Superstition Springs Golf Club – Arizona Golf Course Reviews
Superstition Springs is a public golf course, opened in 1986, that is generally regarded as one of Mesa’s best, but then golfers tend to differ when it comes to layout appeal and the assessments often vary.
Some consider it the finest design from the Greg Nash and Jeff Hardin team in Arizona, while others think a few holes are a bit too contrived for the PGA Tour qualifying tournament once hosted here. Bottom line is you’ll have to judge the design for yourself – we say Superstition Springs’ overall experience definitely makes it worth a visit.
You’ll find four sets of tees, with the tips set at 7,005 yards, a rating of 73 and slope of 128 (down from a one-time high of 135) and the front tees at 5,296 yards with marks of 66.3 and 109. The layout offers wonderful views of the Superstition Mountains and features ample landing areas in the fairways, considerable fairway mounding, undulating greens, expansive bunkers around those greens, mature palm, pine, willow and eucalyptus trees lining the fairways and water in play on 11 of the 18 holes, although that isn’t as daunting as it sounds if you use your head and a wee bit of course management.
The par-3 holes can be a handful with three of them measuring more than 200 yards from the tips and there are several risk-reward holes that can make or break your round. All things considered, it’s a course that can leave you licking your chops or shaking your head, and that means a fun challenge.
Both nines feature a memorable stretch of holes. On the front, that starts at No. 5, a drivable par 4 that plays uphill to a green heavily guarded by bunkers. Right behind it, the sixth hole and the No. 1 handicap, is the longest on the course at 610 yards and features a partially hidden pond on the left and a green complex with a formidable bunker on the left side. No. 7 is both gorgeous and demanding as a 228-yard par 3, and the No. 5 handicap, where anything short or long-right will find water. Many consider the ninth, a sharp dogleg left par 4 of 425 yards with a huge lake running down the left side, to be the signature hole.
On the back-9, players usually love or hate the 14th hole because of its beauty and difficulty with a lake that can be reached off the tee and a green perched on a ridge with another water hazard guarding the front and left. Right behind it is a 231-yard par 3 with another lake on the right, a 424-yard par 4 to a green laced with bunkers and mounds and a 537-yard par 5 to a green with water hazards squeezing the end of the fairway and green on both sides.
No. 18 is an excellent par-4 closer of 455 yards with a creek that cuts across the fairway twice, a small waterfall, a well-bunkered green and a gorgeous mountain backdrop. Amenities include a spacious restaurant and outdoor patio, locker rooms with showers, a large putting green, chipping green and grass range with target areas. The course offers several memberships, is female friendly as a member of the “Women on Course” program. It is part of the Eagle network, which offers discounts at about 60 courses around the country to cardholders.
Visit our Arizona Golf Course Reviews and read the AZGA Player’s Review for every golf course in Arizona at www.arizonagolfauthority.com/coursedirectory.
It’s “All Things Arizona Golf” from the Arizona Golf Authority.