A is for the ASU Karsten Golf Course, a Pete Dye design on which Phil Mickelson, Billy Mayfair and Grace Park all honed their skills. Located in the shadow of Tempe’s Sun Devil Stadium, it’s also home to the Ping
Learning Center.
asukarsten.com
B is for The Boulders, Arizona’s most romantic resort.. When you finally venture out of your room, there’s always the Golden Door Spa for rejuvenation. But then there’s also the South Course, whose 15th hole winds through large—you guessed it—boulders. If only for inspiration.
theboulders.com
C is for Casa Bonita seasonal rentals at Tonto Verde residences northeast of Scottsdale. The rate for four people during peak season (February 5, 2011 to April 1, 2011) starts at $3450 in Tonto Verde. This includes 7 nights accommodations in Tonto Verde and 5 rounds of golf playable on any of our 5 championship courses. From November 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010 and May 1 to May 31,2011 they offer golf packages in Tonto Verde from $2310/Week for 4 people. At Rio Verde rates start at $2005/Week for 4 people. From January 1, 2011 to February 4, 2011 and April 2, 2011 to April 30, 2011 they offer the same package at Tonto Verde from $2655/Week for 4 people. At Rio Verde the rate starts at $2315/Week. Golf is playable at any of the 5 championship courses - Rio Verde (Quail Run and White Wing), Tonto Verde (The Peaks and The Ranch courses) and at Vista Verde.
theverdes.com
D is for Desert Highlands, which serves as the epicenter of the private golf experience in Arizona. Built on Pinnacle Peak just north of Scottsdale, Desert Highlands calls itself the primary golf-oriented residence in Arizona. It definitely set standards for other golf-oriented communities in the United States. It’s also the answer to winning bar-bet questions: When was the inaugural Skins Game played? (1983). Who was in it? (Nicklaus, Palmer, Watson and Player). Where was it played? (Desert Highlands).
deserthighlandsscottsdale.com
E is for Eagle Mountain Golf Club, architect Scott Miller’s foray into the rugged McDowell Mountains of Fountain Hills, due east of Scottsdale. Unlike with most desert designs, at this course players don’t leapfrog from target to target, thus making it more of a familiar mountain golf experience.
eaglemtn.com
F is for the FBR Open (now the Waste Management Phoenix Open), otherwise known as the Greatest Show on Grass. It draws more than 500,000 fans to the TPC Scottsdale and its fabled Bird’s Nest. On Saturday and Sunday some 10,000 golf geeks cluster at the notorious par-three 16th, where they hector pros and bet on every shot. wastemanagementphoenixopen.com
G is for Grayhawk Golf Club, site of this October’s Frys.com Open (won by Cameron Beckman) and past PGA Tour, World Golf Championships and American Junior Golf events. Although the Fazio-designed Raptor Course plays host to these tournaments, the Gary Panks and David Graham designed Talon Course may be a few shots harder. Mickelson is the club’s official touring pro, and Phil’s Grill in the clubhouse is one of the few public facilities to earn a spot on Golf Digest’s top 50 list for best “19th hole.”
grayhawk.com
H is for Tucson’s Hi Corbett Field. The Colorado Rockies’ spring training home celebrated its 70th birthday last year. The stadium sits just a long par five from the municipal Randolph Golf Course. And if you want to see some ballplayers or coaches spank the little white ball, your best bets are the 27-hole resort complexes at JW Marriott’s Starr Pass (
starrpasstucson.com) or the Westin La Paloma (
lapalomacc.com).
I is for the Inn at Eagle Mountain, which sits atop the 18th hole of the golf course right at Red Mountain. The mini-suites at this boutique hotel each offer a unique Southwest touch—vaulted ceilings, luxurious southwestern decor, petroglyph-style fixtures, a kiva gas fireplace, a two-person whirlpool tub, and a private patio or balcony.
innateaglemountain.com
J is for Jack Nicklaus, designer of all nine courses in the Arizona communities developed by Lyle Anderson: six at Desert Mountain and one at Desert Highlands, both in Scottsdale; and two at Superstition Mountain, east of Phoenix. Nicklaus’ newest layout in the area, the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club at Dove Mountain, north of Tucson, debuts this winter and will host the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship Feb. 23-Mar. 1.
worldgolfchampionships.com
K is for Kierland, the 27-hole facility in northeast Scottsdale. Kierland is known for offering a family-friendly golf experience as well as a shopping mall with everything from food stores to movie theaters.
kierlandresort.com
L is for Longbow Golf Club, an OB Sports-managed golf facility in Mesa, east of Phoenix. It opened as a par-70 in 2001, but designer Ken Kavanaugh re-did the course about four years ago. Now longer (7,000 yards) and tougher, Longbow is an Arizona anomaly—a “core” course with no homes between holes. Walking is welcome anytime.
longbowgolf.com
M is for Phil Mickelson, the Arizona State alum who, like many professional golfers, lives part-time in the area. His first course design, at the private Whisper Rock Golf Club in Scottsdale, sits just minutes from The Boulders in Carefree.
whisperrockgolf.com
N is for nightlife. Scottsdale has great restaurants and a lively atmosphere (it doesn’t hurt that Arizona State is nearby). “Scottsdale style” could be interpreted as a cross between Texas and California. There’s Barcelona’s two restaurants (sushi and a steakhouse) and a nightclub where as many as 2,000 beautiful people gather (barcelonaarizona.com). Sapporo offers a unique style to its Asian fare (sappororestaurants.com). And there’s always the Fox Sports Grill, which is to sports bars what Pebble Beach is to golf: comfy leather couches, countless HDTV flat screens and a menu worthy of a high-end restaurant (foxsportsgrill.com).
O is for Ocotillo Golf Resort in Chandler, south of Phoenix. Ocotillo is a vacation from desert golf. This 27-hole facility is a Ted Robinson design that features lush fairways, greens and, yes, real grass for rough. As is his style, Robinson added lots and lots of water hazards.
ocotillogolf.com
P is for The Phoenician. This Starwood property has a long history of setting standards for luxury. Its Canyon Suites take it up a notch: two beds in each bedroom, a large parlor complete with sofa, entertainment center and Bose stereo system, and a dining table for six. Sliding glass doors lead to the resort terrace. Perfect for the foursome who want something extra.
thecanyonsuitesatthephoenician.com
Q is for Quintero Golf and Country Club, a private enclave an hour northwest of Phoenix near Lake Pleasant. Its Rees Jones-designed Founders Course has established residency on Golfweek’s list of Top 100 Modern Courses (
quinterogolf.com). A more publicly accessible Jones creation, Legend Trail Golf Club in Scottsdale, ranks in Golf magazine’s top 100 (
legendtrailgc.com).
R is for Raven golf clubs at Verrado and at South Mountain. Like all the courses in this family of first-rate North American facilities, the John Fought-designed Raven at Verrado in Buckeye (northwest of Phoenix) provides a country-club experience. South Mountain, a Gary Panks and David Graham design, has the look of North Carolina pine hills with tough greens. An easy hop from Sky Harbor Airport makes South Mountain a natural choice as the first or last stop on your Arizona golf excursion.
ravengolf.com
S is for Sanctuary Golf Course at Westworld, a par-71 layout of 6,600 yards that has earned the Audubon Signature Status. Located on the western slope of the McDowell Mountains, Sanctuary was built on land once used as a storm-water retention area. Now it is resplendent in natural fauna and wildlife, which can help you take your mind off the tough golf shots.
sanctuarygolf.com
T is for Troon Golf, which manages more than 200 courses in 31 countries. Scottsdale is home to Troon’s corporate headquarters, and locally it oversees six courses in the greater Phoenix metro area, including the two North Scottsdale courses at Troon North Golf Club (
troonnorthgolf.com) and new ones such as the Golf Club of Estrella (
estrellagolf.com) in Goodyear, Talking Stick Golf Club (
talkingstickgolfclub.com) in Scottsdale and Whirlwind Golf Club at Wild Horse Pass (
whirlwindgolf.com) in Chandler. Also see troongolf.com.
U is for the University of Arizona’s home course, Arizona National Golf Club. U of A legends Annika Sorenstam and Jim Furyk left before the course opened in 1995, but Natalie Gulbis, Rory Sabbatini and recent grad Lorena Ochoa all honed their chops on the Robert Trent Jones Jr. layout in Tucson’s Santa Catalina foothills.
arizonanationalgolfclub.com
V is for Trilogy Golf Club at Vistancia, located about 25 miles north of Phoenix in Peoria. This Gary Panks design stands apart from other courses with its use of natural grasses and transition areas, giving the course more of a Midwestern feel. In short, it’s not all desert and rock. It’s also one of the best deals in the Valley of the Sun at under $100 a round during peak season.
trilogygolfclub.com/vistancia
W is for the Wrigley Mansion near the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa. These two landmarks in the heart of Phoenix represent the majesty of early 20th century Southwest culture. Albert Chase McArthur designed the Biltmore with lots of help from Frank Lloyd Wright. It turns 80 next year. The mansion, with 24 rooms, 12 bathrooms and more than 16,000 square feet, was completed in 1931. It’s now used as a private club, with a nominal fee of $10.
wrigleymansionclub.com,
arizonabiltmore.com
X is for XONA Resort Suites, the new name for the former Resort Suites Scottsdale. Pronounced “Zona,” this golf-excursion-friendly facility caters to the avid golfer. Each suite (one-, two- and four-bedroom) includes a kitchen and living area, making it perfect for foursomes and more-somes. Located next door to TPC Scottsdale and just a long par-five from Grayhawk, it’s situated perfectly in the heart of Arizona’s golf country.
resortsuites.com
Y is for the Yavapai Nation, which owns the two striking layouts at We-Ko-Pa Golf Club—the Scott Miller-designed Cholla Course and Bill Coore/Ben Crenshaw’s Saguaro Course. The McDowell Mountains, Red Mountain and the Superstitions dominate the scenery on all 36 holes. The clubhouse resembles ancient Yavapai communal grounds, with a large fire pit, water centerpiece and an expansive outdoor patio.
wekopa.com
Z is for Z’Tejas Grill. With four Arizona locations—Chandler, Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tempe—this shrine to Southwestern fare serves skillet-fresh cornbread with honey butter alongside its signature green-chile barbacoa enchiladas and dozens of similarly piquant dishes.
ztejas.com