The Buzz: This is the first of the four courses built in Sun City Grand, it’s the longest course in that adult community and remains the favorite of many of its residents. The semi-private course allows public play, with booking five days in advance, which occurs mainly on weekends because residents fill weekday tee sheets. The course, which opened in 1998, was designed by Hall of Fame tour pro Billy Casper and renowned architect Greg Nash, who lives in the Phoenix area. They have teamed to design many courses, including the acclaimed Revere Golf Club in the Las Vegas foothills and Terravita Golf and Country Club in north Scottsdale.
Casper and Nash are known for their multiple use of tees, wide landing areas, expansive greens, strategically placed hazards and high risk-reward potential, providing plenty of flexibility to players of all levels, which also has made them popular designers of adult-community courses. One unique feature of Desert Springs is that it can be played as a championship and an executive course, with the shorter tees being added in recent years to accommodate golfers who no longer care to drive for show. Something else that separates it from most courses in the Valley of the Sun is that Desert Springs has 16 lakes, covering 28 acres of land. Water comes into play on 11 holes, including some holes that have two lakes among the hazards. With that in mind, if you play it from the tips at 7,002 yards, this is no pitch-and-putt but a challenge.
“What people like about it is that it’s a player-friendly course,” golf director Jeff Hochman said. “There is plenty of room in the fairways, provided that you play the correct tees, so you don’t get beat up by the course. Sure, there are hazards and challenges, but there are plenty of chances for pars and birdies.” Course yardages are well marked, a driving range and other practice facilities are available and the location, near the White Tank mountains, provides some excellent views and backdrops of holes.
Along with a pro shop, which specializes in equipment sales, the course features Dillon’s Barbecue, a restaurant “mini-chain” that has several locations around the Valley of the Sun. Cimarron Golf Course and Granite Falls, with North and South courses, also are part of the Sun City Grand development and offer similar golf experiences and pricing, which qualifies as “affordable” for most budgets.