3 minute read
Scottsdale Arizona Gem: The Boulders Golf Club
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By Chuck Fox, Owner, Quintessential Golf, Resident since 2012
Two championship courses, the North and the South, designed by Jay Morrish in the mid-1980s, are the foundation of the Boulders Golf Club. Built in the foothills of the Sonoran Desert covering 1300 acres, both courses feature scenic views of the Black Mountains, natural desert terrain peppered with native saguaro cacti and rock formations. Large mildly undulating and consistently well-conditioned greens are outstanding. It’s one of the handful of public access courses in Arizona with bentgrass greens.
Cactus Target Practice
Wildlife is abundant. You may share your round with coyote, bobcats, quail, ducks, owls, roadrunners, and a resort favorite – the pig-like javelina. The Boulders Resort itself is a high-quality Hilton property with separate rustic casitas hosting wood-burning fireplaces, a 33,000 square foot spa and a variety of desert adventure activities. It is one of only two Golf Magazine Gold Medal resorts in the Scottsdale area.
The thirty-six holes were built nine-holes at a time. Jay Morrish completed both the third nine (1984) and the final nine (1992). The Boulders is his first solo design. “The Boulders afforded me the chance to create a desert Pine Valley with a lot of forced carries for the good players,” Morrish said. Although desert carries are frequent, five sets of tees ensure that they can be reasonable if you select the correct tees for your skill level.
South Course
The South course is the newer course. Completed in 1991, it is more difficult than the North course and has multiple forced carries. If you have time for only one course, play the South. The scenery is so good that production companies film TV commercials here. Precision shot making is needed else you play with the cactus.
A 35-foot high boulder pile frames the first green and inspires the name. The Par 5 Hole #5 teeing ground delivers one of the more fabulous views on the course. A steep drive up to the elevated sixth tee reveals a dramatic view. A boulder formation curls directly around the teeing ground.
Water in Play
North Course
The North Course opened with the original lounge/restaurant in January 1984. It lacks the stunning scenery of the South. There are few difficult forced carries (from the correct tees), and the fairways are generous. But the green-side bunkering is extensive, and the longer back nine has a bite. Although this course is more playable than the South Course, it remains a significant challenge.
When you see the North Course opens with a Par 5, you think it’s an easy start. When you arrive at the first tee and see the forced carry and accuracy required, you realize this course is no picnic. It often requires careful placement of the tee shot in the fairway for the best approach.
Boulders Galore
Both courses are immaculate from tee to green. The Boulders Golf Club is a tranquil and exhilarating experience at the same time. The North Course is more playable than the South Course. The South course is more scenic and challenging. It’s not inexpensive. It’s a Troon managed course, so Troon Prive and Troon Advantage members get great discounts.
See high resolution photos and course profiles for both courses on my website at www.quintessentialgolf.com/destinations/ boulders-south/ and www.quintessentialgolf.com/destinations/ boulders-north/.
If You Go:
Course Info: The Boulders Golf Club is a semi-private club with two golf courses, the North and the South. Courses alternate between member access and public play daily.
Location: Twelve miles north of Scottsdale in Carefree, Arizona and thirty miles north Phoenix Sky Harbor airport.
Lodging: The Boulders Resort and Spa, by Hilton, is located on-site.
Quintessential Golf (https://www.quintessentialgolf.com) A source of golf travel inspiration, Quintessential Golf online magazine spotlights the most spectacular, enduring and scenic courses, resorts and golf adventures. Written from a player’s point-of-view, articles include magnificent high-resolution course images. Brought to you by Chuck Fox, single-digit golfer, writer and photographer based in Danville, California, he is fulfilling his passion and dream to play, photograph and share the romance and beauty of golf throughout North America.
