Praising Arizona Golf

Spend some time on these Arizona courses this winter.

With more golf courses per capita than any state west of the Mississippi River, Arizona also has the widest range of layouts—from rugged target-golf desert designs to tree-lined classics, from budget courses to big-time trophy tracks. The largest concentration is in Phoenix/Scottsdale orbit, which extends north to Carefree and Cave Creek; west to Peoria, Glendale and Buckeye; and south to Tempe and Mesa. Two hours north on I-10, puts you in the picturesque golf vortex of Sedona; two hours south, treasures await in the mountains in and around Tucson. What more could a golfer want?

“We-Ko-Pa” translates to the “Four Mountains,” that play an important spiritual role within the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation. The nation’s 36-hole We-Ko-Pa Golf Club has translated into four and five stars from all major golf publications, with the Cholla and Saguaro layouts stirring the spirits of golfers who take them on.  


Verrado Golf Club, which until this April was known at The Raven at Verrado, tucks dramatically into the White Tank Mountain foothills near Buckeye. Mulitiple tees and wide landing areas make the lengthy Tom Lehman-John Fought layout very playable.

Eagle Mountain Golf Club has nestled in the picturesque ravines of the McDowell Mountains since 1996. The 6,800-yard Scott Miller design winds creatively through natural box canyons, rolling hills and lush desert valleys.

AK-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club sprawls across 320 acres south of Phoenix. The work of Schmidt-Curley Design and Fred Couples, the Troon-managed course has six sets of tees (5,036-7,517 yards) and “dynamic pricing.”


North’s Stars

With two 18-hole courses—the Monument and Pinnacle—weaving through the boulders and ravines below Pinnacle Peak, Troon North Golf Club remains the hallmark of desert golf, especially after recent refinements by original architect Tom Weiskopf. 


Unmatched Play

The Golf Club at Dove Mountain may no longer host the WGC-Accenture Match Play but Victor Dubuisson and Jason Day sure made the most of the last one during February’s playoff. You can try their amazing escape shots, or play the tips on all three Jack Nicklaus-designed nines (average length: 3,915 yards). Or just enjoy the gorgeous course.


Ain’t Golf Grand?

Perky (6,336 yards) and quirky (three Par 5s and five Par 3s), Arizona Grand Golf Course is one of the more enjoyable courses in the state. It opens with an island tee box inside the hotel, finishes on an island-green par 3 and features a stellar par-5 13th (above). Formerly known as Phantom Horse at South Mountain, the tight 1980s layout presents more challenges than its yardage indicates.

New and Notah-ble

Open less than a year, the Notah Begay-designed Sewailo Golf Club has shot up the lists of Arizona must-plays. With 14 acres of lakes, the tribally-owned amenity of the Casino Del Sol overflows with enough challenge to have the University of Arizona golf team make it its home course.

FEATURED COURSES

AK-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club
Maricopa
golfsoutherndunes.com
480-367-8949

Arizona Grand Golf Course
Phoenix
arizonagrandresort.com
602-431-6480

The Golf Club at Dove Mountain
Marana
thegolfclubatdovemountain.com
520-572-3500

Omni Tucson National
Tucson
tucsonnational.com
520-297-2271

Rancho Mañana Golf Club
Cave Creek
ranchomanana.com
480-488-0398

Sewailo Golf Club
Tucson
sewailogolfclub.com
520-838-6623

Talking Stick Golf Club
Scottsdale
talkingstickgolfclub.com
480-860-2221

TPC Scottsdale
Scottsdale
tpc.com/scottsdale
888-400-4001

Troon North Golf Club
North Scottsdale
troonnorthgolf.com
480-585-5300

Tubac Golf Resort
Tubac
tubacgolfresort.com
800-848-7893

Ventana Canyon Golf Club
Tucson
ventanacanyonclub.com
800-828-5701

Verrado Golf Club
Buckeye
verradogolfclub.com
623-388-3000

We-Ko-Pa Golf Club
Fort McDowell
wekopa.com
866-660-7700

Westin La Paloma Golf Club
Tucson
lapalomacc.com
520-742-6100

Wildfire Golf Club
Phoenix
wildfiregolf.com
480-473-0205

Colorado AvidGolfer is the state’s leading resource for golf and the lifestyle that surrounds it. It publishes eight issues annually and proudly delivers daily content via www.coloradoavidgolfer.com.

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