The Buzz: This facility has undergone many changes, including its name, and the end result is one of the best value courses in the Phoenix metro area. Formerly known as Harvest at Cotton Field, it originally was designed as a 36-hole facility by former PGA Tour pro Dan Pohl and re-emerged as an 18-hole course that meanders through the residential development of Bougainvillea and sits near the base of where the South Mountains and Sierra Estrella Mountains converge. It is player friendly with generous fairways and undulating greens, several dogleg holes and 57 renovated bunkers adding to the challenge. “I think what most people like is the combination of course conditions and rates,” manager Warren Pittman said. “That makes it worth a little bit longer drive to a lot of golfers to get here and take advantage of the value.” Bougainvillea has an unusual blend of holes with six par 3s, six par 4s and six par 5s. The par-72 layout has four sets of tees, ranging from 5,828 to 6,817 yards, and is rated at 71.5 with a slope of 121 from the back tees.
The par-3 holes can be a handful from the back tees, ranging from 174 to 218 yards. The finishing holes on both nines are two of the most memorable, but many consider the par-4 sixth to be the best. It plays at 440 yards from the tips into a prevailing wind with a tight fairway to a long, thin green guarded by bunkers on the right side. No. 9 is 425-yard par 4 with a dogleg right where your tee shot needs to avoid a large tree. A well-placed power fade off the tee works well because a target bunker guards the left side of the fairway. The approach is to an elevated green with bunkers on both sides and the Estrellas providing a backdrop.
No. 18 is the signature hole, a 520-yard par 5 with a right dogleg. Cutting the corner will allow you to reach the green in two shots, but trees guard the corner and errant shots are bound for rugged desert. The approach is to a green that is well guarded by bunkers and has a lake running along the left side.
Bougainvillea has full practice facilities, including putting and chipping greens. After your round, relax at the Bougainvillea Grill, with inside and patio seating that overlooks the course and the distant mountains.
Regulars at Bougainvillea rave about the Internet specials, which Pittman sometimes posts on a whim, offering rounds of golf for less than five bucks. So click on the Bougainvillea website link at the top of this page and get signed up for the alerts; you’ll be glad you did.