Bunker named director of golf instruction at Camelback

The JW Marriott Camelback Inn Resort & Spa today announces the addition of Craig Bunker as the director of golf instruction to its team of experience golf professionals.

A Class A member of the PGA of America for 34 years, Mr. Bunker will oversee all aspects of golf instruction at the Camelback Golf Club, which offers 36 holes of championship golf as its Padre Course and Indian Bend Course, reopening in October 2013 following expensive renovations.

Mr. Bunker began his career as a golf professional working at various country clubs throughout the U.S. before settling in Arizona in 1991, where he worked as the director of Instruction at John Jacob’ Golf Schools in Mesa. 

It was here that he was recognized as one of the 50 Best Teachers in America by Golf Magazine. Most recently, Bunker served as the General Manager of the Hillcrest Golf Club in Sun City West.

“Craig Bunker’s many years of experience as a golf professional, both managing as well as instructing, make him a valuable addition to the team,” said Jim Rose, general manager of the JW Marriott Camelback Inn Resort & Spa.

The JW Marriott Camelback Inn’s Indian Bend Golf Course is undergoing a complete overhaul, including creating a new course typography, restructuring individual holes, alternating tee locations, and re-configuring golf cart paths. The project will create a new 150-acre, 18-hole course designed with a Hurdzan Fry Environmental Golf Design.

- Article featured in Paradise Valley Independent Newspaper

Update from the Architect

(Before construction began)

We are pleased to report that the earthwork and rough shaping have been completed on holes 7 through 14 and construction has moved into several new phases on the north end of the property over the last few weeks. Specifically, finished bunker construction, greens construction and cart paths are nearing completion on several holes.

The sand bunkers of the new Indian Bend are quite dramatic and are far different in style and construction from before, and from the bunkers on the Padre course. The construction crews have created the hard edges of the new bunkers on holes 10, 11 and 12. Golfers will encounter an older style bunker with varied edges as opposed to smooth lines. This varied edge fits in more with the naturalized character of the new course. In a different twist the fairways will be mowed straight into the bunkers so that no rough will exist between the bunker and the play areas. Native vegetation will hang over the lips of the bunkers where they meet the out of play areas. But to get to this final look the construction crews will next install interior drainage on the bunker floors as well as spray an adhesive or tackifier onto the bunker faces to stabilize them from the forces of erosion. This will also help ensure that the sand will stay clean for a longer period of time. Quickly following the spraying of the tackifier sand will be installed in the bunkers just prior to the beginning of the planting phases.

In concert to the final bunker construction crews are diligently preparing the cart path sub-base and have already poured concrete paths along holes 10, 11 and 12. Rolled curbing has also been installed along all the tees and greens of those holes to keep carts on the paths so as to protect the greens and tees from unwanted cart traffic. While the paths will assist in inclement weather and aid the movement of maintenance and beverage cart traffic golfers will appreciate that they have been well hidden from view and are not in immediate play corridors.

Green construction is also continuing to move along quite rapidly. Subsurface drainage, a gravel layer and 12″ of highly tested USGA specified rootzone material has already been installed on holes 8 through 13, with progress being made on holes 7 and 14. The greens will be temporarily covered with tarps for protection against wind and water borne silt contamination until the bermudgrass planting season begins in late May.

We are also pleased to report that the seeding of the native secondary roughs will commence in the next few weeks on Phase I holes. Further, earthwork and shaping has begun on Phase II and is on target to be completed sometime near the end of February. Please stay tuned for more architectural and construction updates on the new Indian Bend golf course!

Sincerely,

Jason Straka
Golf Course Architect

Please keep off the Grass!

For your safety and the safety of others we would like to remind you that the course is an active construction site.  Please be respectful of our signs and do not bike, jog, run or walk the dog in the construction site.  Paradise Valley officials will be notified of any infractions.  Please contact me directly if you have any questions. 

Sincerely,

Rob Bartley
Director of Golf Operations
JW Marriott Camelback Inn Resort & Spa

7847 N. Mockingbird Lane | Scottsdale, AZ  85253
Phone: 480-905-7985

Rob.Bartley@Marriott.com

Earthwork begins!

Integrity Golf, our golf course construction partner, has begun moving dirt to shape and mold the new golf course at Camelback Golf Club. Work is beginning in the far northwest section of the golf course and will progress towards the Clubhouse. As the new golf course begins to take shape it is exciting to know that in less than one year golfers will be playing the renovated course. Yes, we are opening in October 2013!

Overseeding Padre Course & Clubhouse Closure

Padre Course (overseed 10/4-10/18):

The Padre course, Driving Range and Clubhouse Restaurant will be CLOSED from October 4 through October 18.   The Golf Shop will be open on a daily basis from 8am – 4pm.  We look forward to seeing you when we re-open on October 19th!

Renovations underway!

The time has finally arrived and work has begun on the renovation of the Indian Bend golf course. The first phase of the project involves tree and cart path removal. This phase of the project will last until mid-October. Work started in the Phoenix section of the course and the contractor is moving towards the Clubhouse. Once the first phase is complete, moving earth will begin in the far northwest section of the golf course in late October.

Renovations underway!

Preview the *NEW* Indian Bend Course

After clicking on the image above, click on each oval to view a short video about each category. To view individual holes, click the number to the left.

The JW Marriott Camelback Inn’s Indian Bend Golf Course is headed for a full overhaul complete with alternate tee locations, the restructuring of individual holes, re-configured golf cart paths and completely new course topography.

The proposed project will create a new 150-acre, 18-hole course designed with a Hurdzan Fry Environmental Golf Design – a world-renowned golf course design house known for environmentally sustainable approaches to design and operations.

The construction timeline is set for 15 to 18 months and construction could begin as early as June 2012. The goal is for the course to re-open in October 2013.