Category: Uncategorized

NORTHERN ARIZONA

When we locals refer to Northern Arizona, we’re talking about Prescott, Sedona and Flagstaff, the parts of our State that actually experience all four seasons. Traveling to northern Arizona means you’ll leave the 60 foot saguaros of the desert for 60 foot ponderosa pines of the mountains. It is a very different experience than the desert in Central and Southern Arizona.

Prescott and Sedona offer a break from desert golf. It’s about a 90 minute drive from Phoenix/Scottsdale so you can go up and back in one day. But if you want to extend your stay, there are plenty of places to rest and relax.

PRESCOTT

This town was the original state capital of Arizona and is a favorite for summer homes of Phoenix locals. It has a charming downtown area and the famous Whiskey Row, featuring some of the coolest watering holes around.

Downtown Prescott is charming and home to the St. Michael and Hassayampa Inn, our recommendations for overnight stays. The Hassayampa Inn is reported to be haunted by a ghost named Faith, who checked in for her honeymoon in 1927. Her husband left to buy a pack of cigarettes and never came back. Faith was so distraught she hung herself, but her spirit lives and has been seen many times at the hotel.

There are also a collection of chain hotels in Prescott so whether you choose this option or those listed above, they will all be a short drive from Antelope Hills, the local muni featuring 36 holes.

Prescott Valley, just east of Prescott also has a collection of national chain hotels. This option will put you closer to Stone Ridge, the Hassayampa Golf Club and Prescott Lakes.

SEDONA

Sedona is famous for two things – the Red Rocks and its vortexes. If you’re a spiritual kind of person, you will no doubt feel the highly concentrated energies of the town. The red-rock monoliths, named Coffeepot, Cathedral and Thunder Mountain are stunning and worth a drive just to see them.

The must-play gem in town is Sedona Golf Resort and definitely worth the 90 minute drive from Phoenix. It is literally across the street from the Hilton Sedona Resort so if you decide to stay, this is a good choice. The 10th hole is one of the most visually stunning spots on the planet, like the 3rd at Mauna Kea or the 18th at Pebble Beach, that those who don’t play golf never get to see.

Sedona also has incredible 5-star resorts including L’Auberge de Sedona, Los Abrigados Resort, Sedona Rouge and El Portal. All offer luxury accommodations in tranquil settings plus amenities that will definitely leave you feeling pampered.

The town isn’t that big, so just about any choice you make will put you with 15-20 minutes of Seven Canyons, a private facility with limited public play, Oak Creek Country Club and Verde Santa Fe.

FLAGSTAFF

Flagstaff is home to the 14,000 foot high San Francisco Peaks so attracts skiers, hikers, bikers and fitness buffs and lots of snow in the winter. But it’s a great getaway during the hot summer months if you happen to have friends who belong to one of the four private clubs in the area, Forest Highlands, Aspen Valley Golf Club, Pine Canyon and Flagstaff Ranch.

Flag, as we call it, it a great place to stop if you’re on a family vacation headed to the Grand Canyon. The most recommended place to stay is Little America which is the only resort in town. Should time permit, Little America will also put you close to Continental Country Club, the only public golf course in town.

If you’re an explorer, you can see the beauty and diversity Arizona offers with a 1 or 2 day trip to Northern Arizona. Be sure to take the drive between Sedona and Flagstaff on Route 89 through Oak Creek Canyon, it’s stunning.

SOUTHERN ARIZONA

You’re thinking about a golf trip to Arizona, good choice. As traveling golfers, we know firsthand that once you decide where to play, you have to decide where to stay. So we’ve tried to take the mystery out of this step for you.

We classify Southern Arizona as Casa Grande south. This area includes Tucson, Green Valley, Tubac and Rio Rico. Like the Phoenix metro area, all towns are within close proximity to each other, with your longest drive being from Tucson to Rio Rico, about 40 minutes. This area of the State provides a little cooler weather all year and a much slower-paced atmosphere. But like its big sister, it provides just about any type of golf experience you desire, from great resort courses to challenging municipal options and everything in between.

CASA GRANDE

Casa Grande, located half-way between Phoenix and Tucson, is home to 40,000 residents and one of the longest golf courses in Arizona, a 7,400 layout boasting 15,000 mature trees. It’s worth the 45-minute drive from Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix to stay at the Francisco Grande Resort for a night or two. This historic property was originally built to serve as Horace Stoneham’s San Francisco Giants Spring Training Complex and offers a comfortable stay, good food and a great golf experience.

TUCSON

A visit to Tucson, Arizona’s second largest city, will provide a very different experience from its big sister to the north. Tucson is much more laid-back, rustic and charming. It’s proximity to the Mexico border brings a wonderful influence to its architecture and cuisine. The Tucson area has a plethora of golf resorts, including Hilton Tucson El Conquistador (45 holes), Loew’s Ventana Canyon Resort (36 holes), Omni Tucson National (18 holes), Westin La Paloma (27 holes) and the Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain (18 holes), which are all located in the north section of town. JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort (27 holes) is closer to downtown, while Tubac Resort (27 holes) and Esplendor Resort (18 holes) require a longer drive as they are located south of the City. All of these properties are within 20 minutes or less of each other, so you can pick your spot and enjoy them all.

In addition to the resort experience, Tucson offers every other type and variety of accommodations, from national chains, motels and B&Bs to guest ranches and extended-stay facilities. If you pick on in the downtown area, you’ll be close to great muni options including Dell Urich, El-Rio Trini Alavarez and Fred Enke.

GREEN VALLEY

Just east of Tucson is Green Valley, a community nestled at the base of the majestic Santa Rita Mountain Range in southern Arizona’s beautiful Santa Cruz Valley. Known as one of the country’s best places to retire, Green Valley sits at a high desert elevation of 2,900 feet, so the climate is cooler than Phoenix or Tucson.

Lodging options include the Inn at San Ignacio and Wyndham Canoa Ranch Resort, both of which have golf on property. The town also has a Best Western and Comfort Inn. All provide easy access of many golf options, including Canoa Hills, Torres Blancas, Haven and San Ignacio (public tracks) and Quail Creek, Desert Hills, CC of Green Valley, Canoa Ranch Golf Club (private facilities).

We’ve just touched the top of the waves here, but it will provide you with a start. If you want to know more or we can help answer other questions, just click on the “Ask Us” tab below and we’ll get right back to you.

There are hotels and then there are golf hotels. In this section, you’ll find rest stops that specialize in providing the perfect place for you to recoup after your round. Each has its own signature program – from golf specialists who plan your itinerary and preferred tee times, to unique room designs, great watering holes, lush amenities and more. While they compete with each other for your business, the one thing they all have in common is their goal to make your Arizona golf trip easy to plan and hard to forget.