Renovations to close Rio Secco course for summer

By Las Vegas Sun Staff (contact)

Thursday, May 11, 2017 | 9:46 a.m.

Rio Secco Golf Club in Henderson will close May 23 for renovations by renowned golf course architect Rees Jones, the course's original designer.

The project is expected to be completed by September, and the course will reopen in October. New greens, renovated bunkers and an expanded practice facility will be among the the enhancements.

The club, which opened in 1997, has been featured as a top 100 golf course in the U.S. and has hosted professional tournaments such as the Wendy's 3-Tour Challenge; collegiate events such as the Western Athletic Conference Golf Championships; and national charity events such as the Natalie Gulbis Charity Golf Classic and Tiger Jam, a fundraiser for the Tiger Woods Foundation.

“This is a big bold site, which has matured substantially in 20 years,”said Jones, known as “The Open Doctor" for his redesign of 23 courses in preparation for major championships (33 events).

“We are going to resurface, regrass and expand the greens back to their original sizes to recapture lost pin positions and also make changes to create a different character on some, Jones said. “Several bunkers will be eliminated or rebuilt to bring them up to today's standards and to enhance the playing experiences for golfers of all skill levels."

Eric Dutt, Rio Secco vice president of golf operations, engaged Jones for the project.

"For Rees to return two decades later and share his expertise is very meaningful," Dutt said. "Not a lot of other courses are investing in projects like this during these challenging times for the golf industry. Rees and his team are committed to helping us restore Rio Secco back to its rightful place as a top 100 golf course in America, and that's our goal.”