Arizona Golf Authority AZGA Golf Course Buzz: Pebblebrook Golf Course was the first of 7 courses built in Sun City West, the successful retirement community for active adults located northwest of downtown Phoenix. The development now boasts nearly 30,000 residents, who enjoy a variety of activities within the community. Golf is high on the list and Pebblebrook may be the most popular course of them all.
Designed by Greg Nash, who created several layouts in Arizona’s adult communities, it’s a traditional, player-friendly course that is relatively flat with wide fairways bordered by mature trees.
Although the large greens make the course appear quite expansive, don’t stray too far off line because four lakes and a winding creek bring water into play on nine holes. And here’s another tip; don’t let your miss be a slice because you’ll soon learn the lakes are located on the right side of your targets.
Scenic mountain backdrops grace several holes and Pebblebrook offers four sets of tees, ranging from 6,410 to 5,709 yards, so everyone can enjoy the views; it’s rated at 70.1 with a slope of 119 from the tips.
The front-9 features a lake that complicates matters on 3 holes of a 4-hole stretch that starts at No. 5, a 339-yard par-4 with the lake running along the right side of the fairway and wrapping behind the green.
After the putts drop at the 6th, a 429-yard par-4, the same lake guards the right and rear sides of the 7th green, a 504-yard par 5 that is well-bunkered.
Your tee shot must then carry the lake at the par-3, 139-yard 8th hole; greenside bunkers threaten there as well.
Pebblebrook also has a nice 2-hole finishing stretch. No. 17 is a 510-yard par-5 with a lake near the end of the fairway, on the right, that wraps around behind the green. The 18th is a short par 4 at 357 yards, but a creek cuts across the fairway twice and flows into another lake that starts about 100 yards from the pin and wraps around the right side and rear of the green; three large bunkers guard the front.
Complete practice facilities are available and there are a variety of membership programs from which residents can choose. Sun City West offers more than $125 million worth of amenities to its residents, including four recreation centers, a state-of-the-art bowling center, a recently renovated private library and more than 100 chartered clubs.
It also has a wildlife preservation program that takes a special interest in providing a haven for white swans at all of its golf courses.
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.