Golfers who think the roller coaster is the best ride at the amusement park will have a blast playing StoneRidge, located in the Bradshaw Mountains just outside Prescott, Arizona.
StoneRidge is a fun trip across desert-mountain terrain accented by tangled brush, deep canyons and ravines at about 5,000 feet, which makes it considerably cooler than the Phoenix area and well worth the 60-mile drive north to reach it, especially when the Valley is sweltering.
Elevation changes of 350 feet provide a variety of downhill tee shots and uphill approaches amidst boulder outcroppings, quiet surroundings and sweeping panoramic views on the course designed by Randy Heckenkemper, an understudy of Jack Nicklaus, Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish. The course has four sets of tees, ranging from 4,953 to 7,052 yards, and is rated at 72.3 with a slope of 132 from the back tees. The first glimpse, driving toward the clubhouse, can be a scary one. Looking up, the stark vision is of the 10th green, which seems to be sitting on top of a deep canyon with no room around it to hold errant approach shots. But relax, it’s not as diabolical as it appears.
“StoneRidge is one of the most beautiful and challenging designs I have ever created,” Heckenkemper said. “A lot of times on mountain golf courses, the shots are too difficult, which makes a course lose its appeal. That’s why we were careful to examine the layout of each hole and make adjustments that would make it more player-friendly, while still offering challenge and beauty.” Highlights on the front nine are the third and fifth holes. No. 3 is a 247-yard par-3 with an elevated tee and a 150-yard drop to a green that is partially hidden but has a bowl-like shape that funnels shots toward the pin. The fifth is a 383-yard par-4 with a severe right dogleg where your tee shot is over a canyon to another partially obscured green, and cutting the corner can have treacherous consequences. While many holes are defined by elevation changes, the real roller-coaster ride starts at the signature hole, No. 12, a 230-yard par-3 framed by pockets of boulders, rocks and ridges, which serve as a backdrop for the green. The 13th, a 373-yard, par 4, is the most peaceful and scenic spot on the course, starting with an elevated tee shot to a sloping fairway, followed by an approach shot over an arroyo. The 14th and 15th are slender par-4 holes that both play uphill with right doglegs. The 16th, a 553-yard, par 5, is reachable in two shots and the 17th is a 194-yard par-3 from yet another elevated tee.
The round concludes with a 630-yard, downhill par 5 that is shaped like a reverse question mark. That question mark can be straightened out by those willing to gamble, but like several other StoneRidge holes, a high risk-reward factor comes into play with bunkers on both doglegs and both sides of the green. With all of the elevation changes, pulling the right club can be a challenge, which adds to the fun if you make the right call. Topping it off, StoneRidge has an elegant 14,586-square-foot clubhouse that includes a restaurant, banquet room, conference room, grille, outdoor patio and some of the most captivating scenery you’ll find at a 19th hole.