• Checkout our summer rates and Punch Card! See below for info on both!
Welcome Roberto Hernandez
I’m excited to announce that Roberto Hernandez has joined SunBird Golf Club as our new Golf Course Superintendent.
Roberto brings extensive experience in Sonoran Desert agronomy, Bermuda grass management, irrigation, water conservation, and course improvement projects. Most recently, he served as Superintendent at Grass Clippings Rolling Hills in Tempe, where he helped lead the transformation of Arizona’s first fully lit night golf course, overseeing nationally recognized course improvement and infrastructure projects while managing turf restoration efforts and maintaining quality playing conditions.
Prior to that, Roberto spent time at Phoenix Country Club, Palmbrook Country Club, and TPC Scottsdale, helping prepare championship-level conditions for the Waste Management Phoenix Open while delivering the quality playing conditions Arizona golf is known for.
As of this week’s announcement, you’ll begin seeing Roberto out on the property connecting with our maintenance team, leadership team, and members while learning the golf course and evaluating opportunities to strengthen SunBird for years to come. Please don’t hesitate to introduce yourself and welcome him to the SunBird community.
What stood out to the Board and leadership team throughout the hiring process was Roberto’s passion for golf, commitment to team development, and practical experience improving golf courses—not just maintaining them.
The Board, Roberto, and Club leadership are aligned on the same priorities:
• Improve playing conditions • Elevate the member experience • Protect the long-term health of SunBird soils and turfgrass
A special thank you to our maintenance team for their outstanding work during this transition. Their commitment and pride in SunBird have kept us moving forward, and we’re grateful for all they do.
A BIG WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST MEMBERS! We’re excited to welcome Jeffrey Pitts and John Manhey to the SunBird Golf Club. Here’s to great golf, good friends, and many fun rounds ahead.
IF YOU TEE OFF FROM THE RED, YELLOW OR GREEN ON #16… As you leave 15, turn LEFT on Waterview, and then RIGHT on Oakmont. There is a wash that goes onto the hole after the 6th house (it has a green awning). Head down the wash and the tee box is to your left! No more dust and bumps!
REMINDER: PRACTICE TEE To support the transition from winter ryegrass to summer Bermuda, the practice tee will operate mats only Monday–Thursday. This allows the turf to recover and strengthen heading into peak growing conditions. •Grass tee available Friday–Sunday •Member Practice Area remains available daily for those seeking grass practice during mat days
WARM-UP RANGE NOTICE Remember: the Warm-Up Range closes at 4:00 pm on Mondays and Thursdays for picking. Thanks for your cooperation!
PRO SHOP NEWS HOURS: 6:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily NEW INVENTORY IN THE PRO SHOP!
COURSE UPDATE We are excited to share that full course aeration and tee reconstruction on Holes 11 and 16 have officially been completed. During the grow-in period, temporary tees will be utilized on these holes while the new surfaces establish and mature.
Importantly, all 18 holes are now open.
These improvements are part of our continued commitment to elevating overall course conditions as we transition into the heart of the summer growing season. Summer is when Bermudagrass thrives, and the work currently taking place across the golf course positions us for healthier turf, improved consistency, stronger recovery, and better long-term playing conditions.
Both tee complexes had experienced unsustainable foot traffic over time and required additional teeing ground, improved turf recovery capability, and upgraded sprinkler layout coverage to better support conditioning and playability moving forward.
As part of this project, premium Tahoma Bermudagrass stolons were used to create a high-quality, durable playing surface designed for long-term performance and consistency.
What to Expect During Grow-In Over the next several weeks, members will notice the areas transition through multiple visual stages: Initial hydroseed and sand coverage (Completed Friday, May 15th) Early stolon rooting and lateral spread (6–21 Days) Progressive turf fill-in and color development (21–60 Days) Increased density, deep-root development, and surface maturity (61–120+ Days) Tahoma Bermudagrass spreads aggressively during the summer months, and consistent moisture management is critical to establishing these new surfaces properly. Mid-September is the target timeframe for play to begin on these areas.
Greens & Summer Conditions Members should also expect golf course conditions to continue improving throughout the coming weeks as warmer temperatures accelerate turf growth and recovery.
You may currently notice that front nine green speeds are faster than the back nine. This is expected, as the back nine underwent core aeration one week after the front nine and is slightly behind in the recovery process. As both sides continue healing and strengthening through summer growing conditions, surfaces will become more consistent and continue trending positively.
Summer is an important time for long-term turf health, and many of the agronomic practices currently taking place are specifically designed to create stronger, smoother, and healthier playing surfaces heading into the fall and winter season.
Irrigation & Watering Cycles To support successful grow-in, 5-minute irrigation cycles will occur daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM for the first 6–10 days. Please note: Water cycles may be shortened or adjusted on windy days Please be mindful of on-course signage and the time on the clock to avoid getting soaked Do not attempt to drive around active sprinklers — instead, simply wait out the short cycle and proceed when safe Additionally, from now through the end of September, it is completely normal to not see seed within divot sand mixtures around the golf course. Bermudagrass spreads horizontally and utilizes the sand mixture to encourage lateral growth and recovery rather than seed germination.
We appreciate your patience, support, and enthusiasm as these improvements continue to take shape.
I can’t wait to get you playing on these new surfaces. In the meantime, both holes will present a unique and fun challenge via temporary teeing grounds.
Thank you for continuing to embrace the improvements taking place across the golf course as we continue building toward an even better playing experience. –Kyle
PRO SHOP NEWS HOURS: 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily Rental Clubs available: $30/18 or $20/9 Now stocking SEVEN types of golf balls – check it out! Check out SunBird golf hats, and Srixon gloves! Remember Mike “The Gripper” Butler for your re-gripping needs!
WARM-UP RANGE NOTICE Remember: the Warm-Up Range closes at 4:00 pm on Mondays and Thursdays for picking. Thanks for your cooperation!
