Category: Lake Havasu City

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Lake Havasu City Northern Arizona

Refuge Golf Club

Arizona Golf Courses List - Refuge Golf Club - Arizona Golf Authority
Refuge Golf Club 166-Yard Par-3 6th Hole

Arizona Golf Courses – Refuge Golf Club

Arizona Golf Courses List - Refuge Golf Club - Arizona Golf Authority
Refuge Golf Club 166-Yard Par-3 6th Hole

The struggling economy has slowed development of this Lake Havasu City country club project, located less than a mile north of the city limits, but the golf course and its amenities are in full swing after the tweaking of a Signature golf course originally designed by Arnold Palmer in 2004.

The Refuge, a private club built adjacent to the Havasu National Wildlife Refuge, hence its name, is situated alongside the Colorado River and Lake Havasu, offering up excellent views of both, along with surrounding mountain ranges and desert vistas. Bighorn sheep and many species of wild animals find refuge in the 20-mile long Topock Gorge that stretches through the preserve along the lower Colorado River, drawing thousands of visitors each year.

Golfers find their refuge on The Refuge course, which is defined by undulating terrain across all 18 holes, attractive hazards that bring water into play on five holes, and picturesque backdrops. The par-72 championship caliber course is a thorough exam from any of its four sets of tees, ranging from 4,844 to 7,083 yards all the way back.

The front nine is the more interesting of the two with water in play at five of the first eight holes. The signature hole is the sixth, a 166-yard par 3 with a steep drop from tee to green. Your tee ball must carry a pond here, the much larger Lake Havasu serves as the backdrop in the distance.

If you can complete the final three-hole stretch in even par, you deserve a pat on the back and a couple “cold ones” from your compatriots. No. 16 is a sweeping dogleg right par 5 of 574 yards to a well-bunkered green. No. 17 is a short par 3 at 132 yards but the green is virtually surrounded by large, deep bunkers. The finishing hole is a par 4 that stretches to 485 yards from the back tee, with a large bunker fronting the green and a smaller pot bunker behind.

This is a private club that offers several golf and non-golf memberships, and has a member-for-a-day option to introduce the facilities to prospective members. It has full practice facilities with a driving range, chipping and putting greens and a practice bunker.

The clubhouse includes a bar and grille and a full-service restaurant, swimming pool with pool bar, a spa and fitness facility.

Read the Arizona Golf Course Guide List Directory Review for every golf course in Arizona at www.arizonagolfauthority.com/coursedirectory.

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

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Lake Havasu City Northern Arizona

London Bridge Golf Club – Olde London / Nassau Golf Courses

Arizona Golf Courses – London Bridge Golf Club
London Bridge Golf Club, located high above the city and a few short miles east of the waterfront, offers two 18-hole championship courses. The golf courses were built by Lake Havasu City founder Robert P. McCulloch Sr., who was also responsible for bringing the historic London Bridge to the area in 1965 as a means of attracting development in the area. Each stone was numbered when the bridge was dismantled, shipped across the Atlantic, trucked to Lake Havasu and reassembled on its new site.

Construction began that year on the Olde London Course; locals call it the West Course.  The front nine opened in 1967, with the back nine being added in 1969. This is the first golf course built in the Lake Havasu City locale, and due to its rapid success, the Nassau Course, locally referred to as the East Course, was added and opened for play in 1977.

The Olde London Course is the longer and more difficult of the two at this complex, which overlooks Lake Havasu, the Colorado River’s rugged mountain landscape and the city skyline. Both were designed by Lawrence Hughes, whose other works include Paradise Valley Country Club and La Quinta Country Club. Johnny Allen, who was the first head pro here, assisted in the design of the par-71 layout, which has three sets of tees at 6,466, 6,190 and 5,709 yards and is rated at 70.9 with a slope of 127 from the back tees.

The No. 1 handicap hole is the sixth, a par 4 at 449 yards, but plenty of birdie opportunities await on a course where the par 5s measure 496, 478 and 489 from the tips. The signature hole is No. 10, a 385-yard, par 4, requiring a tee shot from an elevated tee to a fairway featuring a sand bunker in the center (located about 260 yards out), then an accurate approach shot to a water-threatened green complex.

The Nassau Course, referred to as the East Course, is shorter than the original Olde London Course, but also is tighter, with more obstacles and hazards coming into play and features fast, smallish greens that are well bunkered. Construction began on the course in 1975 and it opened in 1977, eight years after Olde London was completed.

Lawrence Hughes, whose course design work is well known around the Southwest, authored a strategic test here, although Arthur “Jack” Snyder renovated a few holes on the East Course in the mid-1980s. This par-71 layout has three sets of tees at 6,036, 5,702 and 5,008 yards, with a rating of 68.7 and slope of 7,117 from the back tees.

The largest water hazard on the property comes into play on holes 9-11, which are a 354-yard par 4, a 152-yard par 3 and a 267-yard risk-reward par 4. The back nine is a little unusual with three par-3 holes that all offer birdie opportunities at 160 yards or less.

One neat feature of Nassau is a set of “executive course tees”, which play to a par of 60 at 3,036 yards. This executive setup has six par-4 holes and 12 par 3s, with the longest hole being 309 yards.

The London Bridge Golf Club supports energetic men’s and women’s clubs, with a very active membership. There are extensive, lighted practice areas at this golf facility, which hosts an annual pro-am and numerous other tournaments, including high school events. Views of Lake Havasu, the Colorado River and surrounding mountain ranges are everywhere, and the club’s Lakeview Grill is a good spot to relax after the round with full dining facilities and a scenic patio.

Read the Arizona Golf Course Guide List Directory AZGA Player’s Arizona Golf Course Review for all 350 golf courses in Arizona at www.arizonagolfauthority.com/coursedirectory.

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

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Lake Havasu City Northern Arizona

Island Golf Course – Lake Havasu

island-golf-course-lake-havasu-photo

Island Golf Course – Lake Havasu
The Island Club executive golf course, which is part of The Nautical Beachfront Resort, has long been known as a fun course with a neat little design. It’s convenient location  in the heart of Lake Havasu City has made it a very popular play.

island-golf-course-lake-havasu-photoCreated by Red Lawrence, whose work is well known around Arizona, the Island Course opened in 1974 and is virtually surrounded by water with excellent views and a nice variety of holes. But in recent years, water issues have been a challenge for the course conditioning staff.

The cost of treated effluent, which is used to irrigate many Arizona golf courses, has tripled in the Lake Havasu City area and the salinity levels of that water have climbed significantly, which can be deadly to normal turf grasses. The resort and city officials have been working to resolve the problems, but players may wish to check on seasonal course conditions prior to teeing it up.

Under “normal” conditions, the Island Course is a fun golf experience in a lovely setting, where you can complete a round in about three hours and have plenty of time left over to enjoy everything the lakeside resort and the city have to offer.

The Island course offers two sets of tees – 4,211 and 3,594 yards – and both play to par 62, with a rating of 60.8 and slope 98 from the back tees. The key to scoring well here is “staying dry,” because lakes and ponds bring water into play on 7 holes and the namesake Lake Havasu is in play on three others. Thick shrubbery and other vegetation line several holes, adding to the challenge.

The front-9 is the tougher test of the two because it has five of the seven par-4 holes on the course; you won’t be bothered with any par 5s here. In fact, the front starts with two par-4 holes, of 351 and 339 yards, and ends with two more, at 342 and 309.

The No. 1 handicap hole is the par-3 seventh and demands an accurate 183-yard tee shot, surprise, over water.

Playing the final three holes in level par is a particular challenge because all are par-3s; 200, 193 and 191 yards respectively. Practice facilities include a driving range and putting green.

After the round, golfers relax at Bogey’s Sports Bar and Grill with full food and beverage service and the patio offers nice views of Lake Havasu and surrounding mountains. Lodging and other amenities are available at the resort proper.

Read the 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.

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Lake Havasu City Northern Arizona

Bridgewater Links Golf Course – London Bridge Resort

Arizona Golf Courses – Arizona Golf Authority Golf Course Guide

Bridgewater Links’ 9-hole executive layout isn’t the place for an all-day golf outing, but it’s perfect if you want to slip in a quick round, work on your short game or enjoy the view of the London Bridge, Thompson Bay and Lake Havasu from a golf cart.

Opened in 1986, you’ll find three sets of tees – 1,808, 1,567 and 1,330 yards. Bridgewater plays to par 30 and an 18-hole loop is rated at 58.7 with a slope of 91. Locals rely on the fine course conditioning provided here. It’s easy to walk and as the slope, rating and yardage suggest, provides and enjoyable player-friendly layout with plenty of birdie opportunities.

There are three par-4 holes on the course and all three are drivable at 217, 237 and 309 yards from the back tees. The shortest of those three, which is the third hole, also is the No. 1 handicap hole, mainly because of a lake and bunker that come into play.

The same lake is in play on the fifth hole, a 168-yard par 3, and is the only water hazard on the course. The par 3 holes range in yardage from 191 yards, which is the first, down to 132 yards at the ninth.

There is a putting green and chipping practice area, but no driving range, at Bridgewater and a snack shop, but no restaurant.

The course is part of the London Bridge Resort, which combines English Tudor with contemporary design and features studios, suites and hotel rooms next to Havasu Cove, a hotspot for fishing and boating activities. Green fees here are very reasonable and resort guests receive further discounts during the busy winter season.

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.