The Buzz: This short, private course was built specifically for senior golfers who live within Apache Wells, a master-planned community for active adults. Designed by Jack Snyder, whose work is well known around Arizona, it is an unusual layout that has just seven par-4 holes, water in play on six holes and plays to par 71. There are three sets of tees at 6,038, 5,746 and 5,252 yards with a rating of 67.5 and slope of 110 from the back tees.
It is a playable, walkable course that offers sweeping vistas of the Superstition Mountain range. The back nine is unique in that it has four par-5 holes, three par 3s and just two par 4s. The par 54s range from 453 to 511 yards from the back tees and the par 3s vary in length from 159 to 228 yards.
The par-4 third hole, at 392 yards, is the No. 1 handicap hole and the round ends with another par 5 at 498. In what might seem like an unusual pairing, Valley rock star Alice Cooper holds his annual “Blood Bath” tournament on this course. It also is home to Shriner’s tournaments, the semi-annual “Snowbird Scramble” and the Wingspan Air Heritage Foundation annual outing.
Membership here is limited to 485 and members, who pay an initiation fee and annual dues, must be residents and must be 55 or older. The club has a bar and grill and full-service restaurant that serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, are open to the public and offer daily specials, with seating inside and on an outdoor patio. There also is a multi-purpose room and a banquet hall that seats up to 500 people. Apache Wells has a driving range and other practice facilities available.