Bobby Weed’s desert design has become a staple on the PGA TOUR
LAS VEGAS, Nev. (October 5, 2022) – TPC Summerlin – the iconic site of Tiger Woods’ first PGA TOUR win – will host the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open from Oct. 6 – 9 with an impressive field that includes 10 players from September’s Presidents Cup. The golf course is in fabulous condition after replacing the turf earlier this year on every fairway and updating all greens to dominator bentgrass.
In the 2021 Shriners Open, Sungjae Im shot a remarkable final-round 62 to capture his second PGA TOUR victory and tie the tournament record at 24 under. Following his steady play in the Presidents Cup, Im looks to defend his title in Las Vegas alongside International Team partners Tom Kim, Cam Davis, Si Woo Kim, K.H. Lee, Mito Pereira, Taylor Pendrith and Christian Bezuidenhout.
On the American side, 2021 FedEx Cup champion and 2017 Shriners Open winner Patrick Cantlay is the highest ranked player in the field. The red-hot Max Homa and former UNLV standouts Taylor Montgomery, Charlie Hoffman, Harry Hall and 2012 Shriners Open winner Ryan Moore will also garner plenty of fanfare.
TPC Summerlin was designed in 1991 by then PGA TOUR golf course architect, Bobby Weed, and player consultant, Fuzzy Zoeller. One of the most visually stunning layouts in Nevada, Weed took substantial steps during construction to preserve wildlife habitats, native grasses and reduce water usage. From this, TPC Summerlin became Nevada’s first golf course to be certified as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary System.
With an average course elevation of 2,700 feet above sea level, TPC Summerlin is a shot-maker’s dream. The par-71, 7,243-yard design seamlessly incorporates the rocky desert, with creosote and cacti abound, as well as stately pine trees.
“Players who ‘roll the dice’ on this Las Vegas layout over deep barrancas and fast putting surfaces will be rewarded with advantageous scoring opportunities,” said Weed. “TPC Summerlin remains an ideal tournament venue with the club’s combination of challenge and excitement.”
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About Shriners Hospitals for Children Open
The Shriners Open debuted on the PGA TOUR as the Panasonic Las Vegas Pro Celebrity Classic in 1983. The event has been hosted on numerous area courses before settling at its current venue, TPC Summerlin. The tournament’s champions list includes some of the most recognizable names in golf: Greg Norman, Davis Love III, Tiger Woods, Jim Furyk and Webb Simpson. At the same time, the Shiners Open has served as a breakthrough tournament for many players earning their first PGA TOUR victory.
About Bobby Weed Golf Design
Bobby Weed Golf Design (BWGD) possesses some of the most innovative minds in golf. Bobby Weed has designed over 50 new courses and comprehensive renovations spanning from the “golden age” of design to the “modern era.” His work features a balance of visual appeal, sustainability and playability, all informed by an environmentally-sensitive aesthetic and an exceptional hands-on approach.
His professional career began in the 1970s with an extended apprenticeship under Pete Dye, sparking a 40-year friendship with Mr. Dye. Hired in 1983 as the Golf Course Superintendent at TPC Sawgrass, Weed went on to become the PGA TOUR’s first in-house golf course architect. He was responsible for many of today’s best known TPC venues, which continue as host sites for prominent professional events. In 1994, Weed’s career reached new heights with the formation of his own design firm. Both his original and renovated courses are consistently ranked at the top of their respective design categories.
BWGD is also a leader in golf course repurposing – a means to update layouts through the redesign and reallocation of partial acreage for higher value land uses – which results in successful and durable designs.
Weed is a member of the American Society of Golf Course Architects. He is also a 40-plus year member of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, was a former Certified Golf Course Superintendent and is a member of the Florida Turfgrass Association.
