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Junior National Golf Club

Where The Future Plays

Formerly known as Tres Rios
Public Welcome

About Junior National Golf Club

Junior National Golf (formerly Tres Rios) is one of the early tracts designed by renowned desert golf course architect Robert “Red” Lawrence. Mr. Lawrence was often called the “Desert Fox” after designing the first desert course in the Phoenix area, Desert Forest Golf Club and many subsequent desert courses. The original course, called Sierra Estrella Golf Course, was designed, built, and opened in the early 1960’s. Over the years, and a few name changes, the course became less of a desert course and more “parkland” in style with grass planted throughout the course where the desert once greeted stray golf shots. Non-native eucalyptus trees were popularly planted over the years as well. Our goal is to bring Red Lawrence’s desert golf course back, not just to where it was, but to make it better than it has even been, for everyone. 

Red Lawrence Course

What We’ve Been Up To

Currently, the course is being returned to its original, intended, desert golf course state highlighted by the removal of the water-hungry eucalyptus trees and additional grass acres that were added to the course. In 2023 all 18 greens were rebuilt, recontoured and re-grassed with mini-verde grass. This grass type allows for less water usage and negates the need for annual overseeding. The putting surfaces may not have the dark green color many are used to, but our goal will be for them to roll quick and true to be a great test for all golfers. At the same time the new greens were installed, all the bunkers were redone with new contours, new, upgraded drainage and new sand.

In 2024, we began the transition of the course back to a desert golf course through the removal of grass between fairways, restoring fairway shapes and continued removal of non-native trees and vegetation. While a slow transformation, we are committed to revegetating the course with native trees and fauna.

Behind the scenes and less notable to the golfer was the acquisition of nearly $1M in maintenance equipment and irrigation upgrades. These included three new pumps to move water around the course, over 1,000 new sprinkler heads as well as mowers, rollers, chippers, grinders and more to improve and maintain playing conditions on the golf course.

The Future is Bright

Future projects include a second 18-hole championship course on the southern side of the property as well as a new, state of the art two-story clubhouse featuring a new restaurant as well as areas for juniors to come, be safe, and learn about positive opportunities for their future.

As a non-profit foundation, the golf course is operated in a manner where any profits will be invested in the youth programs and back into making the golf course(s) better. The land and course is leased from Maricopa County and lies within the Estrella Mountain Regional Park. Monthly payments to the County Parks & Recreation Department as well as annual percentage of adjusted gross revenues are paid, and those funds are earmarked for improvements back into the Parks & Recreation Department.

Junior National Foundation

Junior National Foundation is a Non-Profit golf foundation with a simple mission at heart: To change the lives of youth through the game of golf. While serving all junior golfers, the Foundation will have a focus on helping at-risk youth. There is simply so much that can be learned through this wonderful game, the myriads of vocations it touches, and life-long and life-changing relationships it fosters/develops.

The Foundation’s concept, and its funding are the vision of John & Linda Wall. John grew up in the area, riding his bike to the course, almost daily, from Luke Air Force base and then from a home in Park Shadows, along Litchfield Road. At that time the course was named Sierra Estrella, and John acquired his love of the game by working for the PGA Professional and being mentored by the course’s Men’s Golf Club. Building upon the lessons learned at and on the golf course, John has gone on to many professional and personal successes and views this as his opportunity to give back to the area, the game and most importantly, the youth in the area.

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