Category: Tempe

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Central Arizona Tempe

Shalimar Golf Course

The Buzz: Over the years, Shalimar members have referred to their course affectionately as “Shali-gusta,” and even though it doesn’t quite resemble that course in Georgia where the Masters tournament is played every year, the nine-hole executive layout has produced many fond memories among its devoted golfers. Located in the heart of Tempe, the par-33 layout features three par-3 and six par-4 holes with small greens and narrow landing areas that are ideal for golfers looking to sharpen their short games. For those seeking a little competition in the process, Shalimar regularly hosts one of the most popular Skins Games in the Phoenix area. The friendly, family atmosphere of the club was recognized when the Southwest Golf Media Association named Shalimar its Club of the Year in 2009 for providing a wide range of golf programs geared to every level of golfers. Over the years, Shalimar has been known to offer free golf to teachers, military, fire and law enforcement personnel, has been the site of a caddie program, a host course for Special Olympians and is one of Arizona’s most active clubs in the Play Golf America program created by the PGA to offer low-cost introduction to the game through a variety of formats. It also has taken advantage of its nickname by creating the Shaligusta Golf Club, a low-cost club which is open to all golfers, hosts two weekend golf events per month and other social events such as a Vegas Night and chili cook-off. And it might be the only course in the area where you can hit a small bucket on the range and drink a “small bucket of beer,” which is one of the creative offerings of Shalimar’s dining room. As for the course, it puts a premium on accuracy and therein lays the challenge. The most memorable holes are the par-3 fifth and par-4 ninth. No. 5, at 155 yards, plays over a large lake to a well-bunkered, narrow green. The ninth, at 300 yards, features an island green that is also guarded by four bunkers. A lot of money has changed hands at this finishing hole, just like it has at that little gem in Georgia.

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Central Arizona Tempe

Rolling Hills – Tempe Golf Course

The Buzz: Many executive courses claim to be better than the average bear, but Rolling Hills definitely has more character than most facilities in this category, along with a great location and affordable rates. Although the Tempe municipal course is an 18-hole layout, it more accurately is two nine-hole courses that were created nearly 30 years apart by two designers and later combined into one.

The original nine, which plays as the front, was designed by Milt Coggins, who created many executive and adult community courses around Arizona. Rolling Hills debuted in 1958, is more open and definitely the easier of the two, but it’s a fun track and if you happen to hear some strange noises along a couple holes, it’s probably just the animals from the nearby Papago Park Zoo, hidden behind some trees. If you’re not holding up play, take it slow playing the third hole and you might hear elephants commenting on your last shot.

The back nine, which opened in 1987, was designed by Gary Panks, who created several of Arizona’s best championship courses. It is a desert style layout with more interesting terrain, tree-lined fairways, elevation changes and elevated greens. Combined, they play at 3,817 yards from the back tees, 3,509 from the middle and 3,284 from the front. The par-62 layout includes eight par-4 holes and is rated at 58.9 with a slope of 93. The two design styles make for a nice variety of holes with the par 3s ranging from 117 to 195 yards and the par 4s from 237 to 401 yards. Coincidentally, the shortest and longest par 4s are the first and last holes, respectively.

Along with the second nine, a new clubhouse was built in 1987 and includes a fully-stocked pro shop with reasonable prices and the 19th Tee Restaurant, which serves up daily specials and is popular with business people working nearby. Rolling Hills also is home to the Core Golf Academy and offers some excellent views of the Papago Buttes, Camelback Mountain and the Phoenix skyline. The location also makes is appealing. Rolling Hills is close to downtown Tempe, next to the historic Papago Park and near two Cactus League facilities – Tempe Diablo Stadium, which is the spring training home of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, and Phoenix Municipal Stadium, home of the Oakland A’s. Combine all of that with its reasonable green fees, and it’s easy to see why this is one of the more popular municipal courses in the state.

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Central Arizona Tempe

Ken McDonald Golf Course

Arizona Golf Authority AZGA Golf Course Buzz: Complete amenities and reasonable green fees make Ken McDonald golf course one of the most popular municipal courses in the Valley of the Sun.

Designed by Arthur Jack Snyder, who was among the most prominent course architects in Arizona, the course opened in 1974 and has been a longtime favorite of golfers in the southeast Valley. Making it even more appealing in recent years is that the course now offers the same rates to residents and nonresidents alike, but continues to provide green-fee discounts to junior and senior golfers.

During Arizona’s peak winter season, that can make it difficult to nail down a tee time, but most are willing to accept the tradeoff for lower greens fees.

Ken McDonald is a relatively flat course, easily walkable, and is a traditional layout with generous fairways and large, flat greens. The Western Canal winds through much of the property and that, combined with two lakes, brings water into play on seven holes. There are three sets of tees at 6,743, 6,316 and 5,782 yards, and the course is rated at 71.5 with a slope of 125 all the way back.

That translates to several birdie opportunities, but the canal, lakes and strategic bunkering around the greens offer up plenty of trouble on wayward shots.

From the tips, the par-3 holes are particularly challenging at 170, 216, 184 and 195 yards. Both nines have strong finishing holes. The ninth is the No. 3 handicap hole although some consider it the toughest on the course. The dogleg left par-4 plays at 443 yards with a tree-lined fairway, out of bounds on the left side and a large bunker guarding the left side of the green.

No. 18 is a memorable risk-reward finishing hole. The par-4 plays at 390 yards with a prominent fairway bunker and a water hazard along the right side. The second shot must clear water in front of the green and avoid two bunkers behind the green.

Along with a driving range, the course has two putting greens and a large chipping green with a practice bunker. The clubhouse includes a full-service restaurant.

Read the Arizona Golf Course Directory AZGA Golf Course Buzz for every golf course in Arizona at www.arizonagolfauthority.com/coursedirectory/.

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

Categories
Central Arizona Tempe

ASU Karsten Golf Course

Hole #4 at the ASU Karsten Golf Course in Tempe, Arizona
Hole #4 at ASU Karsten Golf Course

The Buzz: Two years ago, when he was asked if he liked being known as the “Wicked Designer from Hell,” Pete Dye replied: “Sure. Every golf course we’ve built has more play than anybody else’s. They can call me anything they want.” Dye has a reputation for designing courses that are brilliant, memorable and, often, diabolical. Golfers find all three in the track he created at Arizona State University, but it is so much more than a course. This is a true golf facility, named after Ping Golf founder Karsten Solheim and home to the powerful ASU teams. Phil Mickelson, Billy Mayfair, Grace Park and Paul Casey are among those who honed their skills on the Scottish links-style course, which plays to par 70 at 7,002 yards.

Originally a par-72 layout, it was tweaked in 2003 to bring it to the difficulty standards befitting Dye’s reputation. The challenge meter tops out at the 16th hole, a par-3 at 248 yards from the back tees, where your tee shot must carry over a lake that stretches all the way to a two-tiered green that is just 26 yards deep and wraps to the edge of the water. There’s plenty of bailout area left of the green, but many a chip shot from there has ended up swimming with the fishes. For good measure, add two pot bunkers on the left side of the green and one more bunker on the right. “It has to be one of the most treacherous par 3s on the planet,” golf director Darryl Crawford says. “When Pete Dye makes trouble, he makes it big.”

Hole #4 at the ASU Karsten Golf Course in Tempe, Arizona
Hole #4 at ASU Karsten Golf Course

The facility, which received 4 ½ stars by Golf Digest’s “Best Places to Play,” also offers a first-rate academy and a Ping Learning Center with state-of-the-art fitting equipment and swing analysis. And if you want a complete experience, don’t miss the Trophy Room Restaurant, which draws a big lunch crowd even among non-golfers. The Southwestern fare is excellent, including the green chili stew, Baja burger and Taos club. For a bigger meal, try the Carnitas grande with shredded pork, flour tortillas, Spanish rice, black beans and jalapeno Diablo salsa, or the Chipotle penne rigate pasta with grilled chicken breast, roasted corn, peppers, cilantro and black beans in a chipotle-tomato cream sauce topped with asiago cheese. The cuisine will leave an impression, just like Dye’s designs.