Arizona Golf Course Reviews
Arizona's Tubac Golf Resort & Spa: Walk in the shadows of Roy "Tin Cup" McAvoy
Long before Kevin Costner played an aspiring U.S. Open participant named Roy McAvoy in the 1996 movie "Tin Cup," the land that now occupies the Tubac Golf Resort & Spa was a major piece of Arizona history. Situated on 500 acres just 35 miles south of Tucson, the resort is a great place for a laid-back golf getaway, David R. Holland writes.
... full article »Get to know Jack Nicklaus Jr. at the Golf Club of Estrella in Goodyear, Arizona
Opened in 1999, the Golf Club of Estrella is Jack Nicklaus Jr.'s only solo effort in Arizona. The greens don't have the wild undulations that have become synonymous with the Nicklaus name, but there's no doubt the eldest son of the 18-time major champion likes to serves up a hearty portion of intimidation from the tee, just like his old man. Wes Gilbertson has more from Goodyear, Ariz.
... full article »You can see for miles -- literally -- at Raven Golf Club at Verrado just west of Phoenix, Arizona
It takes about 35 minutes to put Phoenix in the rear view mirror en route to the Raven Golf Club at Verrado. It takes approximately the same amount of time -- or even a few minutes less, if you keep your ball on the short stuff -- to climb up to the third tee and catch another glimpse of the downtown skyline. If value is important, the Raven at Verrado should be on your list of must-play Arizona golf courses.
... full article »Rio Rico Country Club at Esplendor Resort near Tucson, Arizona: Fine RTJ golf among the bygone legends of the West
They call it the Southern Heart of the Old West, and when you come to play Rio Rico C.C. and spend a few days at the Esplendor Resort at Rio Rico, your mind might just drift to a day when conquistadors traveled here along with bygone legends such as Geronimo, Pancho Villa and Billy the Kid. Located 45 minutes south of Tucson and 15 miles from Nogales, Mexico, Rio Rico is peaceful and quiet with gently rolling fairways, strategic bunkers and large, subtle greens that were challenging enough to host second state PGA Tour Qualifying four years in a row.
... full article »Padre golf course at Camelback Inn in Scottsdale, Arizona rises from the dirt -- literally
Back in 2010, the Padre Course at Camelback Golf Club in Scottsdale was a dust bowl. Something killed almost all of the fairway grass. These days, however, the fairways are lush and green, and Padre is back to what it was: A Midwestern-style parkland course located in the middle of the desert. This Arthur Hills design makes golfers think their way around the course, a quality often lost as designers try to keep up with technology.
... full article »No rest at this resort course: La Paloma C.C. in Tucson, Arizona offers plenty of challenges
La Paloma Country Club in Tucson, Ariz., is 27 holes of frustration, wayward shots and lost balls in the desert. That doesn't mean this Jack Nicklaus design is overly penal or too difficult for the average golfer. It's just that as resort courses go, it's a far tougher test than your normal layout.
... full article »Nicklaus takes on all comers at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain near Tucson, Arizona
Ritz-Carlton hotels are designed to wrap their guests in luxury and comfort. So what was Jack Nicklaus thinking when he designed the 27 holes at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain? Okay, we're kidding. But at more than 7,700 yards from the back tees, no matter which 18 holes you play it's a challenge. Still, Nicklaus kept the average golfer in mind as well, Scott Bordow writes.
... full article »Red Mountain Ranch Country Club in Mesa, Arizona: A Dyeabolical little golf course from 150 yards in
At first glance, Red Mountain Ranch Country Club looks like a course you can score well on -- it isn't very long, the landing areas off the tee are fairly generous, and there's hardly an overabundance of water and sand. But the mounding, borrowed from Scottish links courses, gives this course its bite, and the approach shots here are as difficult as any you'll face in Arizona, Scott Bordow writes.
... full article »Wigwam resort west of Phoenix, Arizona: Golf the way it used to be
It's traditional golf at Wigwam resort near Phoenix, which isn't a surprise given two of the courses were designed by the legendary Robert Trent Jones Sr. There's no desert at the Wigwam to swallow up golf balls; instead, the courses are nestled among rolling hills, parkland trees, lakes, canals and streams. It's rare in the Valley to play top-notch courses where green is the color of choice rather than desert brown.
... full article »Cream of the crop: Grayhawk Golf Club's Talon and Raptor Courses in Scottsdale, Arizona
Open since 1994, Grayhawk Golf Club's scenic Talon and Tom Fazio-designed Raptor Courses remain must-plays in Scottsdale. The golf courses are top shelf, and the amenities at the club are superb. In fact, David R. Holland writes, the Grayhawk experience is the closest you will come to a real country club atmosphere without forking over big cash just for the first payment.
... full article »- Low-handicappers light in the wallet will love the TPC Scottsdale Champions golf course
- Stadium Course at TPC Scottsdale: Still rowdy after all these years
- Original Cholla at We-Ko-Pa Golf Club near Scottsdale, Arizona is no backup to heralded Saguaro Course
- The Legacy Golf Club: Great bang for the buck in Phoenix, Arizona
- No flat lies but plenty of fun times at Kokopelli Golf Club in Gilbert, Arizona
- Hiding in plain sight: Kierland Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona offers 27 holes of urban enjoyment
- Faldo and Palmer courses at Wildfire Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona offer variety and challenge
- Dinosaur Mountain: Hang on for one wild ride at Gold Canyon Golf Resort east of Scottsdale, Arizona
- Pleasure before business: Seven Canyons golf course in Sedona, Arizona provides secluded scenery
- The Prospector at Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club east of Mesa, Arizona: A tour-quality course you can (finally) play
- Worth the trip: The Rim Golf Club in Payson, Arizona offers a luxurious experience
- Mesa, Arizona is filled with affordable East Valley courses loved by locals - like Longbow Golf Club
- With two Tom Fazio-designed golf courses and more, Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson, Arizona is the complete package
- Pinnacle Course at Troon North Golf Club in Scottsdale: Good before, even better now
- The Phoenician in Scottsdale may be short, but it's long on fun and perfect resort course conditions
- Lehman's new-school Sonoran Course gives Omni Tucson National more desert bite
- Spring training's Arizona golf Surprise: Cheap convenience in Sun Village's immaculate par 3
- From wedding hole to the members' stares, Gainey Ranch Golf Club offers something different in Scottsdale
- Renovated TPC Scottsdale Champions Course now comes with goosebumps
- Dove Valley Ranch Golf Club near Scottsdale: A tame golf course in the Wild Wild West
- Tucson's hidden Canoa Ranch: Arizona golf's big surprise
- High tech walking on the Saguaro course at We-Ko-Pa Golf Club near Scottsdale
- Laughlin Ranch Golf Course brings sizzling golf to America's hottest town
Long before Kevin Costner played an aspiring U.S. Open participant named Roy McAvoy in the 1996 movie "Tin Cup," the land that now occupies the Tubac Golf Resor [...]
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Heading to Arizona: Which Phoenix/Scottsdale golf resort is right for me?
