Tag: azga arizona golf courses

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Cornville Cottonwood Northern Arizona

Verde Santa Fe Golf Course

Arizona Golf Course List – Arizona Golf Authority Golf Course Guide

Even many local golf enthusiasts in Arizona haven’t heard of this place and that’s too bad because Verde Santa Fe offers up a fun and enjoyable day on the golf course with picturesque surroundings and reasonable rates.

Located about 90 minutes north of the Phoenix metro area, just 13 miles west of I-17, Verde Santa Fe is framed by the vast range of Black Hills with spectacular Mingus Mountain to the west and the captivating red rocks of Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon to the north.

The course is defined by lots of water, constant elevation changes and wonderful views at temperatures that sound heavenly to Phoenix area residents in the summer months.

Verde Santa Fe, the only design effort of Stanton McGaw, is situated at 3,800 feet above Phoenix, and nicely routed with Hogan’s Wash coming into play on three holes and several other natural arroyos providing additional challenges.

You’ll find nine water hazards on the course, in play on 11 holes, including a series of four lakes that separate the 10th and 18th holes. Verde Santa Fe has four sets of tees at 6,287, 5,895, 5,430 and 4,979 yards, with a rating of 69.3 and slope of 116 from the tips. It plays to par 71 with the back nine having three par-3 holes and two par 5s.

Length isn’t the primary issue here, evidenced by the fact that the par-5 holes measure 486, 549, 465 and 502 yards, and they play even shorter considering that the course is at altitude. The front nine ends with the longest hole on the course, a 549-yard par 5 that has a double dogleg with a wash running down the entire left side and sharp left turn from the end of the fairway to the green.

Most memorable are the adjacent 10th and 18th holes, with three small lakes separating the fairways and a larger lake between the two greens. Both are right doglegs with the par-4 10th playing at 354 yards and the par-5 18th at 502.

Verde Santa Fe has complete practice facilities and the Verde Grill serves up breakfast and lunch daily, plus dinner and live music on Friday nights. There are several nearby hotel choices that are affordable, including a Best Western, Budget Inn and Quality Inn. For those who have extra time, a side trip to historic Jerome and/or Sedona is time very well spent.

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.

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Benson Southern Arizona

Turquoise Hills Golf Course & RV Park

Arizona Golf Course List – Arizona Golf Authority Golf Course Guide

This little executive course isn’t going to challenge low-handicappers, but it is a popular place with all the golfers in the Benson area, just southeast of Tucson on I-10, not just those driving an RV who happen to be passing through.

Previously known as Coyote Hills Golf Course, it was originally designed by Gary Kay as a nine-hole regulation course and now is an 18-hole executive layout with some nice features including greens and tees that are slightly elevated. Water features include a five-tiered waterfall and it has Arizona’s only “triple green” with a single clover-shaped complex that serves as the green for three holes.

Three sets of tees are provided, 3,075, 2,740 and 2,176 yards, and resting at 3,600 feet of elevation, the golf course plays even shorter than the numbers suggest. Par is 58, with a rating of 56.5 and slope of 85.

You’ll find 14 par-3 holes and four par 4s, which measure 303, 270, 348 and 281 yards, the Par-3 holes range from 83 to 201 yards. Also on-site are a 5,000-square-foot putting green and a chipping green, but no driving range. The course also has banquet facilities and the Turquoise Bar, which is open evenings, and the Grill, which serves breakfast and lunch. Green fees are less than $30 throughout the year.

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.

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Central Arizona Mesa

Toka Sticks Golf Course

Arizona Golf Course List - Toka Sticks Golf Course - Arizona Golf Authority
Toka Sticks Golf Course

Arizona Golf Course List – Arizona Golf Authority Golf Course Guide

Arizona Golf Course List - Toka Sticks Golf Course - Arizona Golf Authority
Toka Sticks Golf Course

There is a bit of history to this Mesa facility that has evolved quite nicely since the original nine holes, known as the Williams Air Force Base Golf Course, were built around 1950 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for Air Force personnel. Some local residents also pitched in with labor in exchange for golf privileges.

A second nine, which became the back nine, was built by the Air Force in the mid-1980s and the facility opened to the public as Toka Sticks in 1993. Owned by the Gila River Indian Community, the course takes its name from an ancient tribal game similar to field hockey.

The parkland-style course is accented by stands of mature eucalyptus, Palo Verde and mesquite trees and small, tiered greens that are slightly elevated with aprons that allow for chip-and-run approaches. Water comes into play on five holes, all on the back nine, which is the more challenging and memorable of the two. There are five sets of tees, ranging from 5,185 to 6,922 yards, with a rating of 72.5 and slope of 123 from the tips.

The finishing stretch is the highlight of the round, starting with No. 12, the longest hole on the course at 569 yards with a slight left dogleg. Next up is a 219-yard par 3 over water, followed by a 324-yard par 4 with a sharp dogleg right around a lake and a stand of trees that make cutting the corner a true risk-reward adventure.

No. 15 is a 198-yard par 3 with a lake wrapping around both sides and behind the green, and the 16th is a slight dogleg right par 4 of 436 yards with three bunkers guarding the approach to the green. The round ends with a 520-yard par 5 and 456-yard par 4 to greens that are also well-bunkered.

Toka Sticks has complete practice facilities and a full service grille that serves breakfast and lunch. The course is known for having an extensive junior program and offers discount rates to junior golfers and to Arizona residents, as well as a variety of memberships and discount loyalty passes. And if you care to make a little history yourself, be advised the course record is 60.

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.

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Cave Creek Central Arizona

Tatum Ranch Golf Club

Tatum Ranch Golf Club - #7 348-Yard Par-4

Arizona Golf Courses – Arizona Golf Authority Golf Course Reviews

Designed by highly-regarded architect Bob Cupp, Tatum Ranch Golf Club opened in 1986 as a public facility but was converted to a private club in 2002 after the multi-million dollar clubhouse, complete with a swimming pool, and other enticing amenities were added.

Tatum Ranch Golf Club - #7 348-Yard Par-4

The championship layout features rolling fairways, strategic bunkering, greens that are large and undulating and plenty of native cacti, mesquite and palo verde trees. While making your loop, you’re treated to some nice views of the surrounding mountain landscape prevalent in this part of the Cave Creek/North Scottsdale area.

Despite the visually-intimidating desert transitions, Tatum Ranch is a player-friendly layout that is very accommodating to golfers of all abilities due to the generous landing areas off the tees. And with seven sets of tees, golfers are able to bite off just as much as they wish to chew that day. From the tips, the par-72 plays at 6,856 yards with a rating of 72.7 and slope of 135 and will test any skilled player’s game. The front tees are set at 5,081 yards.

The signature hole is the seventh, which happens to be the only hole where water is in play. The short, 348-yard par-4 features a lake running along the entire right side of the fairway to threaten the tee shot. The short second-shot approach is over the lake to a contoured, elevated green complex that hugs the water’s edge. It’s all about accuracy and ball control for birdie here.

Highlights on the back nine include two par-4s, the short 12th and the 18th finisher. No. 12 is drivable for big hitters at just 305 yards from the back tee, but it’s a risk-reward proposition. Mounding hides the green from the tee, and the green pitches away from you as well. A lot more birdies result from a lay-up in the left side of the fairway and a well struck wedge approach shot.

No. 18 can be a brute of a finish at 467 yards, with a slight dogleg left. Fairway bunkers pinch the fairway in the landing area and the enormous green runs away from the player; three front bunkers gobble up any second shot that comes up short, one behind grabs everything long. Par here deserves a well-earned reward in the elegant clubhouse libation area.

Tatum Ranch Golf Club offers complete practice facilities and professional instruction. The Club’s members enjoy all the amenities including casual and fine dining, fitness center, swimming pool and private locker rooms, all of which are available via a well designed variety of affordable membership programs.

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.

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Central Arizona Scottsdale

Talking Stick Golf Club – North & South Courses

Talking Stick Golf Resort and Casino in Scottsdale, Arizona
Talking Stick Resort

Arizona Golf Course Buzz – Arizona Golf Authority Golf Course Guide:

Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore built two terrific layouts for the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community at Talking Stick Golf Club. Due to their location on the reservation, water is plentiful and course conditions are lush and manicured.

The South Course is the pure application of a traditional golf course upon desert land; wide and tree-lined all-turf fairways with rough extend from tee to green. The fairways are routed around bunkers, in the traditional locations, and deliver you to raised and bunkered green complexes. No forced carries over desert or pond here, but to achieve par 71 on the 6,833-yard South Course you might consider a few.

Arizona Golf Course Guide List Directory - Talking Stick Golf Course - Arizona Golf Authority Arizona Golf Course Reviews
Talking Stick Golf Course

Messrs Crenshaw and Coore created an entirely different experience at the North Course. It’s the same piece of property, same designers, but a completely different type of golf.

The 7,133-yard par 70 North course approximates links golf in the desert. The course is mown tight and the ball runs all over the subtle contours built into the fairways. Don’t be surprised when you find your ball in a bunker you thought you couldn’t reach, or appeared to be nowhere near the spot you landed your ball. The greens take subtle to an even higher level. As your putt loses speed approaching the hole and drifts left or right, just enough to miss, you’ll realize that you need to look a little closer at that next “straight” putt.

Play them both, more that once if you have time, and revel in the rich contrast we so often find in the game called golf.