Congratulations to GCA's own Forrest Richardson!
From today's East Valley Tribune:
Rocky Point course here to stay
By Bill Huffman, For the Tribune
May 25, 2006
PUERTO PEÑASCO, Mexico - It’s taken about a decade of planning and work, with a multitude of breakdowns along the way, but Arizona’s favorite Mexican playground — Rocky Point — finally has a golf course.
Oh, sure, the nine holes at Laguna del Mar Golf Club opened three years ago — and closed a year later. Chances are the locks and chains never will come off the gates, as, alas, Laguna del Mar is a mud bog.
But Saturday, with the governor of Sonora on hand for the celebration, the Links at Las Palomas opened its 18 holes. Designed by Phoenix architect Forrest Richardson, my guess is that the Links at Las Palomas is here to stay.
“I came away with a smile on my face,’’ said Richardson, whose work in the Valley includes Phantom Horse Golf Club in Phoenix and Coldwater Golf Club in Avondale.
“You feel like you’re in Mexico, but there is no escaping the linksy feel.’’
Having played that style of course in Ireland and Scotland, I would agree. Richardson has inserted some mystery and a little magic into his first project south of the border.
Truthfully, I’m surprised. When I first saw the Links at Las Palomas — from the air — I thought it might be a pancake-styled layout with standard tee boxes, fairways and greens. That Richardson was able to build so much rolling elevation into the course’s sandy base — and keep you guessing! — was a nice twist.
Then again, I’ve never understood why people flock to this land of plentiful shrimp and Bud Light. Unkempt would be the polite way of describing the Rocky Point scene. That it is engulfed in poverty also does not bode well, at least from a visitor’s standpoint.
Still the “touristas” come in droves, with a lot of them making the trek from the East Valley. And with so many “gringos’’ clamoring for entertainment, the Links is certain to be a huge hit.
“I feel like the reason everything has turned out so well is because we were connected to the project, and we were here during every phase of the building and shaping,’’ said Richardson of the 6,850-yard layout that features four sets of tees all the way down to 5,022 yards.
“The best way to describe what we have created is to focus on the tremendous sand dunes, and how the course will play up, over, around and through these beautiful land forms.’’
All the holes feature Spanish names, my favorites being “Zorro’’ (No. 5), “Tequilla” (No. 6), “Poco Diablo” (No. 14) and “Señor Vulea” (No. 16, “Mr. Turn’’). If there is a memorable stretch, it’s the 11th through 14th holes, where Richardson gives you lots of different shots, from a long par 3 to a short par 4 to a dramatic dogleg par 5.
The Links at Las Palomas concludes with an uphill par 5 that, due to a surreal backdrop against the neighboring resort, makes your day. And if all the bets aren’t quite settled, there is even a short 19th hole for that specific purpose, and it is a beauty, playing right into the Sea of Cortez.
If there is a weakness, it’s the conditioning of the golf course, particularly the greens. At the same time, the thick Paspalum seaside-dwarf grass is so hardy and aggressive, it won’t be long before the Links is picture-perfect.
“The Paspalum has been allworld,’’ said Richardson, who had tried another strain without as much success. “There’s still a little unevenness to the greens, but every week they get better and better.’’
Several media types were invited to play the Links during the grand opening, and nary a discouraging word was heard with the exception of the putting surfaces.
“Very fair with a lot of interesting holes,’’ said Nancy Howard, the editor of Arizona Golfer. “We found it to be a lot of fun, and especially ‘women-friendly.’ ’’
Jeff Foster of Arizona Fairways also liked what he encountered. “The greens were a little slow and shaggy, but from edge to edge it was pretty good. . . . Overall, very challenging with a lot of character.’’
Fans of the Rocky Point area will be amazed just how good the Links at Las Palomas is, and more important, will be. For a green fee that will range from $35 to $45 in the summer up to $65 to $90 in winter, it is reasonable, especially when compared to the staggering fees of $250 to $350 that now are being charged in Arizona’s other Mexican hotbed — Cabo San Lucas.
The Links also has memberships available at $25,000 and rising. Obviously, it must be a pretty sweet deal, as 150 of them already have been sold.
Hey, who knows? Maybe it’s not too late to take another visit to Rocky Point. With the addition of the Links at Las Palomas, well, at least they’ve got my attention.