Sewailo Golf Club to Serve as New “Home of the Arizona Wildcats”
TUCSON, Ariz. – The Arizona athletics department has entered into an agreement for Sewailo Golf Club to become the new home course for both Wildcats golf programs, Director of Athletics Greg Byrne announced on Thursday. Sewailo replaces Arizona National as “Home of the Arizona Wildcats.”
“We’re extremely pleased to be joining forces with Sewailo Golf Club as they open their course to the Tucson community,” Direct of Athletics Greg Byrne said. “Arizona National was a wonderful home for our programs and we thank them for their relationship over the years, but we’re looking forward to this new chapter in Arizona golf. I’ve had the opportunity to play at Sewailo and I know that our golf programs will benefit from all the top-notch amenities the course and its training facilities have to offer.”
The partnership, which is effective through June 30, 2015 and comes with a five-year renewal option, allows the Arizona golf programs to have exclusive use of a separate driving range and the ability to play the course throughout the year. If the contract is renewed, Arizona athletics will have the right to initiate improvements, which could include a club house, hitting bays and other amenities.
"We are thrilled to partner with the University of Arizona as the Home of the Arizona Wildcats," said Dan LaRouere, general manager, Sewailo Golf Club. "The University has long been a great supporter of the game and we are excited to play a part in their vision of elevating their golf program to new heights. Sewailo Golf Club will provide a nationally competitive venue to host collegiate tournaments and for Wildcat players to develop their skills and improve their game. We believe this also delivers an attractive recruiting tool for the University to attract some of the world's best and most promising players."
Designed by PGA Tour standout Notah Begay III, Sewailo is a challenging course that measures 7,400 yards from the championship tees and offers five different tee boxes on each hole. It is managed by Troon Golf, a Scottsdale-based golf management company, which oversees properties in 29 states and 26 countries.
“I am excited about the new partnership between the University of Arizona and Sewailo Golf Club,” said head women’s golf coach Laura Ianello. “Arizona will now have a new practice facility and a home golf course to help us improve our current players, while attracting high-level student-athletes from around the world. Sewailo is a championship venue with amazing facilities and I know our players are going to grow immensely thanks to this new practice facility.”
“Our team is very excited about the partnership with the Sewailo Golf Club and the Pascua Yaqui Tribe,” added head men’s golf coach Jim Anderson. “From day one, the hospitality and welcoming we received has been outstanding. We are very lucky to have so many great courses in Tucson, and now we are excited to have one to call home. The golf course is a very good test and will prepare us for competition throughout the season, while the practice facilities are among the very best in college golf. Having a facility to train and develop our players’ games is a critical piece of our goal to win championships. The addition of this facility will resonate with prospective student-athletes as well, helping to make the University of Arizona one of the most attractive places in the country to play collegiately.”