The Buzz: It got off to a delayed start, but Legends at Arrowhead, designed by legendary Arnold Palmer became one of the most popular public facilities on the Valley of the Sun’s “west side,” and has stood the test of time with its traditional setting and player-friendly layout. Set among six lakes and characterized by elevated tees, mature palm trees, numerous doglegs, 65 strategic bunkers and large, undulating greens, this is a solid and fair test of golf. Legend at Arrowhead is one of seven courses in Arizona designed by Palmer and delayed its opening for nearly three years after it was built because the clubhouse and other amenities were not completed.
The grand opening in 1989 helped spark a resurgence of the master-planned development Arrowhead Ranch. Built on the site of a former citrus ranch covering 5,000 acres, it has become a very successful development that is 95 percent built out with nearly 9,000 homes priced from $200,000 to $1 million. Palmer and right-hand man Ed Seay also designed the nearby Arrowhead Country Club, and he later said he was proud of what was accomplished in the area.
“When we designed Arrowhead, it was a new challenge in the Arizona desert,” Palmer said. It was built before desert-target courses became popular in the Valley, and has more turf than they offer, with a nice variety of holes and strategic challenges. There are four sets of tees at 7,005, 6,509, 6,013 and 5,233 yards, with a rating of 73.1 and slope of 131 from the back tees. Six lakes bring water into play on nine holes and bunkers stretch, twist and snake their way along fairways, helping to define target areas, but greens might provide the toughest challenge with their speed, tiers and undulations.
One memorable stretch is a three-hole combination that starts at the fifth, a 431-yard par 4 that is considered the signature hole. It begins with sculpted, elevated tees that are created in tiers and, even if you tee off from one of the shorter sets, do yourself a favor and check out the views from the top tier. Then forget the view and focus on avoiding the lake along the right side. The par-5 sixth is the No. 1 handicap hole at 529 yards that brings danger into play on every shot, accentuated by prevailing winds. The horseshoe-shaped hole wraps around a lake on the right side, water and a stand of palm trees block the shortest route to the green on the second shot, and a layup still requires an approach over water to a semi-island green tucked cozily into grass mounding. The par-4 seventh isn’t particularly long at 392 yards but requires a well placed drive to negotiate the right-to-left dogleg and maintain the proper angle for a second-shot into this heavily contoured green. Par these three and your compatriots will consider you the “player” in the group.
Amenities include a clubhouse with full-service pro shop and restaurant, practice facilities with driving range, putting and chipping greens and a golf school. The club offers several memberships, including a “player development program” with unlimited range access, free weekly clinics, discounted tee times, free golf after 3 p.m. and other benefits.