Eloy | Arizona Golf Course Reviews

Arizona Golf Authority AZGA Arizona Golf Course Review: Located in Eloy, Arizona, about halfway between Phoenix and Tucson, Robson Ranch Golf Club is the centerpiece of one of several active adult communities built by the Robson Resort Communities Company. Public play is welcomed at this semi-private club, but members receive preferred rates and tee times.

Designed by Brad Bartell and opened in 2005, Robson Ranch is a player-friendly layout with wide fairways and forgiving approaches, which translates to plenty of birdie opportunities.

Four sets of tees are offered, 6,845, 6,338, 5,797 and 4,909 yards, with a rating of 72 and slope of 120 from the back tees. The course is relatively flat and walkable with two lakes bringing water into play on just two holes.

The signature hole is the ninth, a 532-yard par-5 with a dogleg right. Cross-bunkers guard each side of the fairway at the primary landing area, and another large bunker threatens the end of the fairway. The largest lake on the course wraps around the right side and back of the green, which features two more large bunkers.

Highlights of the back nine are the par-5 12th hole and par-3 14th. No. 12, at 546 yards, is the longest hole on the course and features a split fairway. A lake beckons on the right side but is only in play for the wildest of tee shots. The approach shot must find a green complex with a massive bunker guarding the entire left side; a smaller bunker lurks on the right.

No. 14 is the best of the par-3 holes at 169 yards. With another elongated bunker along the full left side and a merely large bunker guarding the right.

Robson Ranch has complete game-improvement facilities featuring an all-turf driving range, putting green, chipping green and practice bunkers. The clubhouse includes a snack bar and the popular Robson Ranch Grill restaurant. The fully developed community also features a sports and aquatics center, dog park, softball field and basketball courts.

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Arizona Golf Authority AZGA Golf Course Buzz: Built in 1992, this links-style layout has undergone a series of improvements in recent years, making it one of the top courses along the I-10 corridor, about halfway between the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas.

Grand Valley Ranch, designed by Phoenix architect Forrest Richardson, has increased its turf acreage, added lakes, planted 2,000 trees and shrubs and built a new driving range among other improvements. Seven holes have water in play and the course is known for having rolling fairways and tricky, undulating greens.

Four sets of tees are in play, ranging from 5,537 to 7,183 yards with a rating of 72.6 and slope of 117 from the tips.

Of the several good holes at Grand Valley Ranch, pay attention at the 9th and 18th, which share an old-school common green, separated by a large water hazard. The moisture is on the right at No. 9, a 418-yard par-4 with wave-like moguls running across the fairway and the water hidden from view until you get within 100 yards of the green complex.

No. 18 is a 544-yard, double dogleg par-5, and now the lake is running nearly the full length of the left side of the fairway, and the sharp right-hand turn to reach the shared green. Pay attention here on your approach, a common blunder is aiming at the 9th flag rather than the flag in the 18th cup. Go figure.

Par-5 holes are particularly strong on this course, with the 7th and 12th both having tempting risk-reward characteristics. The choice at the 7th is go, or no go with your second over the desert arroyo that separates the end of the fairway from the green complex beyond. At the 12th, it’s choosing how much of the lake to challenge with your tee ball as the fairway sweeps left-to-right around it; your choice – and you own the result.

Other highlights are the 13th and 15th holes. No. 13 is a downhill par 3 of 227 yards with a large lake wrapping along the right side and behind the hole, and depending on the wind, it can require anything from a 7-iron to a driver on the tee shot.

No. 15 is a 418-yard par 4 with a split fairway, where you can cut off 30 yards by taking the left route, but only if you can carry the transition and keep your ball in a small landing area.

Along with its new practice facilities, Grand Valley has a very good teaching program, recently joined by Bill Cornelius, who is one of Arizona’s highly regarded instructors. A new clubhouse, bar and grill, and pro shop also have been constructed.

Although this is a daily fee course, it is part of the gated Grand Valley Ranch resort community, which encompasses 215 acres with 247 single-family homes.

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.