Arizona Golf Authority AZGA Course Buzz: When it’s a foursome that includes both skilled and recreational players who want to enjoy the day playing golf together, Hillcrest Golf Club is where we play. This wall-to-wall turf Greg Nash design is fun for everybody because the wide fairways and large greens accommodate all but the most errant shot. Five sets of tees ensure that everyone has an appropriate tee box, the most forward plays at 5,512 yards, 72.5/119.
Although water is present on twelve of the 18 holes, with only two exceptions it is always placed off to the side of the fairway or behind the green leaving plenty of room to avoid it.
Twice, on the back 9, you are required to loft your ball over lake-fed brooks that are narrow enough to step across. Those two shots are a more than fair trade though, for the stunning beauty the lakes provide throughout your day.
But when a player stands on the 7,002-yard back tees, that beauty becomes the beast. From here, the course is rated at an over-par 72.6 with a 126 slope. Now, cutting the water-laden doglegs requires serious hang-time for tee balls at 3 of the par-5s: the 4th, 7th and the 13th, a stern test even for the then PGA Senior Tour (now Champions) who played their MONY Arizona Classic here beginning, in 1984, through 1988.
In addition to the tee ball carry requirement at the 582-yard 4th, the drive must be flighted left, right or over palm trees that stand between you and the lake inside the dogleg-left you’re trying to carry. Approach the green with care as well; it’s a four-clubber. Measuring 40 yards deep, it also rises in elevation, from front to back, 25-feet vertically. When the breeze is up and the pin is located up on the back tier, it’s hard to pull too much club out of the bag.
Highlights on the back-9 include the par-4 12th, measuring just 345 yards. Looks drivable, but be very careful. The lake you can see from the tee behind the green, also hugs the entire left side of the green complex tighter than a mother sending her son off to his first day of pre-school. A safe shot short of the fairway bunker and a short iron approach will yield just as many birdies, probably more.
Save plenty of energy for the finish at Hillcrest as well. The par-3 17th measures 234; a flare right will find water and the front left is bunkered. The large, undulating green is generous so play it smart, take plenty of club and let your miss be long.
The par-4 18th is a strong finisher at 465 yards. The drive must be fitted between trees on both the right and left sides of the landing area. The green plays a bit downhill across a sunken fairway and is bunkered mid-right and top-left. Three distinct tiers are visible on this green; pick a club that places you on the tier that includes the pin.
Hillcrest Golf Club offers a full complement of amenities; lush all-turf practice facilities, full-service restaurant and bar and a fully stocked pro shop; greens fees are competitively priced and very attractive, especially in the afternoon.
So if you have a mixed-skill foursome, this is the place to play. The golf course provides a full examination of the skilled player’s game while granting recreational players a comfortable venue for their own enjoyable round.
And most importantly, Hillcrest offers golfers the most valuable gift of all, the chance to relish a day of golf, together.
Arizona Golf Authority AZGA “Local Hang” for Hillcrest Golf Club includes Brokers, on the southwest corner of Scottsdale Road and Bell Road, and Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville at Westgate, located on Glendale Avenue, just east of the 101 Loop.