Category: Sun City West

Arizona Golf Authority AZGA Golf Course Buzz: Echo Mesa is one of three executive courses, along with four full-length championship courses, that are maintained by Recreation Centers of Sun City West, a self-contained retirement community for active adults located northwest of downtown Phoenix.

Echo Mesa, designed by Greg Nash, opened in 1985 as a private club and now is open to public play, although members receive lower rates and preferred tee times, and public tee times are limited during peak season.

The course is well-conditioned and known for its pleasing aesthetics, with several lakes and ponds bringing water into play on seven holes. It serves as the center of the community’s Swan/Wildlife Preservation Program.

The layout has three par-4 holes and six par 3s on each nine for a par of 60. There are three sets of tees at 4,145, 3,513 and 2,973 yards, with a rating of 60.6 and slope of 95 from the back tees. The course is relatively flat with a traditional design and the back nine is the stronger of the two.

The eighth hole is the highlight of the front side with two ponds coming into play short right and deeper on the left. The par 3, at 173 yards, also has a bunker running the entire left side of the green and two smaller bunkers behind.

The back nine has a nice three-hole stretch starting at No. 10, which is a 291-yard par 4. It’s drivable for big hitters but the slight dogleg left has a series of four bunkers along the right side of the fairway and three more guarding the back of the green.

No. 11 is a par-3 that plays at an innocent 136 yards, but the green is surrounded by a lake on three sides and a pair of bunkers on the back.

The 12th, at 186 yards, features a larger lake running nearly the entire length of the right side.

The 15th is another “wolf in sheep’s clothing”. Listed at just 123 yards on the card, watch out for the lake that starts at the right-front, wraps in front and to the left of the green, as well as the two large bunkers guarding the back.

Practice facilities here include a driving range and putting green, and the Sun City West golf program has an excellent academy with a teaching staff that includes former LPGA Tour player Anne Marie-Palli.

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.

Arizona Golf Authority AZGA Golf Course Buzz: Deer Valley golf course is the newest, and the most popular, of the 7 courses managed by the Recreation Centers of Sun City West, Inc. in the retirement community for active adults located northwest of Phoenix.

Deer Valley, designed by Billy Casper and Greg Nash, opened in 1994 as a private, non-equity club but is now open to public play, although members receive preferred rates and tee times. During peak season, public tee times are available only as twilight golf.

This 18-hole championship course features mild desert terrain with water in play on five holes and four sets of tees with the longest at 6,547 yards and the shortest at 5,317. It is rated at 69.8 with a slope of 120 from the back tees, which means there are plenty of birdie opportunities available.

The highlight of the front nine is the sixth hole, which is also rated the No. 1 handicap hole. The par 4, which measures 405 yards, is a dogleg left with water in play on the tee shot, three bunkers along the inside of the dogleg and four large bunkers guarding the green.

The back nine features a nice three-hole stretch starting at No. 11, a 397-yard par 4 that has three ponds in play and a massive bunker wrapping around the left side and behind the green.

The 12th, a 367-yard par 4, also has three water hazards in play, a huge bunker along the right side of the fairway and another bunker guarding the left edge of the green. Next up is the 511-yard, par 5 13th with three large bunkers along the left side of the fairway and three more around the right side of the green.

No. 18 provides a solid finish – the 351-yard par-4 doglegs right from the tee with a series of five bunkers along the left side of the fairway. The green complex is pinched by large bunkers at the left-front and left-rear of the green; a lake guards the right side of the green and the end of the fairway.

Deer Valley has a driving range, putting green and snack bar, and offers popular men’s and women’s leagues. It also is Arizona’s home course for the AimPoint Green Reading System, which is used on golf telecasts to show putting lines, and regularly holds clinics using the technology.

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.

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.