ASU Karsten Golf Course was a classic designed links-style golf course in

Tempe, Arizona , settlement_type = City , named_for = Vale of Tempe , image_skyline = Tempeskyline3.jpg , imagesize = 260px , image_caption = Tempe skyline as se ...

, located on the campus of Arizona State University. Designed by noted course architect

Pete Dye Paul Dye Jr. (December 29, 1925 – January 9, 2020), known as Pete Dye, was an American golf course designer and a member of a family of course designers. He was married to fellow designer and amateur champion Alice Dye. Early life Dye was ...

, it opened for play in September 1989 and is the home venue of the Sun Devils golf teams. Karsten Golf Course closed on May 5, 2019, in order to be developed into sports fields. ASU moved their golf course to the nearby Papago Golf Course after striking a 30-year management agreement with the City of Phoenix, Papago's owner.

Creation

Privately funded, the largest single contributor was

Karsten Solheim Karsten Solheim (September 15, 1911 – February 16, 2000) was an American golf club designer and businessman. He founded Karsten Manufacturing, a golf club maker better known by the name of PING, and the Solheim Cup, the premier international t ...

(1911–2000), the founder of

Phoenix Phoenix most often refers to: * Phoenix (mythology), a legendary bird from ancient Greek folklore * Phoenix, Arizona, a city in the United States Phoenix may also refer to: Mythology Greek mythological figures * Phoenix (son of Amyntor), a ...

-based

PING Ping may refer to: Arts and entertainment Fictional characters * Ping, a domesticated Chinese duck in the illustrated book '' The Story about Ping'', first published in 1933 * Ping, a minor character in ''Seinfeld'', an NBC sitcom * Ping, a c ...

golf clubs. The clubhouse and ASU players' facility were completed in November 1994. It was located at the northeast edge of campus, east of Sun Devil Stadium. The

elevation The elevation of a geographic location is its height above or below a fixed reference point, most commonly a reference geoid, a mathematical model of the Earth's sea level as an equipotential gravitational surface (see Geodetic datum § Ver ...

of the course is approximately above sea level.

History

The course was considered to many as the ''Home of Champions,'' referring to ASU's strong collegiate golf program's national titles; twice in men's (1990 and 1996) and seven times in women's (1990, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2009). Alumni among PGA and LPGA Tour professionals include

Phil Mickelson Philip Alfred Mickelson (born June 16, 1970), nicknamed Lefty, is an American professional golfer who plays for LIV Golf. He has won 45 events on the PGA Tour, including six major championships: three Masters titles (2004, 2006, 2010), two ...

Jon Rahm Jon Rahm Rodríguez (born 10 November 1994) is a Spanish professional golfer. He was the number one golfer in the World Amateur Golf Ranking for a record 60 weeks and later became world number one in the Official World Golf Ranking, first ac ...

Billy Mayfair William Fred Mayfair (born August 6, 1966) is an American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour. Early years and amateur career Mayfair was born in Phoenix, Arizona. Before his fifteenth birthday, he won numerous junior golf tournaments. ...

Paul Casey Paul Alexander Casey (born 21 July 1977) is an English golfer who is a member of LIV Golf. He has also played on the US-based PGA Tour and the European Tour. In 2009, he achieved his highest position, third, in the Official World Golf Ranking. ...

Howard Twitty Howard Allen Twitty (born January 15, 1949) is an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s; and played on the Champions Tour from 1999 until 2007. Twitty was born in Phoenix, Arizona. He graduated fro ...

Tom Purtzer Thomas Warren Purtzer (born December 5, 1951) is an American professional golfer who has won tournaments on both the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour. Purtzer was born in Des Moines, Iowa. He attended Arizona State University in Tempe, where h ...

Pat Perez Patrick Anthony Perez (born March 1, 1976) is an American professional golfer who plays in the LIV Golf Invitational Series. Early life Perez was born in Phoenix, Arizona, and is of Mexican-American descent. He is married to Ashley Perez. Pro ...

, Matt Jones, Chez Reavie,

JoAnne Carner JoAnne Gunderson Carner (born April 4, 1939) is an American former professional golfer. Her 43 victories on the LPGA Tour led to her induction in the World Golf Hall of Fame. She is the only woman to have won the U.S. Girls' Junior, U.S. Women ...

, Heather Farr, Grace Park,

Azahara Muñoz Azahara Muñoz Guijarro (born 19 November 1987) is a Spanish professional golfer on the U.S.-based LPGA Tour and Ladies European Tour. Amateur career Muñoz was born in Málaga, Andalusia in southern Spain and had a successful amateur career ...

Anna Nordqvist --> , death_place = , height = , weight = , nationality = , residence = Orlando, Florida, U.S. , spouse = , partner = , children = , college = Arizona State University (2.5 years) , yearpro = ...

, and

Carlota Ciganda Carlota Ciganda Machiñena (born 1 June 1990) is a professional golfer from Spain who plays on the Ladies European Tour and the LPGA Tour. She won the LET's Order of Merit (money title) in her debut season in 2012, and was also named Player of ...

. Awarded a high 4½ rating by '' Golf Digest'' Rating Panel, a number of holes were considered the course’s

signature hole A golf course is the grounds on which the sport of golf is played. It consists of a series of holes, each consisting of a tee box, a fairway, the rough and other hazards, and a green with a cylindrical hole in the ground, known as a "cup". ...

. The short par-four 4th hole, the tough par-four 9th, the dauntingly long par-three 16th ( from the tips) or the ill humor par-four 18th, guarded by water down the left side, was considered one of the toughest finishing holes in the state. The course hosted tournaments, including the collegiate Men’s and Women’s Pac-10 and NCAA Championships, Phoenix Thunderbirds Collegiate Invitational, PING Invitational, and U.S. Open Qualifying.

References

External links

Arizona State University
– Tempe campus tour: Karsten Golf Course
Weather.com
– ASU Karsten Golf Course – conditions and forecast {{Arizona State University Arizona State University College golf clubs and courses in the United States Golf clubs and courses in Arizona Sports venues in Tempe, Arizona Arizona State Sun Devils 2019 disestablishments in Arizona Defunct golf clubs and courses