Arizona Golf Authority AZGA Golf Course Buzz: Palmbrook Country Club opened in 1971 as the centerpiece of a residential development in the early years of Sun City. Designed by Jeff Hardin, the designer of several courses for active adult communities in Arizona, Palmbrook is unique in that water is in play on every hole on the back-9, and none of the holes on the front, which are defined by doglegs, strategically placed bunkers and mature pine and eucalyptus trees.
The traditional layout has four sets of tees, which range from 5,198 to 6,529 yards with a rating of 70.1 and slope of 120 from the back tees. The front nine ends with a fun par-4 hole of 363 yards that has bunkers squeezing both sides of the fairway and large bunkers guarding both sides of the green.
But the real fun is on the back-9, where three lakes and a creek means water runs adjacent to every hole. There is a neat three-hole stretch starting at No. 11, which is a 152-yard par-3 with a full carry over one of the lakes.
Next up is the 403-yard par-4 12th, the No. 1 handicap hole, which features a creek running along the fairway’s right side and a pond guarding the right side of a green that’s also well-bunkered.
No. 13, a 511-yard par-5, also has a creek alongside the sweeping dogleg-right to a green with bunkers front-right and front-left, leaving a very narrow opening in the event you plan to run one on.
No. 18 is a good finishing par-4, only 363 yards, but a creek along the right and another greenside pond require two good shots to finish with a par.
Palmbrook is a private club that offers a variety of golf, social, annual and corporate memberships. Practice areas include a driving range, putting and chipping greens and a greenside bunker. Members also have access to tennis, aerobics, dancing and food and banquet facilities.
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.