Arizona Golf Authority AZGA Arizona Golf Course Review: Union Hills Country Club, formerly cotton fields and orange groves, gave way to a public golf course in 1974. The Club became private four years later when members took ownership and began adding an array of country club amenities.
Although located in Sun City, it’s a stand-alone property and not part of the Recreation Centers of Sun City, which has a stable of eight courses available to its residents.
Designed by Greg Nash and Jeff Hardin, designers of several courses for Arizona retirement communities, it is a player-friendly layout that is relatively flat, with narrow fairways, several elevated greens and four lakes and two creeks that bring water into play on eight holes.
Union Hills offers four sets of tees that play at 6,827, 6,293, 5,886 and 5,442 yards, with a rating of 70.7 and slope of 115 from the back tees. Virtually all of the holes run parallel to others with each nine designed in and out-and-back configuration.
The par-3 holes offer a nice variety and are the real scoring test here, playing at 210, 180, 150 and 220 yards. The signature hole is the 14th, a 375-yard par-4 that requires a carry over water to the green.
Gear up for the finishing stretch; the No. 1 handicap hole is the 16th, a dogleg 5-par stretching 540 yards. 17 and 18 are both par-4s, 400 and 445 yards, and make for a challenging finish to the round.
Union Hills has complete practice facilities with a driving range, chipping and putting greens, and other amenities include tennis courts and a swimming pool. Fine dining is available in the main dining room and members can enjoy casual fair in the Kachina Room and outdoor patio. The club has a busy social calendar and offers 10 golf and social membership options, including an unusual two-day membership.
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.