Tom Weiskopf and Phil Smith complete renovation at Troon Country Club

$4.6 million project represents largest enhancement in club’s 34-year history.

Courtesy of Troon

Courtesy of Troon
Troon Country Club reopened its Jay Morrish and Tom Weiskopf-designed golf course for member play on Dec. 1 following a $4.6 million dollar, seven-month renovation. Weiskopf and design consultant Phil Smith oversaw the project while Heritage Links golf course construction company served as the contractor. 
 
As part of the renovation, Weiskopf and Smith made design modifications to enhance playability, accentuate site lines and assist in course maintenance. Greens were resurfaced with A4 bentgrass, tees were leveled and expanded, and several new forward tees were added. Tee boxes, fairways and rough were re-grassed with Tifway 419 Bermudagrass. 
 
Bunkers were modified (some eliminated), reshaped and rebuilt incorporating a technically advanced drainage and liner system featuring Capillary Concrete.  The new bunkers are filled with Caltega bunker sand. 
 
The irrigation system has been updated with a HDPE mainline and lateral piping, new Rain Bird IC system sprinkler heads with central control, and new Watertronics pump station. The new irrigation system allows crews to individually control each sprinkler head on the golf course, assisting in the club’s water conservation efforts. 
 
Troon Country Club originally opened for play in 1986 and was Weiskopf’s first venture into golf course design. Aside from a few minor course projects, the original layout remained largely unchanged. 
 
“Over 34 years, we never had to redo a green because it was too severe and never had to change much on a hole, because we spent enough time during construction to do it right the first time,” Weiskopf said. “During this renovation there was no need to change anything other than the surface of the greens, level the tees, improve the drainage and improve the playability of the golf course.”
 
CLICK HERE for a Weiskopf-led tour of the renovated course. 
 
The golf course renovation follows a $7.5 million clubhouse expansion and renovation completed in January 2018. Douglas Fredrikson Architects of Phoenix oversaw the project.
                                                                                          
“When Troon Country Club opened, the golf course was ranked among the Top 100 courses in the world,” general manager Garrett Wallace said. “Thanks to the support of our members, Tom Weiskopf’s vision and Doug Fredrikson’s incredible work on the clubhouse, the newly reimagined Troon Country Club can again be considered among the finest private clubs in the world.”