Tag: arizona golf course guide

Arizona Golf Courses – Boulders Golf Club South Course

If you have to play one but not the other course at The Boulders, then the South better be your No. 1 choice. Spectacular beyond belief with magical million-year-old boulders — and loaded with signature holes – the South Course is full of the Kodak eye-candy you ogle in national golf magazines. There is one catch to playing The Boulders, however: You must stay at the world-class resort on the outskirts of Carefree (15 minute from Scottsdale) to get a tee time in peak season. Not necessarily a bad thing, considering The Boulders has earned a mountain of rewards ever since the first nine holes opened in 1969.

Red Lawrence built the original nine and Phoenix architect Jack Snyder completed the first 18 a few years later. In 1984 Jay Morrish added 10 more holes as The Boulders played to three distinct nines up until 1992. That’s when Morrish returned to add the other eight holes, which were ultimately scrambled into the North and the South.

For some reason, the more fantastic offerings like the par-5 fifth hole, that gives you a choice between two fairways that lead to an incredible green setting snuggled into the rocks, as well as the par-3 seventh hole, where a seven-story-high boulder called “Rosie’’ awaits, turned up on the South Course. Even Morrish, a very honest gent who has since retired, was puzzled by the difference.

“As it turned out, I really like the South Course much more than the North,’’ he said. “I did those opening five holes, and the majority of the 18 on the South. Unfortunately, it’s kind of strung out and doesn’t tie together that well. But if you look at each hole individually, they’re pretty darn good.’’

Nobody at the club argues, nor do advertising production companies that seem to film TV commercial after TV commercial on the South. For convenience sake, the club reserves one course for the membership and the other course for resort play daily.

The Arizona Golf Authority AZGA “Local Hang” for the North and South Courses, following a libation on any of several Boulders patios, includes both the simple cowboy cheeseburgers and cold long-necks at Harold’s as well as the finest in fine-Foodie-dining at Binkley’s, both just up the road a piece in the Cave Creek – Carefree locale.

Click Boulders North Course to visit our Arizona Golf Course Directory List and read the AZGA Player’s Review for every golf course in Arizona.

It’s “All Things Arizona Golf” from the Arizona Golf Authority.

Arizona Golf Courses – Boulders Golf Club North Course

Most people love staying at The Boulders as much as playing the two golf courses, which is why Andrew Harper’s Hideaway Report, known as the connoisseur’s guide to “peaceful and unspoiled places,’’ once gave it the No. 1 nod in the world for 12 years running. It’s also why The Boulders was named by the Arts and Entertainment Network as one of the top romantic get-aways in the world.

Cool stuff for a golf course! Or should we say courses. A 36-hole day is always a good idea and we think you’ll find the North quite entertaining, even if it’s a bit more inundated with houses and offers a few fewer Kodak scenery moments than the South.

Certainly the North is more traditional and tight, with white stakes seemingly everywhere along the residence-lined fairways. The heart of the North starts at No. 10, where it reels off three demanding doglegs in a row. If there is a signature hole, it comes at the end of that run, as the par-3 14th is a dicey long iron over water to a tricky green. The course closes out with another strong, dogleg par 4 at the 18th, where water and sand once again complicate matters.

Surprisingly, and somewhat contrary to what Morrish and most visitors say, the club’s members enjoy both courses somewhat equally, which is why they are switched back and forth on a daily basis. Oh, yes, and one more thing to relish about The Boulders is its world-renown Golden Door Spa. Ahhhh – perfect after 36 holes of golf!

The Arizona Golf Authority AZGA “Local Hang” for the North and South Courses, following a libation on any of several Boulders patios, includes both the simple cowboy cheeseburgers and cold long-necks at Harold’s as well as the finest in fine-Foodie-dining at Binkley’s, both just up the road a piece in the Cave Creek – Carefree locale.

Click Boulders South Course to visit our Arizona Golf Course Directory List and read the AZGA Player’s Review for every golf course in Arizona.

It’s “All Things Arizona Golf” from the Arizona Golf Authority.