Renovations are underway at the Maryvale Golf Course in Phoenix, Arizona.

Work on the course – which was acquired by the nearby Grand Canyon University in October 2014 – is being led by architect John Fought and construction firm Duininck Golf.

Maryvale was originally designed by William F. Bell, and the architect’s basic routing and playing corridors will be retained during the work.

“The basic layout of the golf course is actually quite good,” Fought commented. “The holes fit together well. But after 50 years of neglect, the facility is totally rundown.”

The course has lost money in recent years, and the university has agreed to invest US$8 million. Fairway contours will be introduced on the flat site to enhance drainage, and the course’s greens, tees and bunkers will be completely reconstructed as part of the project.

Fought recently completed a successful renovation of North Carolina’s Wilmington Golf Course working alongside Duininck Golf.

“Duininck Golf has a proven track record,” said Fought. “I’ve worked with the company’s construction crew before and they’re really good. The site supervisors are excellent, as are the shapers. I’m delighted they’ve been hired.”

Among Fought’s plans for the course is the introduction of a vegetative edge of oleander which will be planted around the course’s perimeter to buffer the holes from passing traffic.

The greens will be slightly elevated, while the course’s 80 fairway and greenside bunkers will be rebuilt and in some cases repositioned.

The latest work will also see the course extended to a length of 7,200 yards from the championship tees, presenting the possibility of hosting college tournaments.

Grand Canyon University is actively involved in a series of initiatives to help improve the west part of the city of Phoenix, with the golf course the latest in a long list of revitalisation programmes. The university has also helped fund a neighbourhood safety initiative, a drowning prevention programme, and a graffiti abatement programme in the area.