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Scottsdale is known worldwide as a first-rate
golf destination. Recently named "America's Best Place to Live
for Golf" by the Robb Report, Scottsdale is home to nearly 200
area courses offering layouts that range from the rolling green
fairways of traditional course architecture to the
cactus-studded excitement of desert golf designs. The Rocks is
in an ideal location to take advantage of this bounty of golf.
Within a short radius, you have access to several of the best
courses there are in Arizona, including Troon North (36 holes)
and Talking Stick (36 holes). Also nearby is the new Golf Club
Scottsdale.
Simply put, the combined quality and quantity of the area's
daily fee golf clubs and courses makes Scottsdale a "must-visit"
destination for the serious golfer. Whether you are just
beginning to play, or a golf aficionado, the courses you'll play
here are as fun as they are memorable.
Here are just a few of the area courses. |
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The Golf Club at Eagle Mountain is a sensational course by
prominent designer Scott Miller. A great feature of this very
green course situated in the desert is the natural box canyon
that has been built into the layout of the course.
You will find a significant number of elevation changes, so you
should be ready to face some unusual lies in the fairways. The
fairways are nice, wide and broad, featuring very large landing
areas, and the greens are gently rolling and are generally in
the mid-sized range.
This course is not an unconscionably tough one for most any
beginner but will most definitely still test the limits
of the accomplished Golf Pro. Greenhorns will have the most fun
at the course's holes 3, 11, and 17.
Gold Canyon Golf
Resort Dinosaur Mountain is a sensational course by
celebrity designer Greg Nash. The absolutely gorgeous Dinosaur
Mountain Course provides lots of entertainment and fun for
beginning to intermediate player.
Phenomenal vistas of the Superstition Mountains and magnificent
desert valleys can be enjoyed from everywhere on the course. This
course is not an inordinately difficult one for the novice
golfer but may prove a noble antagonist to the talented
Professional.
High handicap players will have the fewest problems with the
course's holes 3, 7, and 13. 15 has a few hidden bunkers and
water hazards to the side of the very long and very straight par
3 fairway to watch out for. In most cases, the putting surfaces
are undulating, user friendly, and shallow.
Gold Canyon Golf Resort
Sidewinder Course was designed by Ken Kavanaugh and
inaugurated in 1997. Since that time the Gold Canyon Golf Resort
management has added nine new holes to the nine already present
in order to create the Sidewinder Course.
The original nine holes on the Sidewinder Course run through
some rather flat desert lands flatlands and curve through a
residential subdivision. The course is essentially easy to play,
but a good clue to playing this course well is that you
shouldn't discount the fact that holes 6 and 17 feature quite a
few ponds and savior bunkers to the side of their broad dogleg
right par 5 fairways to keep clear of. For the most part, the
greens are not ridiculously sloped and are
smooth and large.
Grayhawk Golf Club Raptor Course is an extraordinary course
by prominent designer and golf great Thomas Fazio and
inaugurated in 1994. The putting surfaces are Bent Grass and the
fairways are Tifdwarf Grass.
On most holes the greens are turtlebacked, multitiered, and
oversized. The course is truly a fun one for golfers of all
skill levels, and novices will be thrilled with the course's
holes 3, 5, 9, 10, 12, and 15, but be aware that it's a good
idea to take a deep breath before tacking 17 as there are some
water hazards and savior bunkers on the wide straight par 3
fairway to watch out for.
Grayhawk Golf Club Talon Course is an incredible course by
the celebrity designer duo of David Graham & Gary Panks and
was also inaugurated in 1994. Golf Magazine chose Talon as the 47th
ranked in the "Top 100 Courses You Can Play in the USA.
The putting surfaces are Bent Grass and the fairways are
Tifdwarf Grass, there are approximately fifty sand bunkers
overall, and the course features some elevated putting surfaces
that are exceptionally large and flat. Water hazards come into
play on two holes.
This course offers a magnificent selection of panoramic views
which take in the entire McDowell Mountains range and the
spectacular Phoenix Valley. The Grayhawk Golf Club was the home
of the very first World Championship of Golf in 1995, as well as
the 1999 Williams World Challenge.
Legend Trail Golf
Club With Wide fairways, Bent Grass greens, small bunkers
and island tees, Legend Trail has been selected as one of Golf
Magazine's top 100 courses. Golf Digest gave this course 4 1/2
stars out of 5 for "best places to play". Located in
North Scottsdale, near
the Carefree /
Cave Creek border,
this course is truly a challenging, but fair test, situated
within a scenic, natural Arizona desert environment. The entire
golf course experience will be enjoyable for all that play.
Legend Trail Golf Club provides a unique experience for each
level of player. With the "Long Trail" playing at a distance of
6,845 yards, you'll have to bring your "A" game to score well
from these tees. At Legend Trail, there are four sets of tees to
accommodate a variety of skill levels. The "Short Trail" playing
at a distance of 5,000 yards, women are able to enjoy playing
the course as much as the men.
McCormick Ranch Golf Club Palm course was designed by
Desmond Muirhead in 1972. This is more of a wide open course
than its sister course the Pine as it has fewer trees.
This course is not an incredibly demanding one for beginners and will likely prove a worthy adversary to the low
handicapper. You will have the best shot at
mastering the course's holes 1, 6, 10, 12, and 16, indeed the
whole back nine should be a really entertaining and fun run.
A difference in the tee box placements can significantly vary
the characteristic of the holes. On many holes the greens are
undulating, oversized, subtle, and firm, and all but 3, 5, 11
and 17 have exceptionally true putting lies.
McCormick Ranch Golf
Club Pine Course was
designed by Desmond
Muirhead. The greens are
Winter Rye and the
fairways are Bermuda
Grass, with a healthy
selection of trees,
bunkers and water
hazards.
Hole 15, a 470-yard, par
4, has a strikingly
landscaped green that
juts out into a lovely
pond with water
surrounding the putting
surface on three
sides. This course is not
an especially tough one
for most any
recreational golfer and
should provide ample
challenges even for the
proficient golf pro teeing off
from way further back.
Novices will have their
best opportunity at
mastering the course's
holes 4, 9, 10, and 16.
This is clearly one of
the finest courses in
the Phoenix - Scottsdale
area when evaluated on
its potential for so
much entertainment to
both the recreational
golfer and the gifted
single-figure player.
Combining playability
with aesthetic beauty,
The Phoenician's 27-hole
USGA championship
facility is composed of
three memorable nines.
Pristine desert views,
lush tropical scenery,
water features and all
of the amenities that
make golf a pleasure,
await you during your
round at The Phoenician.
SunRidge Canyon Golf
Club was designed by
Keith Foster and was
rated by Golf Magazine
as the 42nd best in the
"Top 100 Courses You Can
Play in the U.S." survey.
This phenomenal desert
links-style course
offers various elevation
variances in a
stupendous and awe
inspiring canyon
setting.
Accuracy is very
important on this
course's undulating
fairways which are
surrounded by
magnificent desert flora
of all types. The greens
are firm, fast,
medium-sized and just as
undulating as the
fairways. Weekend
golfers will have the
best shot at mastering
the course's holes 2, 4,
5, 11, and 18.
When it's time to cool
off after a hot game the
majestic clubhouse is
awaiting you with
magnificent service
while you enjoy the
absolutely breathtaking
Phoenix - Scottsdale
area vistas of the lush
course.
Superstition Springs Golf Club course was designed by Greg Nash & Jeff Hardin and inaugurated in 1986. The greens are Tifeagle and the fairways are Bermuda Grass.
This is one of the most stunningly beautiful desert courses, and is much greener than you would normally expect to find in the state of Arizona. The fairways are very large and broad, and the holes can be very accommodating of your approach shots.
The signature hole is 9, a 425-yard, par 4, which will get you to make a fairly easy shot over a truly golden pond. Take care to avoid the green side bunker but it's fairly small so that shouldn't be too hard. Weekend players will definitely have the easiest time with the course's holes 1, 7, 8, 11, and 16.
TPC of Scottsdale Stadium Course is a wondrous course by the fabled and renowned designer team Tom Weiskopf & Jay Morrish, and inaugurated in 1986. Golf Magazine has named this among its "Silver Medal Resorts," and it's easy to see why, given the expansive layout surrounded by cactus, other succulents and majestic mesquite trees, with a panoramic vista of the striking Pinnacle Peak to the north side of the course and the McDowell Mountains out towards the east.
The signature hole is 4 with a forward tee which creates a very dynamic setting for the easiest Par 4 on the front nine. If you can place a drive to the left side of the fairway then the rest is a piece of cake, as you have just opened up the green on your very next approach shot.
The newley re-designed
Champions Course will offer a nice second round option to complement the TPC Stadium Course. Home of the FBR Open on the PGA Tour, you know you will get the best conditions possible on this desert oasis.
Talking Stick Golf Club North Course was designed (along with the south course) by Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw, inaugurated in 1997 and selected the 82nd among "America's 100 Best Modern Courses" by Golfweek Magazine. The greens are Tifdwarf Grass and the fairways are Bermuda Grass.
Generally speaking, the greens are wide, fast, and turtlebacked but some are quite flat and feature truly outstanding approaches for golfers of all skill levels. Situated in the East Valley near downtown Phoenix and offering up two separate eighteen hole courses, the links-style North Course is a wonderful wide open design that features extremely broad fairways devoid of trees to maximize the views of the amazing scenery surrounding you on all sides here on the spectacular Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community.
Talking Stick Golf Club South Course presents the golfer of any skill level with a truly entertaining and exciting round of golf with its significant elevation changes, sandy bunkers and magnificent selection of tall, mature and majestic native cottonwoods and various hardwoods.
The course is truly easy to play, but a friendly hint to not getting into trouble on this course is that you should make a note that holes 9 and 11 feature several carry bunkers and ponds to the side of their wide straight par 3 fairways to try to avoid at all costs. The greens are Tifdwarf Grass and the fairways are Bermuda Grass.Troon North Golf Club Monument Course is an enthralling course by eminent designer duo of Tom Weiskopf & Jay Morrish and inaugurated in 1990. The Monument Course is ranked 21st in the category of "Top 100 Courses You Can Play in the U.S." by Golf Magazine.
Situated among magnificent, craggy and alluring boulder outcroppings and spectacular arid landscape of the kind that only the American Southwest can offer, this is a course to be savored in every possible way. The greens are Bent Grass and the fairways are Bermuda Grass, and predominantly, the putting surfaces are fast, turtlebacked, and well guarded.
The fairways are undulating and offer a smattering of bunkers and water hazards which should be relatively easy for even the greenhorn golfer to avoid without too much difficulty.
Troon North Golf Club Pinnacle Course was designed by the same team as the Monument Course and is built around spectacular granite boulders and dramatic elevation changes, The Pinnacle Course features a more conventional desert layout than its sister course the Monument Course, with larger landing areas and magnificent carries over desert washes.
The signature hole is 18 and it has been appropriately nicknamed "The Pinnacle."
This is a 408-yard, par 4, featuring an awe inspiring vista of Pinnacle Peak in the background. The greens are Bent Grass and the fairways are Bermuda Grass, there are approximately fifty sand bunkers but since they are well-placed and relatively small, they should certainly pose no overwhelming challenge to the beginning or intermediate golfer.
We'ko'pa Golf Club Cholla Course is a stupendous course by sought after designer Scott Miller. It is rare in the Phoenix - Scottsdale area to find a course that provides for so much enjoyment to the high handicap player as well as keeping the experienced single digit player fully challenged and engaged. This 7,225 yard layout was named by Sports Illustrated as one of the 10 best new public courses in the world shortly after its debut. Since then, Zagat Survey 2006-2007 gives Cholla its highest rating among all Arizona courses and Golfweek ranks the layout #2 on its 2006 list of the state’s best public courses.
In most cases, the greens are oversized, smooth, and flat. This course is not an incredibly demanding one for most any weekend player from the forward tees as the greenhorns will have the most fun at the course's holes 12, and 13 as well as most of the front nine.
We'ko'pa Golf Club Saguaro Course
opened December 16, 2006. It is a desert golf experience unlike any other. Integrating design elements not commonly found in the desert, the course is built for walking and has more in common with older, more traditional courses where greens are close to tees and the course follows the natural movement of the land. To assist those choosing to walk, battery powered Speedcarts are available to transport your clubs. Saguaro has already been featured in numerous golf publications including Golfweek, which currently ranks it as the #1 public access course in Arizona. In addition, GOLF magazine named it one of the "Top 10 Best New Courses You Can Play" in the United States 2007.
Wildfire Faldo Championship Course opened in 2002 and is a truly sand belt style course that wouldn't at all be out of place in Western Australia around Perth or Fremantle. The fairways are immersed by arid desert terrain and lined with cactuses.
The greens are well oversized (almost around 8,000 square-feet), are very quick, firm, and have a bit of undulation. Given Nick Faldo's concept in building this course, there is no water at all. Western Australia is a dry place!
Wildfire Golf Club Palmer course was designed by the great man himself, Arnold Palmer and inaugurated in 1997.
The Palmer Course is a desert-style layout where the great master has strategically placed his holes in complete harmony with the natural arid environment. The greens are quite substantial with some measure of undulations, making accurate putting important to achieving a game winning score.
The greens are Bent Grass and the fairways are Bermuda Grass, and you'll encounter your fair share of sand bunkers. Beginners will be very happy with the course's holes 1, 6, 9, 12, and 15, but will have to have their wits about them on 8 and 17.
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