Tag: arizona golf course reviews

Categories
Central Arizona Sun City

Willowbrook Golf Course – Sun City

Arizona Golf Authority AZGA Golf Course Review: The Willowbrook executive golf course is part of the Sun City, Arizona complex that also offers the regulation-length Willowcreek golf course. Both courses were designed by the highly regarded father-son duo of George and Tom Fazio and they are two of the more popular layouts in Sun City’s RCSC stable of eight golf courses, three of which are executives.

The facility spent $700,000 in 2011 updating the two courses, their shared driving range and clubhouse. Willowbrook has two sets of tees at 3,800 yards with a rating of 57.8 and slope of 84, and 3,414 yards with a rating of 58.1 and slope of 89.

Willowbrook offers six par-4 holes and three par-3s on each nine. The 10th and 12th holes are the longest at 340 and 339 yards, but the front is longer overall and definitely the more interesting of the two. That’s because of a lake that brings water into play on three holes in a four-hole stretch.

The watery challenge begins at No. 3 with a 184-yard par 3 that has large bunkers guarding both sides of the green. The respite is No. 4, but it stretches 225 yards and is the longest par-3 on the course.

The water reappears at the 5th, a 306-yard par-4 that doglegs right, around the lake. At the sixth hole, a 112-yard par-3, the tee shot must carry the lake hold a putting surface surrounded by three large bunkers.

Willowbrook shares its complete driving range and practice putting green, along with a full-service snack bar that serves breakfast and lunch with its little sister, the Willowcreek course.

Read the Arizona Golf Course List AZGA Player’s Arizona Golf Course Review for every golf course in Arizona at www.arizonagolfauthority.com/coursedirectory.

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

Categories
Northern Arizona Pinetop

White Mountain Country Club

Arizona Golf Course List - White Mountain Country Club - Arizona Golf Authority
White Mountain Country Club

Arizona Golf Course List – Arizona Golf Authority Golf Course Guide

Arizona Golf Course List - White Mountain Country Club - Arizona Golf Authority
White Mountain Country Club

This is one of Arizona’s oldest and most treasured private country clubs with a rich history that operates on a seasonal basis from May through October. The golf course is built near the spectacular Mogollon Rim on property once owned by the U.S. Forest Service and leased by members when it opened as a nine-hole layout in 1956.

The second nine opened a year later and by 1967, the 1,800-acre parcel had been traded to the members. In exchange, the Forest Service received 16 acres of land near McNary for every acre it gave up.

The club becomes a second home for many private club members from the Phoenix area during the valley’s hot summer months and remained their No. 1 choice until Forest Highlands opened in Flagstaff in 1987. The original nine, which now is the back nine, was designed by Arizona golf legend Milt Coggins and developer Gray Madison. They, along with Arthur “Jack” Snyder, created the second nine.

White Mountain isn’t particularly long but demands accuracy to negotiate the thick pine forest lining most fairways. You’ll find five sets of tees, with the tips playing at 6,523 yards and the forward tees at 5,561. From the back tees, it is rated at 68.3 with a slope of 122.

The terrain is defined by rolling hills, rugged outcroppings of lava and malapai rock formations, excellent views of the largest stand of Ponderosa Pine in North America, and you’ll love the smooth bent-grass greens that can be nurtured in this climate. Constant elevation changes add to the character and there is no out of bounds. If you can find it on White Mountain, you can play it.

White Mountain starts off tamely but the fun starts at the fourth hole, a 414-yard par 4 with an uphill dogleg left over a lily pond. Three of the next four holes are excellent par 5s with plenty of variety, playing at 613, 503 and 527 yards.

The back nine, which is a little more open than the front, heats up at the 12th hole, a 178-yard par 3, followed by a short par 4 of 330 yards. Big hitters who dare cut the corner can drive the green, but plenty of trouble awaits those who try and fail.

The signature hole is the 18th, a 440-yard par 4 over water to a severely sloping green, where three-putting is the norm. That provides plenty of chuckles for other golfers relaxing on the spacious clubhouse patio.

White Mountain offers active, junior and social memberships, but all are by invitation only. While that might sound a bit stuffy, much of the club’s charm is its casual, laid-back approach to golf and life far from the trappings of a big city.

Visit our Arizona Golf Course Directory List 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.

Categories
Central Arizona Chandler

Whirlwind – Devil’s Claw Course

Whirlwind - Devil’s Claw Course - 4-Par 16th - "Komatke" Mountain
Devil’s Claw 16th – “Komatke” Mountain

The Buzz: The Tribal Council of the Gila River Indian Community spent several years developing a plan to make use of land southeast of Phoenix that would generate revenue to support its people, while preserving its beauty and respecting what nature provided. The initial structure was a golf course, the first of two designed by Gary Panks, which was named Devil’s Claw and opened in 2000. What has grown up around it is the Sheraton Wildhorse Pass Resort & Spa, one of the most impressive resorts in Arizona with its elegant hotel, casino, pristine landscaping and tributes to ancestors who walked and worked this land 2,000 years ago. “We worked long and hard with the tribal cultural committee to stay true to the land’s heritage,” Panks said.

Devil’s Claw put the tribe’s best foot forward. It has more turf than you will find on other desert courses, meaning ample fairways, but the tiered greens demand that you be accurate with approach shots. The course that hosted a Nationwide Tour event in 2001-02 remains one of the quality layouts in the Valley of the Sun, and if you have an appreciation for Native American history, golf here becomes all the more meaningful. It begins on the second hole, a somewhat short par 4 at 399 yards from the back tee and the No. 17 handicap hole.

All holes on the Devil’s Claw and Cattail courses have a name and this one is called “Where the Dog Spoke.” That is translated to “Math heg Gogs am Niow” in Gila vernacular and comes with a story: This hole faces “Vee-cum Gahk-Woot”, also known as the Superstition Mountains, which are among the Valley’s most majestic landmarks. In the O’odham story of creation, there is a chapter that tells of a great flood in which the people turned into stone. Just prior to the flood, a dog spoke to the people urging them to move higher on the mountain to escape the flood waters. Anyway, you get the idea this isn’t just about birdies and bogeys, although the golf is outstanding.

Among the memorable holes is No. 7, Dragonfly Falls (“Vag che dagi Shudagi”), a 160-yard par 3 over a lake where you can hear the sound of cascading water. Legend has it that an oriole discovered colorful dragonflies enhancing the sound with the furious flapping of their wings. Don’t become too engrossed because you need to hit a shot carrying that entire lake, which wraps around the front and right side of the green. There is bailout area left, also over the water, but don’t go too long or you’ll reach one of the two bunkers, leaving a shot across a slick green and toward that same water hazard. No. 16 is another stunning par 3 backdropped by Komatke Mountain, which is one of the most culturally significant peaks in the Gila community.

There are many more memorable holes on this course and also on Cattail, which is the tougher of the two. Devil’s Claw has four sets of tees, ranging from 5,539 to 7,017 yards, and is rated at 72.7 with a slope of 127 from the back tees. Whirlwind also is home to the Bird Golf Academy with PGA and LPGA teaching pros. A 9,000-square-foot clubhouse is well-appointed, including locker rooms, showers and the Sivlik Grill, which includes a restaurant and lodge that serves up tasty Southwestern food and offers excellent views of both courses and three mountain ranges.

Practice facilities are equally impressive and, if you are fortunate enough to stay at the resort/casino, be prepared to indulge. Amenities include the Aji (“Sanctuary”) Spa, an onsite equestrian center called “Koli,” and the resort’s signature restaurant, Kai, which means “seed.” While there is plenty more to do and see around this area, Whirlwind stands as an all-inclusive golf escape filled with memorable holes, history, culture and “Aji”.

Categories
Central Arizona Chandler

Whirlwind – Cattail Course

whirlwind-cattail-14-photograph

whirlwind-cattail-14-photograph
Whirlwind Cattail – Arizona Golf Courses
There are two outstanding golf courses, both designed by Phoenix architect Gary Panks, at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort and Spa, and Cattail the one where American Indian heritage is displayed most prominently. Panks, who is among Arizona’s most heralded designers, worked closely with the Gila River Indian Community to preserve and respect this land, where its ancestry can be traced back 2,000 years. The tribe takes great pride in what was created, obvious in the pristine condition of both courses, draped across 242 acres of desert landscape. Native American workers maintain the surroundings while the resort’s signature wild horses and other wildlife prance in their unspoiled habitat.

Cattail, which is the newer and tougher of the two courses, hosted a Nationwide Tour event from 2003-05. It spreads out across open desert weaving its way through mesquite and Palo Verde trees and saguaros, past the now-parched Gila River that once was the lifeblood of this community. They have even constructed a two-mile replica river here, where guests can climb aboard boats and be ferried from one part of the resort complex to another. Deep canyons, pristine lakes and flowing streams, stocked with cattails and other natural vegetation, accent the course in the shadows of the South and Estrella Mountains, creating stunning views. But the beauty of this layout, which opened in 2002, isn’t limited to aesthetics. Panks did a nice job of creating a course friendly enough to suit the recreational player and challenging enough for the tour pro. In doing so, he built in the kind of variety that makes golf rounds memorable.

Each of the par-3 holes are strong, topped by No. 10, which plays at 245 yards from the tips and starts the toughest three-hole stretch on the course. It not only requires length but also accuracy because what you can’t see from the tee is water that wraps around the back of the green. Aim left-center, but not too far left because a large bunker waits on that side. Next up is a 481-yard par 4, the toughest hole on the back nine. It requires a strong drive but an even more challenging second shot as the entire fairway slopes right, into the deepest dry canyon on the course. Two words: Stay left. This diabolical stretch ends with a 581-yard par 5. Aim at the large mesquite tree on the left and don’t mess with the bunker and canyon on the right. On the approach, avoid the fairway bunker short and left of the green, but shots too far right are destined for a water hazard. Make it through this stretch at even par and you’ll feel like you conquered Amen Corner. No. 18 is the toughest driving hole, with bunkers on the left side of the primary landing area and a deep pot bunker right. Golfers who choose not to hit driver off the tee then face a long, uphill second shot on a 450-yard par 4.

There are five sets of tees ranging from 5,394 to 7,334 yards, and the course is rated at 73.6 with a slope of 133 from the tips. Pay close attention to the yardage book and you might even learn a new language. Each hole shows its name in both the English and the Gila Indian translations. The first hole, for example, is Arrow Shot, or “Lipa Kyaam.” Two Mesquites translates to “Gohk Kui,” Gila Monster becomes “Chiadagi,” and Coyote Leg is “Bahn Kayio.” In any language, this golf experience is “Suh-weet.”

Categories
Central Arizona Fountain Hills Scottsdale

We-Ko-Pa Saguaro Course

wekopa-saguaro--2

We-Ko-Pa Saguaro Course – Arizona Golf Courses

If you were tasked with choosing the best piece of property in Arizona  for a pair of golf courses, the site at We-Ko-Pa Golf Club would be one of your finalists. Both courses, Cholla and Saguaro, provide native-natural terrain and boast spectacular views.

wekopa-saguaro--2

The team of Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw laid the Saguaro Course in place with their distinctively delicate hand about  five years after the Cholla Course opened for play. It made WeKoPa Golf Club “the” place to play in Arizona and with the addition of Saguaro, it still is!

One of golf’s red-hot design teams of the past decade, Coore-Crenshaw did not disappoint with their stellar effort at We-Ko-Pa Saguaro, even if a few holes did turn out rather unique, like the super-short uphill par-3 ninth and super-challenging par-4 finish at the eighteenth.

Course conditioning and incredible desert-mountain views don’t get much better than here at We-Ko-Pa and the Saguaro Course offers up an entertaining mix of of short par 4s and long par 4s right in the middle of the surrounding natural splendor.

The golf course plays firm and fast throughout so don’t be frightened by the 469-yard par-4 first hole; your tee ball is going to run forever. Just remember that’s just as true at the 336-yard par-4 second or your tee-ball will run-out and find a fairway bunker you thought you were playing short of.

The signature 14th, a 538-yard uphill par 5,  presents a different dilemma: a tempting split fairway and fantastic mountain views both vie for your attention. Here’s a tip: highly skilled players go right, the rest of us play to the left-side fairway – your choice.

The par-3 fifteenth is another favorite. The elevated tee tempers it’s 255-yard length, reducing your club selection by at least two clubs. The green complex below offers an open door for the baby-draw shot we all see ourselves playing from time to time. Go ahead and author one, the forgiving slope on the right-hand side of the green will collect those shots that stay straight.

One thing to definitely smile about is that We-Ko-Pa’s slightly shorter Saguaro Course (a little over 6,900 yards) allows walking and that’s a good thing. This is no level stroll through your local parkland muni though, you’ll be up and down through the natural arroyos that give this course it’s desert character.

wekopa-ben-crenshaw-bill-cooreTrue to form, Messrs. Coore-Crenshaw left the fairway and green sites completely natural. Or as Crenshaw spun it:

“We just kind of draped the grass over what was already there.’’

It’s the less is more, minimalist philosophy the dynamic-duo adheres to and it’s perfect for property this stunning. Another thing to like is the old-style bunkering, which undoubtedly is a Coore-Crenshaw strength. Not only are there several gaping pot bunkers on the Saguaro, there also are plenty of elongated fairway bunkers known as “furrowed brows’’ with a touch of wispy grass hanging over the edges strictly for effect.

Add it all up and Saguaro is pure, compelling golf in the desert.  Also featured are a cool, rustic half-way house that looks like it was built in the days of yesteryear, and We-Ko-Pa’s striking clubhouse – it’s first-rate and ultra-chic in a new-age Native American way.

Arizona Golf Authority AZGA “Local Hang” for We-Ko-Pa Golf Club is the club’s panoramic patio, especially if you indulge in the magnificent mahi-mahi sliders with zesty Pico de Gallo and a draught of Drop Top amber ale.  No wonder We-Ko-Pa markets the final moments of a day of golf as “good food with a view.’’

Click We-Ko-Pa Cholla Course to check out Saguaro’s sister course; these two pair for a world-class 36-hole day of Arizona golf.

Visit our Arizona Golf Course Reviews and read the AZGA Player’s review for every golf course in Arizona at http://www.arizonagolfauthority.com/coursedirectory/.

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