A new course will open in Arizona in 2013...Sewailo at Casino del Sol in Tucson

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Still no opening date.  There was an article by Bill Huffman in the new edition of the AGA's magazine " AZ Golf Insider" but it's not online yet.  He mentions the possibility of moving the WGC Match Play to Sewailo  or even hosting a LPGA event.

[Pete_Pittock]

Website has opening date of 12/12/13.

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Here's Bill Huffman's article in http://www.azgolf.org/index.php/news/detail/cat/magazine/az_golf_insider_magazine

Just click on the October issue and find it.

[Brett Wiesley]

The layout, and on the google image I pulled today, has a look very much like Circling Raven in Idaho.  Another indian reservation golf course.  Circling Raven designed by Gene Bates though.  Especially #5 with the effectively split fairway with bunker in middle.  Similar to #4 at Circling Raven.  Lots of water on this new course!

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Course opens next week. Greens fee of $99 for 12/13 & $119 for 12/14 listed on course website.

[Pete_Pittock]

Just opened.  It will be the home course for Arizona Wildcats.

http://azstarnet.com/business/local/biz-sewailo/article_c0598e42-32bf-58d8-8046-e1203e910421.html

[Jim Nugent]

The article says it cost $28 million to build the course.  Seem reasonable?  

[Tom Yost]

The article says it cost $28 million to build the course.  Seem reasonable?  

Some portion of that budget for waterfalls...

[Steve_ Shaffer]

I'm guessing that some of that 28M went for a club house and the teaching facility/course.

[Wayne_Freedman]

I played the course last Wednesday, one day before the official opening.
It has its moments, but needs maturing.
IMHO, the routing and pace are uneven.
You'll tee with plenty of 3-metals on the front.
Then, the back hits, and you're in hell.

The par-4, 9th is a good hole, dogleg left over water. Liked it.
The par-5, 10th is Begay's favorite, but we found it to be uncomfortable, if not squeezed.
The par-4, 11th is unreachable for most players, even from the jade tees, with a meaningless and
unforgiving swale to the right of that green, along with a deep bunker.
The par-4, 16th, is a short hole with some amazing bunkering, as if asteroids crashed next to it.
The par-4, 17th is confusing to players who have never seen it, with water to the right and hidden behind the green.
The par-4, 18th is a decent hole, as you will see in the photo.

Generally, the creeks, running water, and water feature behind 18 are pretty, but out of place.

Here are some photos.

Begin with the par-4, 18th...not a long hole. I shot this from behind the waterfall.




Here is the bunker and green complex surrounding the 16th. Pretty.



Water water everywhere. This is one of the par-3's...I forget which one, mostly because
my tee shot hit the 'closest to' sign and bounced into the lake. That was the beginning of my end.

[Pete_Pittock]

link to article by Greg Hansen http://azstarnet.com/sports/columnists/hansen/hansen-new-course-a-boon-for-tucson-golf/article_053279ea-0d63-5beb-9b7e-42239bb4b431.html

[Scott Weersing]

If you hit a sign on the green, is that an outside agency or is that rub of the green?

I understand if you hit the flagstick or Merion basket, then you play it where it lies. But what if you are waved up on a par 3, hit another player's equipment and the ball goes in the lake?

[Wayne_Freedman]

Rub of the green.
Made 4.
The one shot didn't kill me, that day, just started me on the path.
Those immature bunkers were DEATH.

In general, the course is overdone. We return in a year. Let's see how it matures.

[Scott Weersing]

Great, another course that people who know nothing about GCA will like it and recommend it to their friends.

I guess it is like Trump LA or Ko Olina or any other course with lots of waterfalls.

It reminds me of the 90s where creeks and waterfalls made it a great course. I hope it is not the first in swing of the pendulum back to fake golf courses, i.e., Shadow Creek.

[Tom Yost]

Reading the other thread about what the next trend in golf design will be made me hope that the previous trend continues to grow and flourish.  That is the trend of a return to naturalism/minimalism and a focus on elements that improve the actual golf.  In my mind, the throwback style has yet to be fully realized.

Right out of the blocks, our first course to open in five years is very much the same as the excessive style typical of the 1990's.  

[Steve_ Shaffer]

I played Sewailo yesterday. Unfortunately, high winds- 20-30mph and more- brought havoc to our group. My impression of the course- big fairways,big bunkers, big greens, hidden creeks, plenty of water, 14 lakes, one waterfall.There was even a double green linking green one and nine.  It was almost like playing a Florida course in the desert. I wouldn't mind a return visit on a calmer day.

The Casino del Sol is worth a visit too. Good restaurants and facilities. 

The course is now the home of the University of Arizona golf teams.

[Steve_ Shaffer]

I find these comments on Yelp amusing:

http://www.yelp.com/biz/sewailo-golf-club-tucson

Also, a lot of course pictures there.