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Central Arizona Glendale

Glen Lakes Golf Course

Arizona Golf Authority AZGA Golf Course Buzz: Built in 1968, Glen Lakes has long been one of the most popular 9-hole executive courses in Arizona due to its great practice facilities, good conditioning, entertaining layout and affordable green fees. Glen Lakes is a relatively flat course of traditional design, with water in play on four holes…

Arizona Golf Authority AZGA Golf Course Buzz: Built in 1968, Glen Lakes has long been one of the most popular 9-hole executive courses in Arizona due to its great practice facilities, good conditioning, entertaining layout and affordable green fees.

Glen Lakes is one of about 15 courses designed in Arizona by Milton Coggins; owned by the city of Glendale, this municipal layout offers some of the lowest golf rates in the Valley of the Sun.

Glen Lakes is a relatively flat course of traditional design, with water in play on four holes. Level par is 33 for the six par-4 and three par-3 layout; two sets of tees are in play. The back tees are set at 2,403 yards with a rating of 62 and slope of 98 for 18 holes and the shorter tees play at 2,135 yards with a rating of 59.5 and slope of 89.

One highlight of the round is the third hole, a short par-3 at 122 yards with large eucalyptus trees guarding the right side of a green that slopes left-to-right, towards a pond and is guarded in front by a grass bunker.

The 5th and 8th holes are drivable par 4s at 265 and 301 yards; mature eucalyptus trees at No. 5 place an emphasis on accuracy and No. 8 features a lake threatening the left side of the primary landing area and a smallish undulating green.

The best hole of the lot is the 9th, a 186-yard par-3; lakes running along both sides and a daunting bunker in front of the green demand an accurate tee shot to end the day.

Glen Lakes’ reputation of being a “family” course that is female-friendly is well deserved and their junior program is one of the best in town.

Practice facilities are popular with a driving range that’s lighted until 10 p.m., putting and chipping greens and a practice bunker. The range is one of the few in the area with a canopy and mist-cooling system to help keep things pleasant during the summer, but on the minus side it has artificial mat tee surfaces.

The course is located near Glendale’s major attractions, including the Arizona Cardinals’ football stadium, Phoenix Coyotes’ hockey arena as well as two baseball spring training ballparks.

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.