Cover Story
Raising Arizona
Troon Portfolio Offers Some of the State’s Best Golf
When I arrived in Arizona in 1981, there were approximately 50 golf courses statewide, with the majority of those being private clubs, and the rest either resort courses or municipals. In those days, no one had ever heard of high-end, daily-fee golf. But that was about to change in a most dramatic way.
Today, through the rise of dozens of golf communities, more resorts, and, yes, the birth of high-end, daily-fee golf, Arizona boasts nearly 400 courses, with over 200 located in the Valley of the Sun, a.k.a. metro Phoenix-Scottsdale. To paraphrase a line from the movie Field of Dreams: “If you build them, they will come.” And they do!
Here is a brief guide to help you plan your next visit to AZ — the “real sunshine state,” with 11 great offerings in the Troon Golf Arizona portfolio.
There is not a city in Arizona — or, arguably, in the United States — that offers more upscale public golf and posh resorts than Scottsdale. With award-winning dining, nonstop shopping experiences, Spring Training baseball, the quaint town of Old Scottsdale, and the wild-and-crazy WM Phoenix Open, a golf trip to Scottsdale is pure enjoyment.
START IN SCOTTSDALE
Troon North Golf Club should be at the top of your itinerary. The Monument Course, which was created by the late Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish, came first, with an exhilarating ride through the high Sonoran Desert near Pinnacle Peak. The Pinnacle Course, where Weiskopf went solo in 1995, offers incredible views of that well-known landmark, but is slightly tighter and testier than its older sister.
I was fortunate enough to play both courses with Weiskopf when they first opened. Every hole had a story, and no one could tell them better than Tom Terrific.
“There were a lot of copycats that followed Troon North’s concept, but the original idea, the real deal to give a private-type golf experience to the public, that was the genius behind Troon North,” Weiskopf said.
The courses both have their own look, with the common denominator being the immaculate agronomy. And you’ll certainly want to hang afterwards, as the Dynamite Grille will blow you away with tasty burgers, barbecue, and beers. Just save a few bucks for one of Arizona’s most upscale golf shops, which some say rivals a Nordstrom. And the practice facilities? They’re off the charts!
Another Scottsdale favorite is The Phoenician, which resembles a flower-laden oasis in the desert with this added thrill: golf on/around Camelback Mountain. I remember quite distinctly the first time I played The Phoenician back in 1996. That happens when you get paired with one of your childhood heroes, the late legendary Chicago Bears great Dick Butkus.
“So, what do you do?” No. 51 asked me during the NFL Alumni tournament. When I told him I was a golf writer, he responded: “That’s not a job!”
Ryan McKay, the director of golf and tennis at The Phoenician, had a similar experience when he spent part of a day with boxing great Evander Holyfield.
“We do get a lot of celebrities who come through our gates at The Phoenician,” McKay said. “There’s a lot of expectation here, and we do our best to deliver the ultimate Arizona golf experience.”
The course is essentially “brand new,” McKay added, noting that Scottsdale architect Phil Smith did an incredible job of redesigning it several years back.
“It’s not a long golf course (6,500 yards), but it’s fairly tight and challenging, and the green complexes are tough — the great equalizers that Phil put in there,” noted McKay. “But he also took out some of the water — we had a lot of that — and removed some bunkers, so it’s still a very fun day of golf every time you visit The Phoenician.”
The Westin Kierland Golf Club is another good walk not spoiled. And yes, you can walk this links-style, 27-hole layout designed by another Scottsdale architect, Scott Miller.
Nancy Dickens, general manager at Kierland, said a bunker project that was drawn out by the Covid pandemic is now complete and looking “unbelievably outstanding.”
“We removed 45 bunkers, leaving 135 bunkers total,” said Dickens, who earned degrees in both business finance and agronomy while playing college tennis for Baylor. “We still have a lot of sand, but the course just looks and plays so much better.”
Dickens said the Acacia 9, which Miller once called his “favorite if you forced me to choose,” remains the number one nine among visitors. But the recent renovations also have been a boon for the Ironwood and Mesquite nines, as Dickens said they both have a more modern, sleeker look now that some of the bunkering is gone.
“I guess the bottom line is that no matter which two nines you play, it’s a beautiful golf course that’s always in great shape,” she added. “It’s not as penal, which means it’s more fun, and we’ve still got those scenic Scottsdale vistas in every direction.”
Another thing to like about Kierland is you can stay on property at The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa. I also enjoy the pub-like Briittlebush Bar & Grill, one of the resort’s many dining offerings, including Waltz & Weiser Whiskey Bar and the Tommy Bahama Restaurant, Bar & Store.
Another Troon offering is Boulders Resort & Spa, where a recent $4 million renovation has enhanced the terrain and bunkering of the North and the South courses. But if you’ve never been here before, get ready for a shocker. In fact, just driving through the gates of this exclusive retreat is like a step back in time … to a prehistoric age. Everywhere you look are distinctive boulders of massive granite that date back to the beginning of time. According to Brandon Christensen, director of golf at Boulders, the setting is so spectacular that, once smitten, you never forget it.
“How old those rocks are is always up for debate,” Christensen said. “I’ve heard some people say a billion years, but we think it’s probably more like millions. I always go with ‘ancient’ just to be on the safe side.”
Millions or billions, it’s not the easiest thing to wrap your mind around, this stunning — almost sacred — golf property. Jay Morrish, who built and rebuilt the two courses over a period of 20-some years, did an excellent job of weaving the fairways and greens through the ubiquitous boulders.
Two holes on the South Course especially stand out — the par-5 fifth hole, that zigs and zags its way up a hill to perhaps the most photographed green setting/boulder pile in Arizona; and the par-3 seventh, which is defined by a six-story-high boulder that seems to be teetering right smack dab off the tee. Nicknamed “Rosie’s Rock,” a reference to the wife of the original developer, the late Rusty Lyon, you will never see a tee box like it anywhere else on Earth.
As you might expect, all these boulders have never looked better since the club’s sweeping renovation last year left the bunkers beautiful and the course gleaming. Adding a nice twist to the new stuff, the putting surfaces feature different grasses, as the North boasts traditional bent grass, and the South sports Tiff-Eagle Bermuda. And both are perfect!
The courses are private, but the public is invited to play, as well as stay at the resort that has earned its five stars over and over since 1969.
TOURING THE VALLEY
The metro Phoenix area, or as the locals call it, the Valley of the Sun, is equally rewarding when it comes to terrific tracks from Troon. That list tees off with one of Phoenix’s all-time favorites — Lookout Mountain Golf Club at the Pointe at Tapatio Cliffs Hilton Resort.
The late Billy Johnston, a Phoenix-based architect who once played on the PGA Tour, created Lookout Mountain after the resort lost a battle that would have rendered it the TPC Phoenix, a once-proposed home for the Phoenix Open. But in the end, the resort and Johnston bowed to environmentalists and then turned around and delivered a very playable desert/mountain layout.
So good was Johnston’s effort that after Lookout Mountain opened its doors in 1989 it immediately hosted the MONY Arizona Senior Classic on the PGA Tour Champions, which was captured by Australian great Bruce Crampton. The following year Lookout Mountain began a three-year contract hosting NBC Sports’ Skills Challenge, a made-for-TV event that starred such players as Arnold Palmer, John Daly, Chi Chi Rodriguez, Hale Irwin, Ben Crenshaw, Phil Mickelson, Tom Lehman, Weiskopf, and a kid (at the time) named David Duval.
“We’re pretty proud of that early history,” said Brett Trenter, who is the director of golf operations at Lookout Mountain. “In fact, we still have a lot of images from those days in our hallways and restaurant (Pointe InTyme).”
Besides being a golf course architect, Johnston also was a noted watercolor artist. He once told me that he built Lookout Mountain in three stretches. The first six holes were relatively flat with a lot of grass (traditional), the next six holes took off up the mountain (target), and the final six was a combination of both with water hazards along the way. Today, water only comes into play on the par-5 15th hole called “Oasis.”
“It’s a roller-coaster,” Trenter pointed out regarding the distinct six-hole rides. “And it all peaks at our signature (par-4) 10th hole, which we promote as ‘the highest tee in Phoenix.’ So, if you’re planning a golf trip to the Valley, you really need to put us on your list.”
Another course that visitors and locals alike covet is Longbow Golf Club in Mesa, which underwent an ownership change last year when it was purchased by Valley-based Thompson Golf Group. The vision of Tucson architect Ken Kavanaugh, Longbow opened its doors in 1997 and has since become an East Valley favorite.
“The previous owner (Bob McNichols) took tremendous pride in Longbow, from the golf course to the amazing all-season patio,” said Director of Marketing Shawn Lasher. “It’s a great local golf club that’s still family owned, and we’re making it a little better every day.”
“Longbow has a very deserving reputation for being a player in the Arizona golf community, and we plan to keep that going,” Lasher said. “And the course is a big part of the (330-acre, mixed-use) Longbow Business Park, which is growing all the time with new shops and hotels.”
As golf enthusiasts seek new horizons in the Arizona desert, the addition of Thompson Golf Group’s other venues is creating quite the buzz. With the recent inclusion of Dove Valley Ranch Golf Club and Power Ranch Golf Club into the esteemed Troon Card and Troon Rewards programs, golfers are in for a treat.
These two additions promise an array of golfing experiences that rival the picturesque charm and challenging layout for which Longbow is renowned. This expansion demonstrates the commitment of Thompson Golf Group to providing golfers with premium experiences.
The Golf Club of Estrella has been delivering great desert golf in the mountains since the club made its debut in Goodyear in 1999. Although the architect of record is a Nicklaus, it was Jack Nicklaus II — “Jackie” — who designed the course.
It seems like a distant dream these days, but I was lucky enough to get paired with the eldest son of the Golden Bear during the grand opening of the club. And if you think Jackie might have been full of himself, being Jack’s eldest son and all, well, it was just the opposite.
The Golf Club of Estrella is one of 18 courses designed by Jackie Nicklaus. According to General Manager Trevor Finton, Nicklaus did such a “fantastic job” that the course is “too dramatic” not to be on your must-play list.
“Once you’ve played us, we’re on your list permanently,” said Finton, who started in outside services at the course in 2004 before working his way up to general manager in 2018. “For instance, we have a group from the United Kingdom that is coming back this fall for the 23rd straight year just because they love our golf course.”
Everybody certainly loves the closing stretch — Nos. 16 through 18. Without a doubt, it is one of the best finishes in Arizona golf. The par-3 17th is especially jaw-dropping, a long-iron or hybrid from about 200 yards away to a green saddled in the rocks and saguaros with the Estrella Mountains framing the backdrop. Nice job, Jackie!
Speaking of the Nicklaus family, welcome to Sterling Grove Golf + Country Club in Surprise, which was built by Nicklaus Design for the Toll Brothers Community. Located in the foothills of the White Tank Mountains on the west side of the Valley, Sterling Grove “offers everything you want and nothing you don’t,” according to its mantra.
The club, which opened in 2021, also holds the distinction of being the newest golf course to dot Arizona’s vast golfscape. Picturesque and private, Sterling Grove is open to public play until its membership base is full, which is happening quickly. With resort-style pools, a state-of-the-art fitness and health center, three contemporary restaurants, a posh spa, and tennis and pickleball courts, there is a lot going on at Sterling Grove these days.
But it all starts with the golf course, where the lush fairways and greens cut through old farm groves, offering a departure from traditional desert tracts. Grass is everywhere, but best of all, the Nicklaus Design team did an incredible job of making every hole unique, with some of their efforts even resembling famous holes from around the world.
Another stop on your tour of the Valley should be Eagle Mountain Golf Club in Fountain Hills. The course has never looked better after undergoing a major renovation in 2021 by Troon’s agronomy and golf course development teams.
For those who crave desert golf through the mountains, it’s hard not to get swept away with the beautiful views in seemingly every direction. That is especially true coming down the stretch, as the 15th through 18th holes require your full attention. But with landmarks like Red Mountain, as well as views of the entire East Valley, it sometimes can be difficult to focus on the fairway.
Scott Miller, who built the course in 1996, once told me that Eagle Mountain requires a lot of thought, and that’s the best local knowledge I can give you. “My goal from the get-go was to try and create a golf course that was relatively easy to play, but hard to score on,” said the Scottsdale architect. “You need to be in the ‘A’ position (to make birdie or par.) At the same time, the biggest compliment we get is how much fun people have playing it. It’s a very friendly desert golf course, where you won’t get your brains beat in.”
Miller did a masterful job building the course to a dramatic conclusion, as the 17th hole (a driveable par 4) and 18th (a sweeping, downhill par 4) are both magical.
Afterwards, take a few minutes to relax and enjoy a beverage at the Grille at Eagle Mountain, where the views just keep coming.
WORTH THE DRIVE
When it comes to championship golf it’s hard to beat Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club (a 30-minute drive south of Phoenix), which began as a private club near the small town of Maricopa before being purchased by the Ak-Chin Indian Community. At 7,600 yards, you will love the feeling of playing golf in this free-flowing desert environment without a house in sight. It’s as chill as one of its designers, the laidback Freddie Couples.
General Manager Brady Wilson downplays the length, noting you can set your own challenge with six sets of tees and generous fairways that remind him of that “Aussie Sandbelt feel.” And just to make you even more comfortable off the tee, Ak-Chin Southern Dunes overseeds “wall to wall.”
“The Ak-Chin Community and Troon are committed to providing the premiere facility,” said Wilson, who has worked closely with the tribe over the years to make the course one of Arizona’s finest. And Ak-Chin Southern Dunes isn’t the only golf entertainment on site, as the course’s driving range can be transformed into a six-hole, par-3 layout known as #minidunes.
Know this about Wilson and his crew, they never rest. “It’s been a couple of very prosperous years in golf, but you’ve got to keep doing it better in order to differentiate yourself in the market,” he said. “In that regard, we’ve got a new project under way — night golf on #minidunes.
“What we’ve noticed is there’s not much night golf in Phoenix, and it’s a big deal in places like (Las) Vegas, Southern California, Florida, and the Middle East. It just adds to that fun vibe, and we plan to bring in food trucks, music, and even do some events under the lights.”
Yes, soon you’ll be able to play all day — and night! — at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes.
For those who like to make their road trips two-day affairs, head on south down Interstate 10 to Tucson, where The Club at Starr Pass features 27 holes of golf under new ownership. Lots of new ideas are in play these days, although digging up the past seems to be part of the theme, said David Loomis, the club’s new general manager.
“We’ve got a lot of history here at Starr Pass, and we’re trying to bring that back into play,” said Loomis of the reconfigured nines that roll through the Tucson mountains high above the city.
“Some people think Phil Mickelson won the (1991) Tucson Open as an amateur at Tucson National. But Lefty won it right here at Starr Pass with a most incredible finish.”
I was there, and I’ll never forget it. Mickelson made a “snow man in the desert” (a triple-bogey 8 on the 14th hole), lost the lead and then birdied two of the last three holes to ultimately prevail in a playoff at age of 20. Back then the course was called the TPC Starr Pass, and Mickelson still is the last of seven amateurs to win on the PGA Tour.
“That’s cool stuff and so it’s fun to be able to recognize these holes where it all happened,” said Loomis of what now is the fifth hole on the Rattler Nine. “Plus, this is such a beautiful setting on the border of the Saguaro National Forest, we just want people to come out and enjoy it.”
There are other amenities to savor, including the JW Marriott at Starr Pass right next door. Or if you want to enjoy some local cuisine, downtown Tucson is just a 10-minute drive away. The Old Pueblo is well known for its charming Mexican cantinas, but rather than run around town, just head to the best —
El Charro Café Downtown.
