Arizona Golf Courses – Refuge Golf Club
The struggling economy has slowed development of this Lake Havasu City country club project, located less than a mile north of the city limits, but the golf course and its amenities are in full swing after the tweaking of a Signature golf course originally designed by Arnold Palmer in 2004.
The Refuge, a private club built adjacent to the Havasu National Wildlife Refuge, hence its name, is situated alongside the Colorado River and Lake Havasu, offering up excellent views of both, along with surrounding mountain ranges and desert vistas. Bighorn sheep and many species of wild animals find refuge in the 20-mile long Topock Gorge that stretches through the preserve along the lower Colorado River, drawing thousands of visitors each year.
Golfers find their refuge on The Refuge course, which is defined by undulating terrain across all 18 holes, attractive hazards that bring water into play on five holes, and picturesque backdrops. The par-72 championship caliber course is a thorough exam from any of its four sets of tees, ranging from 4,844 to 7,083 yards all the way back.
The front nine is the more interesting of the two with water in play at five of the first eight holes. The signature hole is the sixth, a 166-yard par 3 with a steep drop from tee to green. Your tee ball must carry a pond here, the much larger Lake Havasu serves as the backdrop in the distance.
If you can complete the final three-hole stretch in even par, you deserve a pat on the back and a couple “cold ones” from your compatriots. No. 16 is a sweeping dogleg right par 5 of 574 yards to a well-bunkered green. No. 17 is a short par 3 at 132 yards but the green is virtually surrounded by large, deep bunkers. The finishing hole is a par 4 that stretches to 485 yards from the back tee, with a large bunker fronting the green and a smaller pot bunker behind.
This is a private club that offers several golf and non-golf memberships, and has a member-for-a-day option to introduce the facilities to prospective members. It has full practice facilities with a driving range, chipping and putting greens and a practice bunker.
The clubhouse includes a bar and grille and a full-service restaurant, swimming pool with pool bar, a spa and fitness facility.
Read the Arizona Golf Course Guide List Directory Review for every golf course in Arizona at www.arizonagolfauthority.com/coursedirectory.
It’s “All Things Arizona Golf” from the Arizona Golf Authority.