19th Hole: Arizona Originals

MADE IN AZ

GOLF FOODIES SAVOR THESE NATIVE DELIGHTS

It’s hard beat the Dynamite Grille at Troon North Golf Club (above) when it comes to Arizona’s most awesome 19th holes. The same could be said of Whirlwind Golf Club’s Silvik Grill, where the PBJBB (peanut butter and jelly buffalo burger) is one of a kind, complete with the club’s logo seared into the bun.

Courtesy Whirlwind Golf Club

Ever wonder how Arizona’s 19th holes stack up against those in the rest of the country? AZ is regarded as one of the top five golf destinations in America, and the state didn’t achieve that lofty status without great innovations in the kitchen and bar.

But what makes Arizona’s 19th holes unique? From time to time, AZGOLF Insider will introduce items made in Arizona that you won’t find on other golf trips. Best of all, these 19th holes are all open to the public.

Here is a sampling:

Blackened Shrimp Taco Wedge Salad

Without a doubt, Phil’s Grill at Grayhawk is one of the special 19th holes in AZ. Lefty’s lair earned that reputation based on a massive menu boasting multiple items that draw golfers to the PGA Tour superstar’s hangout. (OK, the Masters memorabilia helps, too.) Outstanding offerings like the Barn Burger, haystack fries, wraps, bowls, steaks, seafood? Yep, they’re all there.

But the item AZGOLF Insider never has seen anywhere else is the Blackened Shrimp Taco Wedge Salad ($18). Sounds like a mouthful, and it IS a magnificent mouthful: shrimp individually blackened to perfection, chilled Iceberg wedge, avocado, black beans, corn, chiles, queso fresco, fresh tomatoes and seasoned tortilla chips garnished with a chipotle ranch dressing.

Not only does it Phil fill up, it’s also healthy, and Lefty loves to be healthy. And it is not the only salad that is killer at Mick’s. The Southwest Caesar ($13) and the Super Greens Quinoa salad ($16) are firmly entrenched in the amazing category.

PBJBB (Peanut butter and jelly buffalo burger)

At first glance, this 19th-hole food item at Whirlwind Golf Club’s Silvik Grill might not seem like a tasty pairing. Wrong-o! The extra-lean buffalo burger is a perfect match when seared with the peanut butter and jelly. You see, Whirlwind’s innovative chef John Farley wouldn’t have it any other way. Farley masterfully combines ingredients for lots of exotic foods, such as Chorizo Fundido ($8, Oaxaca cheese blend, jalapenos, pico de gallo and house chips), Chicharrones ($4, house fried pork cracklins) and Borracho Nacho ($12, Manchego-nacho beer cheese, jalapenos, crema, pico de gallo and beef, pork or chicken). And he makes lot of other interesting sandwiches, like Sriracha turkey ($12) and salmon burgers ($14).

But it’s hard to look past the PBJBB, which includes fresh ground buffalo, peanut butter, Fresno pepper jelly, bacon, Cheddar cheese and onions. Keep it wild and crazy, Chef Farley!

Courtesy Troon North

Troon North Golf Club’s signature cocktail, the Prickly Pear Margarita, is in a league of its own. The same could be said of El Conquistador Golf & Tennis’ Southwest Egg Rolls, the brainchild of Chef Tony Fitch.

Courtesy El Conquistador

Southwest Egg Rolls

Tucson is well-known for its “best 23 miles of Mexican food,” but believe it or not, this isn’t Mexican food, though it easily could be. The Southwest Egg Roll ($11) is the brilliant work of El Conquistador Golf & Tennis Chef Tony Fitch, and the egg roll reference is in name only.

First the chef grabs a sack of those locally made tortillas, then wraps them around some chicken, corn and savory black beans. What is this type of food called besides “appetizer.” Turns out, Fitch calls it “New American cuisine with an international twist.” If you think about it, that makes sense.

What’s even more fantastic about Fitch’s food is that you can enjoy it while sitting on the veranda of the Overlook Restaurant, where sunsets against the mountains are magical, especially when the lights of Tucson start twinkling below. And if you really need a Mexican food fix, every Tuesday night is Taco Tuesday on the Overlook.

Prickly Pear Margarita

The professional bartenders at Troon North serve up some outstanding drinks from behind their perch in the Dynamite Grill. And there is no place in golf where it’s better to enjoy some food and a beverage while gazing out over two of Arizona’s greatest golf courses.

That view will improve if you can also sip simultaneously on Troon North’s signature cocktail, the Prickly Pear Margarita ($14). Oh, sure, others make a prickly pear, but not like they do at Troon North, where the drink really has gone into another stratosphere.

That’s because the Prickly Pear Margarita at Troon North is made with Casamigos Repo tequila ($50 a bottle), the high-end pure agave blend founded by actor George Clooney and a couple of his golf buddies. Silky smooth, the Casamigos Repo is then blended with Cointreau, prickly pear nectar, Grand Marnier and a muddled lime. It’s a cocktail that screams “Made in AZ.” n