Golf courses must adapt and look to the future. 

This summer and beyond, Rams Hill is taking proactive steps to ensure sustainable playing conditions and solidify its position as a leader in employment, infrastructure, and sustainability.

Phase 1 of Rams Hill’s two-year multi-million-dollar bermudagrass conversion began in late May – before the final ball of the season was even holed – as a means to ensure the most optimal golf course conditions year-round for the Anza-Borrego escape.

This summer, Rams Hill has committed to converting all putting greens from bentgrass to Mini Verde bermudagrass, implementing TifTuf bermudagrass in all practice areas, and expanding three putting greens.

Sustainability has been the driving factor throughout the project. With the grassing transformation, Rams Hill aims to achieve excellent playing conditions while also significantly reducing water usage by up to 30 percent upon completion of both phases. 

“The impetus of it is water savings at its core. Finding a grassing program that works in the desert 12 months out of the year is something a lot of desert communities do not have the opportunity to do. From a sustainability standpoint, being able to have a 12-month bermudagrass season is going to be fantastic,” says Tim Jackson.

To preserve the design integrity of the course, Tim Jackson of Jackson Kahn Design, who was on Tom Fazio’s original design team, has been instrumental in the development. 

Three putting green complexes, on holes #2, #7, and #17, are being significantly enlarged which will add a number of different possible pin locations. Not only will this provide for added pinning opportunities, but it will add further character to the already renowned golf course. 

“With the grassing change, there are some modifications we have to make to support that. The great thing about that is it’s an opportunity to make the course better. The course is going to play firmer and it’s going to play faster. The bounce and roll on the green complexes and fairways will not be as slow as the ryegrass, which will help bring out the contour of each hole. It’s going to play better than it ever has, making it a lot more enjoyable,” emphasized Jackson.

Phase 2 of the construction project is set to begin in the summer of 2024 when the TifTuf conversion continues to all remaining playing surfaces (fairways, tees, roughs).

Ultimately, Rams Hill’s goal is to provide an exceptional golf experience for its visitors while being mindful of the environment. By adapting the golf course to the local climate and implementing drought-tolerant turfgrass technologies, Rams Hill is demonstrating its dedication to maintaining high standards and preserving the beauty of a celebrated golf course for years to come.

“Every time there is an opportunity to come in and make something that’s really good even better is something we certainly enjoy being a part of. That’s the case here at Rams Hill.”