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A note from Phoenix local, Dr. Bradley H. GettlemanThe “Valley of The Sun” has an absolute plethora of wonderful public golf courses. I promise that you will have no problem finding one where you can enjoy both the beautiful mountain views and the exciting desert terrain. Most of the prominent names in golf course design have played a role in designing courses in the valley, including Jack Nicklaus, Ben Crenshaw, Tom Fazio and Robert Trent Jones. While in Phoenix your biggest dilemma will be deciding which course to play as there are over 200 to choose from. If you are interested in challenging yourself with a course played annually by the pros, the Stadium Course at TPC Scottsdale, home of the Waste Management Open and the wildest hole on the tour (the 16th), is worth considering. Another televised course, The Wildfire Golf Club at the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort hosts the RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup. The Whirlwind Golf Club, one of the qualifying sites for the Korn Ferry Tour, is a competitive track with both the Devil’s Claw and Cattail courses.
Many of the local resorts have very scenic golf courses on their properties including the Legacy Golf Resort, The Phoenician, The Boulders, The Biltmore Resort, The Westin Kierland, and We-Ko-Pa. After a round at one of these beautiful resort courses you can enjoy a wonderful meal at one of their many restaurants. Some of the resorts have multiple courses, so after lunch you can indulge in another 18 holes on a different course. All of these courses provide scenic views of the Valley, but if you venture out to Fountain Hills, Eagle Mountain Golf Club offers spectacular views from just about every hole.
Although Scottsdale is known for its golf courses, there are also some great courses in the west valley worth exploring with great views and less expensive green fees including The Golf Club at Estrella, Trilogy Golf Club at Vistancia, Raven Golf Club at Verrado and Quintero Golf and Country Club. Although a bit spread out, if you tee off early in the day these courses are close enough that you can still get in 2 rounds of golf with a lunch break in between.
If a par-3 course is more your speed, or if you just want to spend a little less time away from the meeting and practice those iron shots, consider Mountain Shadows Resort. Set in the foothills of Camelback Mountain with amazing views, this course was included in golf.com’s “Best Par-3 Courses in America”.
As a result of the arid climate in Phoenix you will not be annoyed by insects, however if you snap hook a ball way out into the desert, you may want to leave it to avoid a snake encounter while searching for your ball. With an annual rainfall of 9.2 inches, 299 sunny days per year, and late April temperatures ranging from 60 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit, the odds are very good that you will have a nice, dry, sunny day to play golf. Although in April the temperatures are still mild, it’s a “dry heat”, so be sure to stay well hydrated and bring an extra bottle or two of water as you will find little shade on some of the desert courses.
A ranking of the 10 best courses in the Phoenix-Scottsdale area can be found at golfpass.com. There are so many incredible courses in the “Valley of the Sun” that it is impossible to discuss all of them here. If you venture out on your own the odds are excellent that you will find a great track to enjoy. There’s no doubt in my mind that Phoenix is the place to be for the avid golfer.