uses, provide ASU Golf with a premier facility in the hart of our valley, and further solidity Phoenix as one of the best golfing destinations in the country."
