Arizona Golf Authority AZGA Golf Course Buzz: Mesa Del Sol is a very entertaining golf course, created by Arnold Palmer and his longtime associate Ed Seay, that’s made a comeback on the popularity scale with Yuma golfers in recent years.
The course isn’t particularly long, but puts a premium on accuracy with its strategic design and eight lakes and ponds that bring water into play on 10 holes. There are four sets of tees with the shortest at 5,367 and the longest at 6,767 yards, with a rating of 71.8 and slope of 124 from the back tees.
Located about 10 minutes from Yuma International Airport, the course has a nice setting provided by the water features and nearby Gila Mountains and Fortuna Foothills that serve as backdrops for several holes.
Mesa Del Sol opened in 1985 and has recently restored its bunkers, renovated the clubhouse and has become affiliated with the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program, which seeks to improve and preserve the environment.
The front-9 plays a little longer and many golfers consider it the tougher of the two nines, although you can get along fine without a driver, which might be the smart approach. The highlight is the third hole, a 521-yard par-5 dogleg right with a long narrow lake running down the right side of the first half of the fairway and another lake on the left, running from 150 yards out to the left side of the green.
No. 5, a 167-yard par-3, requires a shot over a large lake to a green with bunkers front, back-left and back-right. The 9th is another par-5 at 545 yards with a narrow fairway and a lake running along the right side from about 175 yards out that wraps around the right and back of the green.
The back-9 features three risk-reward holes, all of which have a sharp dogleg right: the par-5 11th at 468 yards, the par-4 14th at 414 yards and the par-4 16th at 365 yards. All present birdie opportunities if you can cut the doglegs by clearing the trees and other hazards lurking in the corners.
The 17th is another good par-3 at 152 yards over water. Practice facilities include a driving range and two putting greens and the clubhouse offers a snack bar and grill where golfers can relax after the round.
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.