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.
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.