The Buzz: Formerly called Estrella Mountain Ranch Golf Club, this is the first solo design effort of Jack Nicklaus II in Arizona and it’s safe to say that he put his best Footjoy forward. The younger Nicklaus started with the idea of creating the first course in the West Valley that rivaled north Scottsdale’s high-end layouts.
This is a true desert course with generous fairways, many target-style greens and elevated tees that provide stunning views of the area’s natural beauty. This land, once used for cotton farming and later owned by Goodyear Rubber, is a natural and diverse wonder with mountains, giant saguaros and 220 acres of gulches, arroyos and native vegetation. Fairways roll across natural contours, blending perfectly with their environs amidst the picturesque Sierra Estrella Mountains. The public, daily-fee course opened in 1999 and immediately began receiving awards and accolades, including 4 ½ stars from Golf Digest’s “Best Places to Play.” It also has received “best” awards from Golf, Golfweek and Golf & Travel magazines.
Estrella has five sets of tees, ranging from 5,124 to 7,139 yards. It plays to par 72, and from the back tees is rated at 73 with a slope of 137. There are 80 bunkers and rugged desert transition areas that help place a premium on accuracy. Memorable holes on the front nine include the par-4 fifth, which plays at 386 yards from the tips, has a lake wrapping along the left side of the fairway and green and three bunkers along the right side, leaving a narrow approach. The ninth is a formidable par 4 at 435 yards that is nicknamed “The Island” because the main landing area is completely surrounded by rocky desert and there is a bunker/desert complex in the center of the fairway. You need to clear desert to reach the green and surrounding fairway. Estrella also has a terrific three-hole finishing stretch. No. 16, which is the No. 1 handicap hole, is a 605-yard par 5 with a left dogleg and a desert protrusion that comes into play if you try to cut the corner. Again, you need to clear desert with your approach shot to the green.
The 17th is Estrella’s signature hole, a 194-yard par 3 with postcard beauty where you need a 160-yard carry to reach grass, and there are two large bunkers guarding the left side of the green and another on the right. The finishing hole is a 437-yard par 4 with an elevated tee to a split fairway and is one of the most beautiful holes on the course. Placement down the right side will leave a shorter approach, but will bring bunkers into play. The left side offers a better angle, but more danger of your tee shot sliding off into the desert. Practice facilities include a two-tiered driving range, sweeping mountain views, all-grass tees, two putting greens and all are complimentary, creating a country club-like experience.
Estrella offers two other things that appeal to many golfers: The scorecard folds out into a yardage book with detailed diagrams of each hole and yardages clearly marked; Instead of assuming it is doing things right, Estrella asks golfers to complete a quick survey form and uses those replies to try and improve the golf experience. That’s why it continues to draw repeat customers despite being 30 miles west of downtown Phoenix.