Arizona Golf Authority AZGA Golf Course Buzz: Many Arizona golfers are “digging” for a well-designed golf course in a panoramic setting that’s open to the public, affordable and equipped with country club amenities.
They strike gold when they find Prescott Golf and Country Club, a classic-style golf course that provides a great golf experience for members and daily-fee golfers alike. Located just east of Prescott, in Dewey, Arizona, this golf course is a routine 90-minute road-trip for Scottsdale and Phoenix players escaping the summer heat in the Valley of the Sun.
Designed by Milt Coggins, a legend in Arizona golf circles, the course opened in 1971 and showcases the panoramic valley between the Mingus and Bradshaw Mountain ranges. The lush tree-lined fairways and slick bent-grass greens provide an elegant contrast to the rugged arid-terrain in these parts; and real test of golf too.
The par-72 layout offers three sets of tees ranging from 6,825 to 5,732 yards, with a rating of 70.7 and slope of 126 from the back tees.
Don’t let those innocent looking statistics fool you though, this golf course is going to test you from the dramatic, elevated 1st tee all the way through its water-threatened 18th green; there’s not a push-over hole on the course.
Each nine has a memorable stretch of holes that place a premium on strategy and shot placement. On the front side, a 3-hole test starts on the 3rd hole, a 189-yard downhill par-3 with a pond on the right side of the elevated green.
The 4th is a 387-yard par-4, a bit uphill, with a long, narrow, undulating green that’s just tough to hit. The No. 1 handicap, 420-yard par-4 5th comes next; the fairway sweeps right-to-left around a bunker and a smallish green doesn’t welcome the long club you’ll play for your second.
The back-9 ends with three of the best. The tee at the 16th, a 391-yard par-4, tee provides a semi-blind tee shot to a fairway sweeping left-to-right. Mis-match your line of play and tee ball run-out and you’ll be scrambling to make one of those rumored “good” bogeys.
The 347-yard par-4 17th looks like a birdie hole, both on the card and in person. In reality, placing a drive in the proper fairway location, executing a precise second to this sloping green and holing the putt is easier said than done.
The 18th provides what all great finishers do; one last chance to make birdie. Playing at just 510 yards, the par-5 appears defenseless, but it’s not. Severe mounding on the left side of the fairway puts a premium on your tee ball.
The smallish green is well protected by water and the greenside pond extends down the fairway to join up with two fairway-pinching trees, about 100 yards out, producing a very dangerous lay-up shot landing area. Put yourself just a little out of position here and you’ll be proud to salvage par.
The course offers an excellent practice facility and putting and chipping greens. Amenities include an outside pavilion, cocktail lounge, dining and banquet facilities with mountain views, and the Granite Grill Restaurant offering a delightful menu, including “all-day dinner”.
Members have access to other amenities, such as an outdoor swimming pool and fitness and recreation areas. Several membership options are available, including non-resident and social varieties.
Read the Arizona Golf Course Directory AZGA Golf Course Buzz for every golf course in Arizona at www.arizonagolfauthority.com/coursedirectory/.
It’s “All Things Arizona Golf” from the Arizona Golf Authority.