Cottonwood | Arizona Golf Course Reviews

Arizona Golf Course List – Arizona Golf Authority Golf Course Guide

Even many local golf enthusiasts in Arizona haven’t heard of this place and that’s too bad because Verde Santa Fe offers up a fun and enjoyable day on the golf course with picturesque surroundings and reasonable rates.

Located about 90 minutes north of the Phoenix metro area, just 13 miles west of I-17, Verde Santa Fe is framed by the vast range of Black Hills with spectacular Mingus Mountain to the west and the captivating red rocks of Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon to the north.

The course is defined by lots of water, constant elevation changes and wonderful views at temperatures that sound heavenly to Phoenix area residents in the summer months.

Verde Santa Fe, the only design effort of Stanton McGaw, is situated at 3,800 feet above Phoenix, and nicely routed with Hogan’s Wash coming into play on three holes and several other natural arroyos providing additional challenges.

You’ll find nine water hazards on the course, in play on 11 holes, including a series of four lakes that separate the 10^th and 18^th holes. Verde Santa Fe has four sets of tees at 6,287, 5,895, 5,430 and 4,979 yards, with a rating of 69.3 and slope of 116 from the tips. It plays to par 71 with the back nine having three par-3 holes and two par 5s.

Length isn’t the primary issue here, evidenced by the fact that the par-5 holes measure 486, 549, 465 and 502 yards, and they play even shorter considering that the course is at altitude. The front nine ends with the longest hole on the course, a 549-yard par 5 that has a double dogleg with a wash running down the entire left side and sharp left turn from the end of the fairway to the green.

Most memorable are the adjacent 10^th and 18^th holes, with three small lakes separating the fairways and a larger lake between the two greens. Both are right doglegs with the par-4 10^th playing at 354 yards and the par-5 18^th at 502.

Verde Santa Fe has complete practice facilities and the Verde Grill serves up breakfast and lunch daily, plus dinner and live music on Friday nights. There are several nearby hotel choices that are affordable, including a Best Western, Budget Inn and Quality Inn. For those who have extra time, a side trip to historic Jerome and/or Sedona is time very well spent.

Visit our Arizona Golf Course Directory List and read the AZGA Player’s Review for every golf course in Arizona at www.arizonagolfauthority.com/coursedirectory.

It’s “All Things Arizona Golf” from the Arizona Golf Authority.

AZGA Arizona Golf Buzz: This nine-hole executive is a fun little course defined by tree-lined fairways, traditional layout, nice views of the surrounding area and some pretty good bent-grass greens at the base of the Mingus Mountains near red rock country.

The course is located in Cottonwood, about 18 miles southwest of Sedona, one of Arizona’s most popular tourist areas with the main attraction being its stunning array of red sandstone formations.

Winding through the Mescal Gulch portion of the Verde Valley, it is connected to the “On The Greens” gated senior community and offers public rates among the lowest in the area. The course has three sets of tees, which play at 4,458, 4,028 and 3,432 yards for 18 holes with a rating of 33 and slope of 107 from the back tees.

The layout offers one par-5 hole, four par-4’s and four par-3’s for a nine-hole par of 33. That par-5 provides a great birdie opportunity as it plays at just 367 yards. The tee shot, however, is over the only pond on the course. Many golfers like to change tees on the two nines, which offers a different look on many holes.

And keep an eye on recent weather in the area; several streams that wind through the property add to the challenge when there has been enough precipitation to make them flow.

Pine Shadows has a driving range, putting green, short-game practice area and a snack bar attached to the clubhouse. “On The Greens” amenities include a swimming pool, exercise room, billiard room, library, tennis court and jogging path.