Arizona Golf Authority AZGA Arizona Golf Course Review: Trail Ridge is one of the four regulation-length golf courses among the seven courses (three are executive layouts) managed by the Recreation Centers of Sun City West.
While technically a private club, it offers limited public play, mainly during the summer months, with green fees that provide great value in the Phoenix area; members always receive preferred rates and tee times.
Designed by Billy Casper and Greg Nash, who have created many of the layouts in Arizona’s active adult communities, Trail Ridge opened in 1990 and underwent an extensive, six-month renovation project, reopening for play in October, 2011. The tees, fairways and greens all were upgraded, along with the driving range and the clubhouse.
The golf course is relatively flat but fairways offer some rolling terrain and are lined with mature trees; six lakes bring water into play on eight holes. Level par is 72 and Trail Ridge offers four sets of tees at 6,566, 6,200, 5,512 and 5,497 yards, with a rating of 71.4 and slope of 128 from the tips.
After a couple straightforward holes, things get interesting at No. 3, a 418-yard par-4 where you need to carry shots over two separate lakes. The first is in play along the left side off the tee and the second stretches down the right side of the end of the fairway and green.
Messrs. Casper and Nash crafted a nice variety of par-3 holes, including two that measure longer than 200 yards. Their best is No. 7, a 163-yard shot to a green guarded on the front, right and back by a large lake that also stretches part way down the eighth hole.
The highlight of the back nine is the 14th, where two more lakes provide the challenge. One is positioned near the end of the fairway on the right side and blocks the front of the green and the other horseshoes around the back side; tricky putting surface here too.
Trail Ridge is outfitted with full all-turf driving range, chipping and putting greens, and a snack bar with food service. Members of the Sun City West community association enjoy numerous amenities, including bowling, recreation centers, fitness facilities, a library, village store and dining. A teaching academy also is available to members with a staff that includes former LPGA Tour player Anne-Marie Palli.
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.