Superstition Mountain Golf & Country Club, a private golf course community 30 minutes east of Phoenix, recently started renovations to the bunkers on its two Nicklaus-designed 18-hole golf courses. The $2 million project will take approximately five months to complete, and signals Superstition Mountain’s commitment to the future by maintaining a top-tier playing experience for its members.  

“Renovating our bunkers is crucial to continue offering our members the first-class golf they have come to expect here at Superstition Mountain,” said Mark Gurnow, General Manager of Superstition Mountain Golf & Country Club. “This investment reinforces the financial stability of our club and the dedication by our ownership to the members.” 

In order for the project to come to fruition, Gurnow and Scott Krout, Director of Agronomy at Superstition Mountain Golf & Country Club, presented the renovation proposal to members of the Nicklaus architect team who created the original courses. Krout, who has been with Superstition Mountain since the club opened in 1998 and worked with the design team on the original plans, leveraged his relationships and deep understanding of the courses to help facilitate the approval process from the Nicklaus group, construction crew and Jack Nicklaus himself.

The bunker renovation is a major undertaking and includes:

• Renovation of all 175 bunkers

• Removal of 4,000 tons of sand

• Installation of 4,500 tons of new sand 

In addition, bunker updates include new drainage systems, re-shaping of the existing bunkers, and the addition of Capillary Concrete, the latest in bunker construction technology. The state-of-the-art concrete will allow the bunkers to drain efficiently from irrigation and rain, while maintaining proper amounts of moisture in the sand for optimal playing quality.

While the project is slated to run through the summer, Superstition Mountain Golf & Country Club will continue to offer 18-holes of golf for its members.