Arizona Golf Authority AZGA Arizona Golf Course Review: The Santa Rita Mountains, Elephant Head and the Santa Cruz River Valley provide the setting for this course, which Golf Digest named one of its “New Favorites” in 2006. With its dramatic elevation changes, this is both a challenging and scenic course created by design partners Brian Curley and Lee Schmidt of Phoenix, who are known for their innovative designs worldwide.
That becomes apparent early in the round with an imposing rock wall that stands majestically beside the second fairway, producing the first of the “wows” you probably will utter during your round. Several more will be prompted by views of Elephant Head, which has an intriguing history.
This mountain summit, which offers excellent hiking and biking, climbs to 5,607 feet and has had many names, most of which came from Indian tribes. According to legend, it might have been a site of holy sacrifices or violent death, where Indians killed tribal enemies by throwing them off the peak. From certain angles, the head of an elephant on the face of the monolith is easy to see, with head held high and the trunk curling downward on the backside of the formation.
“I’ve seen the elephant” was a popular expression by emigrants crossing the plains during the California Gold Rush area and was used as an indication of the progress of their journey in both directions. Now, it is used by golfers who tee it up on this course, which is part of the Wyndham Green Valley Ranch Resort and plays to par 70 at 6,552 yards from the back tees.
As scenic as the front nine is, it gets better after you make the turn. Among the more memorable holes is the 11th, a beast of a par-5 at 577 yards that plays downhill to a green set on a ridge about 40 feet below the fairway. Next up is one of the state’s tougher par-3s that plays at 230 yards with a forced carry across a gully, up a mountainside and often into a prevailing wind. The elevated tees, particularly at 13 and 16, offer stunning scenery. For a touch of the Old West, No. 15 features an aged wind wheel tower in the rough that is clearly visible from another elevated tee on a drivable downhill par-4. This is a course with character and some unconventional design, including its six par-3 holes.
After the round, you can whet your whistle at Grill on the Green. More golf is always a good idea and the resort has a second course called Torres Blancas, designed by golfing legend Lee Trevino, right across the street.
Expert golf instruction and most importantly, custom club fitting, is available at Canoa Ranch from Gary Blaisdell and his Blaisdell Performance Systems teaching staff. Gary has been improving player’s games and customizing their equipment for over 30 years for one very simple reason; his players improve. If your goal is playing more enjoyable golf than you do today, ask Gary to help. He’ll have you authoring those precise golf shots you’ve often seen, but now they’ll be coming off your own clubface.
Along with birding and hiking in the Madera Canyon, attractions in the area include Colossal Cave, Kartchner Caverns, Asarco Mineral Discovery and several historic Spanish missions.
Read the Arizona Golf Course List AZGA Player’s Arizona Golf Course Review for every golf course in Arizona at www.arizonagolfauthority.com/coursedirectory.
It’s “All Things Arizona Golf” from the Arizona Golf Authority.