By Design – Issue 52, Spring 2021

21 “I felt that creating a large putting surface versus 18 individual holes would lend itself to more playing options in the daily setup,” said Brawley. “The result was an 18-hole layout that can be played in reverse. “In addition to the 18-hole layout, golfers can play a nine-hole routing and a ‘superintendent’s choice’, so over a four-week period, the course will play differently each week.” The green was built to USGA specification. “With eight feet of elevation change from the low to high point, there is plenty of slope and character to give golfers a different challenge every day,” said Brawley. “This has been one of the most unique and fun projects I have been involved with. Just the other day I was on site and spoke with three residents who play the course twice a week. Two of them are in their eighties and the other is 95 and uses a walker to get around. Their smiles and enthusiasm were contagious. The 95-year-old lady said we had ‘brought golf back into her life.’” • Location: Phoenix, Arizona Golf course architect: Gary Brawley, ASGCA gary@gbgolfdesign.com Project summary: Gary Brawley, ASGCA, was commissioned to design a new putting course as part of an expansion of the Sagewood senior living community in Phoenix. The goal was to convert 50,000 square feet of open space into a world class amenity for the 600 Sagewood residents. Partners: Wadsworth Golf Construction (contractor); Hunter Industries (irrigation heads and controller); Profile Products (soil); Ewing Irrigation (golf supplies); CMF Global (AquaFuse piping) THE LINKS AT SAGEWOOD Photo: Gary Brawley, ASGCA “ There is plenty of slope and character to give golfers a different challenge every day”