Arizona is truly a golfer’s dream. “I don’t think so,” you’re thinking. “I’ve
heard about your summers.” Yes, they are hot. Really hot. But, as the late Paul
Harvey used to say, “Let’s hear the rest of the story.”
Arizona is a
golfer’s dream for two major reasons: its weather and its magnificent golf
courses.
Arizona is noted for its desert climate, exceptionally hot
summers, and mild winters, but the high country in the north features pine
forests and mountain ranges with cooler weather than the lower deserts. In the
summer, when the temperatures climb into triple digits on the desert, simply
pack your clubs and go north. Flagstaff will welcome you with open tees. In the
winter, head for Phoenix, Tucson or Yuma where lush greens and perfect days
await you. The entire state boasts the lowest number of rainy days in the
country generally assuring golf weather you can count on.. The average number of
sunny days in its major cities?
Phoenix 318
Tucson
299
Flagstaff 270
Yuma 335
Arizona also boasts of some of
the greatest golf courses in the country. Some of the top courses
are:
Trilogy Golf Club at Vistancia - In Golf Digest’s most
recent 2008-2009 edition of its Places to Play guide, Trilogy Golf Club at
Vistancia was one of only 23 golf club’s nationwide - and the only golf
course in the state of Arizona - to earn the publication’s coveted 5-Star
designation. The 5-Star designation is determined by combining the opinions of
official Golf Digest raters with the feedback provided by the general
public on Golf Digest’s Web site. Golf Digest defines the 5-Star
rating as “Superb. Golf at its absolute best. Pay any price to play at least
once in your life.”
Trilogy Golf Club at Vistancia in
Peoria is not just another Arizona desert course you play once … this is an
experience that will leave you wanting more. Crafted by Gary Panks, Trilogy
stops just short of the split rail-surrounded tee boxes that mark such historic
courses as St. Andrews, Royal Troon or Maidstone, and has the taste of a
Shinnecock Hills. Rolling fairways, intimidating native grasses and beautiful
bunkering highlight this gem.
The Boulders in Carefree - The
Boulders Club, a semi - private country club for club members and resort guests,
features a 6,811-yard, par 72 championship golf course and a 6,726-yard, par 71
championship golf course, both designed by Jay Morrish. The Boulders is world
renowned as one of the finest golf resorts in the western United States. The
courses are considered the most demanding in the Southwest, and are known for
their rugged beauty. The course offers 36 challenging holes, golf pro shop,
fitness center, restaurant, and a residential home
development.
Camelback Golf Club - The Indian Bend course at
Camelback is one of the few area courses where the golfer must negotiate tight,
tree-lined fairways off the tee. This traditional layout is a great change of
pace if you’re planning on several rounds of desert golf. The Indian Bend Course
is an American links-style 18-hole, Par 72 course. The course features secluded
sand bunkers, rolling terrain, water hazards and beautiful mountain
views.
The recently redesigned Padre course is a fun and challenging
alternative to the many desert-style golf courses in the Scottsdale-Camelback
area. This traditional parkland layout offers a large dose of risk-reward holes.
The Padre course is one of the truly underrated of Scottsdale’s premier courses
and a round of golf here is always a fun experience.
The TPC
Stadium course is a resort-style layout operated by the PGA Tour and offers
you the opportunity to play where the professionals play. It is located on the
grounds of the AAA Five Diamond Fairmont Scottsdale Princess
Resort and opened for play in 1986. The “Stadium Course” has gained immeasurable
attention as the stage for the FBR Open (formerly the Phoenix Open) — the
largest spectator event on the PGA TOUR. Each year, more than 500,000 fans flock
to the TPC for a fantastic tournament.
The course is beautifully defined
with bunkering, elevation changes, water features and desert landscaping. It
embodies the standards of excellence set forth by famed design team of Tom
Weiskopf and Jay Morrish. Built in the middle of the once barren Sonoran desert
in 1986, this course is not dominated by its desert setting. There are plenty of
carries over the desert from the tee box, but little desert on the course
itself. The Stadium Course (see http://www.golf-in-arizona.com for more
information) has much more of a parkland or links-style feel as opposed to true
desert target golf. The short par-3 sixteenth hole (162 yards from the back) was
considered the rowdiest on the tour, with more than 20,000 (mostly college) fans
cheering on every shot to the green that is surrounded by five bunkers. Tiger
Woods made the hole even more famous in 1997 when he aced it and the crowd
roared from the moment he hit the shot until he pulled it out of the
cup.
Omni Tucson National Golf Course. As host course for the PGA
Tour’s Chrysler Classic of Tucson and the Southern Arizona Open, the Omni Tucson
National Golf Course takes center stage. Its traditional-style fairways cap a
bluff overlooking the beauty of the Santa Catalina Mountains. The PGA pros rank
the 18th hole as one of the most challenging finishing holes on the tour will
have you swinging in no time.
If you are looking for a native challenge
in Tucson, try their new desert-style target course. This Tom Lehman designed
course offers a combination of native desert vegetation with strategic fairway
bunkering. Players can approach each hole in a variety of ways, keeping the
course challenging and unique with each new round.
There are many
challenging and rewarding courses to play in Arizona and you can almost always
depend on great weather that allows you to enjoy golfing somewhere in Arizona
all year round.
Arizona has a reputation as a golf Mecca, and it
certainly doesn’t lack in the number, variety or quality of golf
courses.
About the Author:
C. Douglas Conlan is a 19 year marketing
veteran and partner in Kaboodle Ventures, a developer of marketing strategies
for restaurants, bars and nightclubs, and provider of http://www.happyhouralert.com/.
Visit http://www.happyhouralert.com/listing/
for the best of Arizona’s restaurants, bars and nightclubs and to see what C.
Douglas is up to, or read his blog at http://www.golf-in-arizona.com
