Panks developing a Native American niche

PHOENIX, Ariz. - More than a few sovereign Indian nations across America are building golf courses in their desire to direct the phenomena of Indian gaming into a major hospitality and entertainment industry. With two such projects behind him, Gary Panks would like nothing better than to be the golf course architect they call.

In Phoenix, Ariz., the tribal officials from the Gila River Indian Community liked what they saw in Panks' work at the Raven Golf Club at South Mountain, and invited him to design the community's 36-hole Whirlwind Golf Club as the feature amenity to the Sheraton Resort Hotel-Casino now under construction. Managed by Troon Golf, the first course, Devil's Claw, opened in late 2000 to rave reviews.

"We have always envisioned avery high-- end destination resort for this area, and find it very reassuring that Mr. Panks shares our enthusiasm for this venture and can work so easily with the community to make it happen," stated Steven Heeley, deputy general council for the community."

For Panks, the commission has turned into to far more than the next project on his to-do list.

"The opportunity to design on Reservation land, essentially free of state and federal intervention has opened a new world of possibility for our firm," said Panks.

As the second course at Whirlwind, Cattail, moves closer to completion, Panks' recently opened his second project on Inthan land, the formidable Twin Warriors Golf Course for the Santa Ana Pueblo in Beranlillo, N.M. As the centerpiece of the Hyatt Resort Hotel, Twin Warriors is the Pueblo community's second course, which is adjacent to the older 27-hole municipal layout.

UNENCUMBERED DEVELOPMENT

As he actively pursues new opportunities to work with Native American communities, Panks is enthusiastic about developing a niche in the golf and hotel industries.

"In this day and age, it is a chance to get in on the ground floor and shape a piece of land without having to consider residential development," he says. "Usually, the ancillary construction around a golf course can control or impede upon the best planning effort. For all intents and purposes, what we put together on Indian land is largely unencumbered."

Water, or at least water rights, is rarely a problem for Native American golf courses. And, there are no turf restrictions, such as Arizona's 90-acre allotment on new golf course development. The reservations are free from the usual zoning and permitting associated with preconstruction, not to mention the headaches of remaining compliant in myriad environmental issues. American Indian communities do not require any sort of permitting or approval from the state or federal government to proceed with development of any kind.

The only rules are those imposed by the tribal councils. If the state's historical preservation agency is involved, the final decision on how to handle a significant find lies with the community leaders, who usually quickly determine to build around it, soften the impact, or disregard it and move on with the project.

Panks finds the Indian communities respectful of their land to the point that any outside agency to direct environmental or historic processes is simply unnecessary.

"In fact, the people I have worked with in Arizona and New Mexico are to be congratulated for their foresight to hire only the most expert consultants to help them realize well-planned, well-built, well-designed developments with respect to the environment and surroundings," said Panks. "It is very fortunate to be involved with projects driven by that kind of thinking."

PROTECTING CULTURAL SITES

In the case of Twin Warriors, Panks recalled a dilemma concerning 20 or so cultural sites, and the sacred landmark, Snakehead Ridge.

At first, there was a little consternation about butting a golf course up to the consecrated area. However, to Panks' way of thinking, golfers are not the sorts of people to leave the course to hike up a hill. Panks suggested the three holes routed along the base of Snakehead Ridge would actually create a buffer zone to further protect the mountain from intruders. As it turned out, Panks preserved his preferred routing, and golfers can still appreciate the significance of Snakehead Ridge from a respectable distance.

At Whirlwind, with little cultural significance to the site itself, Panks worked with the vision of the community in what will ultimately be a scaled-down replication of the Gila River in its entirety from the headwaters in northern Arizona to its confluence with the Salt River. With significant landmarks noted, the water feature will welcome guests at the entrance and wind through the property and fill a featured lagoon linking the resort and the golf course.

Understanding the desires of both the developer and the golfer fuels the creative fire of most golf course architects. Panks' association with Native American developers takes it a few steps further, grasping the tribal histories and cultural nuances to inspire his course design. His goal now is to explore this evolving market niche on new sites outside the deserts of the Southwest.

Copyright United Publications, Inc. Oct 2001
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