The Buzz: Draped across a tip of the Tortolito Mountains with sweeping views of the High Sonoran Desert, the scenery doesn’t get much better in southern Arizona than it does right here, and neither does the quality of golf. John Fought, who won the 1977 U.S. Amateur, and Tom Lehman, who won the 1996 British Open, teamed up to create this gem, which is one of two terrific courses at The Gallery at Dove Mountain.
Fought went solo on the second course, with a contrasting design that has hosted two World Golf Championship events. Together, the two men created a course that can be diabolical at times and yet a fun challenge with a rollercoaster ride across terrain that features wide fairways, large, elevated greens, deep bunkers and some holes that never seem to end. The latter is represented by the ninth hole, a par 5 at 725 yards, and no, that’s not a typo, seven hundred and twenty-five yards from the tips.
Easing the sting ever so slightly is that it plays downhill all the way, but still requires three well-struck shots to reach the green. Adding to the challenge are 13 bunkers, including five that protect the green, along with a desert ravine and a water hazard that comes into play on the approach.
It is among several memorable holes on this layout, with another being the par-4 fifth, which plays slightly uphill at 454 yards and is tucked into a saddle on the mountain. That is apropos because it once was the setting of the T-Bench Bar Ranch, a 5,000-square-foot cattle operation, where the family’s stone well, dating to the early 1900s, remains.
Highlights of the back nine include the 15th and 16th holes. No. 15 is a par 3 at 198 yards with a wonderful shot down a rock-encrusted hill to double greens, which offer distinctly different challenges created by strategic bunkering. The 16th is a par 5 downhill dogleg at 550 yards that wraps around the side of a lake to a triple-tiered green. The variety of holes and challenges are excellent on this course, which has four sets of tees that can be played in eight combinations, ranging from 5,261 to 7,384 yards. From the tips, it is rated at 74.0 with a slope of 142.
The clubhouse here, which covers 28,000 square feet and has touches of Frank Lloyd Wright built in, is nearly as dazzling as the course. It doubles as an art gallery with more than 100 gallery-quality works from around the world, and has an award-winning restaurant with wonderful views, décor and cuisine. Gallery members also enjoy a state-of-the-art sports club and other amenities. This is a private, non-equity club that offers several memberships, including a one-year trial membership for prospective members. Property ownership is not required for membership.
Click on the link and read the Arizona Golf Authority review of the Gallery Golf Club – South Course, host of 2 World World Match Play events.