The Buzz: The Faldo course is the second of two outstanding designs at the JW Marriott Wildfire Resort and a stark contrast to the first, which was crafted by Arnold Palmer. In fact, the Nick Faldo-designed layout is a departure from just about every other course in the Valley of the Sun. With 108 large, dramatic bunkers, some of which could swallow a Volkswagen bus, high sand and turf flashings, the layout is reminiscent of Australian Sand Belt courses, such as Royal Melbourne and Kingston Heath. But don’t let it frighten you too much because, if you think your way around it, the bark is much worse than the bite. Some of the sight lines are intimidating, but it offers generous fairways, few water hazards and transition areas milder than the average desert course, making it playable for all levels of golfers. The back nine, along with the back nine of the Palmer Course, will be used to create a course for a new LPGA Tour event in March, 2011. The surrounding mountains, saguaros and desert flora make it visually appealing as well. “We wanted to create a layout that was unlike anything else in the Phoenix region,” said Faldo, who partnered with the Phoenix design team of Brian Curley and Lee Schmidt, “and I think anyone who plays here will agree that we did.” One of the plusses is the variety, with par-4 holes that range from 314 to 478 yards from the back tees and par-3s ranging from 164 to 220 yards. The par-71 layout has four sets of tees, ranging from 5,245 to 6,846 yards and is rated at 71.6 with a slope of 127 from the back tees.
The bunkering creates the kind of risk/reward style of play Faldo intended, which is evident at the 16th hole. At 316 yards, it is a reachable par-4 for big hitters off the tee, but a desert wash runs along the right side and six steep-faced bunkers surround the green. No. 15 is a 620-yard, par-5 that requires three solid shots to a slender green protected by eight bunkers. But the signature hole might be No. 2, a 408-yard par 4 with a split fairway, forcing you to decide how to avoid a row of steep bunkers right down the middle, leaving a shot to a big green that is well guarded by (you guessed it) sand bunkers. Again, if you don’t try to overpower it, this can be a day at the beach instead of a day stuck in the beach.
Afterward, there is plenty of opportunity to relax at this resort, which has won numerous awards as one of the top golf resorts in the country from Conde Nast and other publications. Wildfire Golf Club opened in 1997 with the Palmer signature course before the hotel was built and the Faldo course debuted in 2002 within a month of the hotel’s grand opening. Along with the two courses, there are two putting greens, chipping green and practice bunker, an expansive driving range, 2,500-square-foot golf shop and deluxe GPS screens on the carts with flyovers of each hole.
If you’re fortunate enough to stay at the resort, be prepared to experience luxury that includes endless recreation, the world-class Revive Spa, five swimming pools, a winding river and waterslide, state-of-the-art fitness center, 24-hour room service and 10 restaurants, ranging from the casual poolside fare at Just a Splash to elegant Italian cuisine at Ristorante Tuscany. Every day at the beach should be this good.