THE 19TH HOLE

La Puesta (left), which translates into “setting sun,” is the large group venue at Fort McDowell Adventures, serving up to 1,500 patrons. It seems like the grill is always busy at FMA (below), cooking up fabulous steaks and swordfish shown here along with a multitude of other offerings. When the meats are done to perfection, they are served in a dazzling, open-air courtyard (below left).

FUN TIMES AT WE-KO-PA, FT. McDOWELL ADVENTURES

14 | AZ GOLF Insider | PREVIEW 2020 COURTESY FORT MCDOWELL ADVENTURES

When it comes to 19th hole options, We-Ko-Pa Golf Club is the host with the most — We-Ko-Pa Grille, Saguaro Grille and for those who are, well, adventurous, Fort McDowell Adventures. How does that work? With a lot of ease, as service

COURTESY FORT MCDOWELL ADVENTURES

at We-Ko-Pa always has been the club’s calling card. That starts with longtime general manager Matt Barr, who handles the traditional clubhouses on the Cholla and Saguaro golf courses.

“We really do have some unique alternatives,” said Barr, who is entering his 15th season at the highly rated facility owned by the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation. “And they are all inspired by the Yavapai culture.” The We-Ko-Pa Grille is separated from the pro shop by an open-air patio and serves up lots of 19thhole type foods like carne asada street tacos ($14) and a pound of Buffalo-styled wings ($12). Or try the We-Ko-Pa foursome that includes wings, queso dip and chips, potato skins and jalapeno corn fritters ($20). Saguaro, which is smaller but just as well done, counters with a choice of six sandwiches, the most popular being the cheeseburger ($7) and kosher dog ($5). Both are served up with some very tasty homemade chips.

And then there is Fort McDowell Adventures, which is a whole other world. Located about a mile north of the golf course off the Beeline Highway (Arizona Route 87), you will find an adult adventure park that just might be the bestkept secret in Arizona.

“It certainly is an amazing place to hold a tournament after-party or a corporate outing, or do team building,” Barr said of FMA, which offers three staging areas in La Puesta, Rosa’s Ranch and Dirty Doc’s Saloon.

La Puesta, which means “setting sun,” can hold up to 1,500 people, while Rosa’s Ranch and Doc’s are offered to smaller parties and are perfect for tournaments that range from 12 to 144 golfers. All three boast great food and drink, as well as enough activities to satisfy even the most seasoned adventurer.

That list includes tethered hot-air balloon rides, hay wagon rides, Green Zebra (off-road) rides, cowboy cookouts, horseback riding, hiking, biking, kayaking, fishing, camping, jeep tours and even cattle drives. For those who don’t mind another short drive (by car), FMA offers cruises aboard the Desert Belle tour boat on nearby Saguaro Lake.

But let’s say your party would like to stay near the food and drinks. Hey, no problem as FMA offers more activities and sideshows than you can possibly take in. That list includes Native American hoop dancers and drummers, as well as country western cowboy bands “from around these parts.” There also are strolling musicians, face painters, caricaturists, saloon girls, cowboy shootouts, fireworks, a branding booth and, yes, even a “photo bull.” Cowboy cookouts are always a popular activity at Fort McDowell Adventures even if there is just the two of you (right). Of course, if you stick around the golf club, it’s hard to beat the amazing bacon burger (below) at We-Ko-Pa. COURTESY FORT MCDOWELL ADVENTURES

COURTESY WE-KO-PA GOLF CLUB

Naturally, all of these adventures and activities come with a price. But for those who customize their package with six options or so, the bill usually comes in at about $2,350 to $3,000 for about three hours of entertainment. Or long enough to quench the needs of even the most party-hearty participants.

“I’d say if you customize your activities and select one of our lunch or dinner menus for your group, you’re probably looking at about $100 per person,” Barr estimated. “I mean the facility has so many bells and whistles, and you get a lot for that ($100 per person).” The food is delicious, a mouth-watering mix of meats, veggies, fruits and desserts that come with a lot of local knowledge, said Craig Benell, who is the head of FMA.

“Everything about Fort McDowell Adventures comes with that rich Yavapai history and culture,” noted Benell of the park that opened in 2014. “Yes, we can do those cowboy chic cookouts under the stars, but we can also do anything from lobster and steak on the grill to just your average hamburger and hot dogs — and make every one of them special.” The menus for FMA are simply off the charts. Perhaps the most popular is the amazing barbecue lunch/ dinner that includes pulled pork, smoked brisket, baby back ribs and “smoasted chicken.” What is smoasted chicken? That’s roasted chicken that is slowly smoked over a hickory fire with a tenderness that is unheard of when it comes to poultry. That lunch or dinner, which ranges from $36 to $62 per person depending on how many options are involved, comes with a smorgasbord of up to seven salads and nine sides and includes six desserts that are all homemade. You will definitely want to include the incredible a la mode cobblers that come in apple, cherry or peach. Libations also play an integral role in a fun lunch or dinner at Arizona golf’s most one-of-a-kind 19th hole, as Tequila Sheila oftentimes makes her rounds along with her pal the Beer Burro. It’s food and drink with a view, as both La Puesta and Rosa’s Ranch are pure Arizona with lots of desert flora, fauna and panorama, a theme that was initiated by the Yavapai Nation’s golf courses when they opened in 2002. n

DETAILS

We-Ko-Pa Grille, Saguaro Grille 18200 E. WeKoPa Way Fort McDowell, AZ 85264 (480) 836-9000 wekopa.com Fort McDowell Adventures 14803 N. Hiawatha Hood Road Fort McDowell, AZ 85264 (480) 789-5302 fortmcdowelladventures.com