Arizona Golf Authority AZGA Golf Course Buzz: Cimarron Golf Club is one of four golf courses built in Sun City Grand, an active adult community northwest of Phoenix. Cimarron is the longest and considered by many to be the most challenging of the four in the community.
Designed by Greg Nash, who created many of the retirement-community courses around Arizona, it’s a semi-private course that is open to public play. Cimarron is located in the desert, but has a more traditional feel than most, with mild desert transitions and water in play on seven holes. Four sets of tees range from 6,809 to 5,249 yards, with a rating of 71.3 and slope of 123 from the back tees.
Fairways offer ample room, but greens are well protected and water hazards add to the challenge, placing a premium on accuracy. Both sides finish strong with water coming into play on the closing holes. The eighth hole is one of the longer par 4s at 404 yards, and the ninth plays at 350, but a pond wraps around the left side of the green and a bunker guards the right side.
Closing out the back nine, the 17th is the longest par 3 on the course at 221 yards and the 18th is a tough dogleg par 5 at 548 yards that has water pinching both sides of the green, a narrow neck in front to the putting surface and a bunker behind.
Cimarron’s signature hole, however, is the seventh. This par 3 plays at 199 yards from the back tee to an island green that features a fountain in the water hazard along the right side and a rock wall lining the front of the green that requires a carry of about 160 yards over water.
Cimarron Golf Club has a good practice facility with driving range, putting green and chipping green. There is no restaurant, but a snack bar is available. Along with some quality golf courses, Sun City Grand residents have access to many other activities, including walking trails, fishing lakes, a pet park and pickle ball courts.
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.