Arizona Golf Authority AZGA Golf Course Buzz: Briarwood Country Club is considered one of the premier private clubs in Sun City West, a retirement community for active adults, but is not part of the Recreation Centers of Sun City West, Inc. which manages seven other golf courses for the residents of Sun City West.
Briarwood, designed by Greg Nash, who created many of the retirement-community courses around Arizona, opened in 1983 and the clubhouse was opened two years later. It has a reputation of presenting a friendly environment and a traditional-style course with a nice variety of holes that keep things interesting. The course has five sets of tees, with the back tees at 6,576 yards, rated at 71.5 with a slope of 128. The front tees play at 5,323 yards.
Briarwood Country Club’s par 5s holes are a real challenge, ranging from 505 to 540 yards, as are the par 3s, with the shortest at 175 and the longest at 202 yards. The fifth hole, a 426-yard par 4, is the No. 1 handicap and plays at 426 yards.
Briarwood has nice amenities, with full practice facilities that include two putting greens, and is known for excellent food service, both formal dining and casual at the Cactus Bar and Grille. About 36,000 rounds of golf are played here annually, mostly member-play, many driving their own personalized golf carts.
The club offers 9-hole and 18-hole league play for both men and women and schedules a variety of special events. Other amenities include a year-round pool and three tennis courts. Briarwood offers several memberships programs, as well as an affordable member-for-a-day option that includes golf, riding cart, lunch and a tour of its facilities.
Read the Arizona Golf Course Directory AZGA Buzz for every golf course in Arizona at www.arizonagolfauthority.com/coursedirectory/; it’s “All Things Arizona Golf” from the Arizona Golf Authority.
