Arizona Golf Courses: Kingman likes to boast that it is the “perfect launching point for Route 66 and beyond.” If that is the case, then visitors in search of a golf fix can get their kicks at Cerbat Cliffs. It is Kingman’s only municipal course, which means it is easy on the wallet, but the green fee isn’t the only thing golfers enjoy here. Cerbat Cliffs, which plays to par-71 at 6,502 yards, offers scenic views at 3,300 feet above sea level amidst its natural stone bluffs and terra cotta plateaus in the high desert. Cacti found in much of Arizona give way to chaparral and desert willows on this layout designed by PGA Tour legend Billy Casper and Phoenix course architect Greg Nash, and if you like a course that offers variety, this is the right place.
Just when you think you have discovered its overall “feel,” the course changes course. The first five holes are short, picturesque par 4s set in the midst of windswept mesas. Next up are six tranquil parkland-style holes, followed by three holes flanking I-40 where strong winds whip across open terrain. Then comes the real meat of the course, a three-hole stretch known as the “Lava Loop,” which has caused its fair share of eruptions. It is a combination of blind shots, howling winds and treacherous bentgrass greens, which puts a high premium on accuracy, in an area adorned with volcanic remains and desert scrub. The 16th tee is not the best place to ponder how many strokes you are under par for the day. The par-4 is just 338 yards from the back tees but features a sharp dogleg left and a driver isn’t the smartest choice off the tee. From the dogleg, it plays directly into a strong prevailing wind with a shot that must carry a dry creek bed to a tiny, multi-tiered green. The round ends with another par 4, originally designed as a par 5, at 440 yards. At least this one plays downwind most of the time, but to a tight fairway and the approach must carry a desert chaparral to a shallow green.
You can relive your finish after the round with a cold drink and a “Trevino burger” at the Sand Trap Restaurant, and if you haven’t done the “beyond” part of your trip, head on over to the Historic Route 66 Museum Kingman, fully aware that the bright lights of Las Vegas beckon in the distance. Happy motoring.