The Buzz: This public course, which opened in 1984, is defined by undulating terrain that can result in some tricky lies, and by eight ponds and lakes that bring water into play on six holes. Great Eagle was designed by Ken Kavanaugh, who has created some of Arizona’s better courses, and later underwent a renovation on about half of the holes by the design team of Greg Nash and Jeff Hardin. Desert areas come into play but this course has a more traditional feel with the par-3 holes being the strength of the layout. The par 72 has three sets of tees at 6,646, 5,939 and 5,146 yards, with a rating of 73.1 and slope of 124 from the tips.
The signature hole is the par-3 fourth which plays at 142 yards over a lake to a well-bunkered green. Water hazards also are prominent on the par 3 eighth and 11th holes, which play at 217 and 170 yards. Completing the par-3 rotation is the 14th, which is devoid of water but can be a handful from the tips at 225 yards to a green guarded by a substantial bunker on the right front.
The layout starts strong with a 545-yard par 5, which is the No. 2 handicap hole. The 12th, at 582 yards, is the No. 1 handicap and the course ends with a memorable back-to-back finish. No. 17 is a short, risk-reward par 5 that can be reached in two shots, but has a large waste area along the left side and a lake skirting the right side of the green and wrapping around the back.
No. 18 also has a risk-reward factor with a sharp dogleg right and a pond running along the left side of the green. Memberships are available and the course web site offers tee-time discounts, making it one of the better value courses in the area. It is located near spring training facilities in the northwest Valley, making it particularly popular with baseball fans during that time of year. Great Eagle has a snack bar available and full practice facilities with separate chipping and putting greens.