The
prestigious World Golf Championships – Accenture Match Play Championship has
chosen The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain’s Jack Nicklaus Signature
Courses in northwest Tucson, Arizona, as the 2009 site for its annual PGA TOUR
stop. The tournament has been played on the neighboring Gallery South Course
in 2007 and 2008. The new Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain courses will offer
an ideal location for the tournament, with Jack Nicklaus incorporating not
only the natural Sonoran Desert and breathtaking views of the Tortolita Mountains
into each hole but carefully considering the specific needs of the match play
tournament format as he designed the challenging layout.
“We are delighted with
Accenture’s decision to utilize Jack Nicklaus’ latest
masterpiece at the new Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain for this world-class
tournament,” said David Mehl, owner and co-developer of the project. “This
decision solidifies the Dove Mountain community as one of the most exclusive
in the Southwest and puts us on the map as a national golf destination.”
The Accenture Match Play Championship is part of the World Golf Championships,
a series of global events that bring the world’s best golfers together
in competition in various formats at a variety of venues.
Twenty-seven holes
of golf and a 50,000-square-foot clubhouse complex are currently under construction
and scheduled for completion in January 2009, with an additional nine holes
of golf planned for 2010. The first 18 holes, comprising the two tournament
nines, are par 72 measuring 7,833 yards, while the third nine measures 3,974
yards at par 36. The routing of the final nine holes is complete but exact
yardage has yet to be finalized.
“Obviously
we’re tailoring the golf course towards the Match Play Championship, in the
area of 7,800 yards,” said Nicklaus. “At this altitude,
though, you’re taking about 4 percent off that so you’re basically at a 7,500-yard
golf course, which is fine for professionals.”
Nicklaus also designed
these Signature Courses to accommodate the best gallery areas for viewing the
unique match-play tournament format and has worked to make the courses a pleasure
for the players as well as the galleries to walk. In
addition, The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain was designed with the environment
in mind, with irrigation for the golf courses provided completely by reclaimed
water from Tucson Water Company.
The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain courses
will still emphasize playability and aesthetic appeal for all golfers, though,
as they will be available to a select membership as well as guests of The Ritz-Carlton,
Dove Mountain resort. A total of 493 golf memberships for the planned 36-hole
club are dedicated to owners of The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain
and a limited number of non-resident members. To ensure the finest golf experience
for both the resort guest and the Golf Club member, play will alternate between
the courses each day to provide a private members-only experience.
“For
the non-professionals, we have a golf course that sets up at around 6,700 yards,
which actually plays about 6,400-6,450 yards at this elevation,” said
Nicklaus. “You want to challenge them, but you
also want them to make some birdies.”
“Hosting the Accenture Match
Play Championship has catapulted Marana and Southern Arizona’s profile as a
golf destination,” said the Honorable
Ed Honea, Mayor of Marana. “Over 140 countries and 350-plus million households
tune into this prestigious television event. The Championship will have an
impact of over $100 million to our community, the largest impact of any single
event here. We are honored that Accenture and the PGA TOUR are giving Marana
residents, visitors and business leaders the opportunity to show them our fine
Southwestern hospitality and style, and know that The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club,
Dove Mountain will provide the best setting they’ve ever experienced.”
About the World Golf Championships- Accenture Match Play Championship
The International Federation of PGA Tours, formed in 1996, created the World
Golf Championships to enhance the competitive structure of professional golf
worldwide while preserving the traditions and strengths of the six member
Tours. The member Tours are the Asian Tour, European Tour, Japan Golf Tour,
PGA TOUR, PGA Tour of Australasia, and Southern Africa Tour. The Canadian
Tour is named an Associate Member of the Federation.
The Accenture Match Play Championship, which brings together the world’s
top 64 golfers in a unique head-to-head match-play competition, was founded
in 1999 and was held in Arizona for the first time in February 2007 at The
Gallery Golf Club at Dove Mountain. It was announced during that event that the
Accenture Match Play Championship, after another year at The Gallery, would
move to The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain for the February 2009 tournament.
Approximately $1.5 million was raised by The World Golf Championships-Accenture
Match Play Championship in 2007. The funds raised during the event are
designated for The Tucson Conquistadores youth charities. More than 150
charities will benefit, including The First Tee of Tucson, Special Olympics
Pima County, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson, Sierra Vista and Santa
Cruz County.
“This event is a great fit in the Greater Tucson community,” said
Mike Garten, executive director of the Accenture Match Play Championship. “We
are truly looking forward to being at The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain to play
a course designed specifically for this event by the legendary Jack Nicklaus.”
About Accenture
Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing
company. Committed to delivering innovation, Accenture collaborates with its
clients to help them become high-performance businesses and governments. With
deep industry and business process expertise, broad global resources and a
proven track record, Accenture can mobilize the right people, skills and technologies
to help clients improve their performance. With more than 126,000 people in
48 countries, the company generated net revenues of US$15.55 billion for the
fiscal year ended Aug. 31, 2005. Its home page is www.accenture.com.
About The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain
The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain is an essential component within
a landmark half-billion-dollar 850-acre Ritz-Carlton community in northwest
Tucson’s high Sonoran Desert. The Golf Club will serve The Ritz-Carlton,
Dove Mountain, a 250-room resort, as well as 300 luxury single-family homes
at The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain. Twenty-seven holes
of golf and the 50,000-square-foot clubhouse complex are already under construction
and scheduled for completion in January 2009, with an additional nine holes
of golf planned for 2010. The Nicklaus Signature Courses will emphasize
playability and aesthetic appeal while still posing a significant challenge
to the world’s best golfers, who will experience the layout starting
with the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship in February
2009. For further information, please visit: thegolfclubatdovemountain.com or
call (407) 206-6208. For media inquiries, please contact Amanda Conti ()
or Jordan Blakesley () at (303) 333-1402.
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