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The Golfer’s Guide to
Spring Training in Arizona
Golf and Baseball
Turn the Double Play in the Valley of the Sun Touching Base in Tucson coloradoavidgolfer.com
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Spring 2020 | COLORADO AVIDGOLFER
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Spring Training
PHOTOGRAPH BY JUSTIN TAFOYA/CLARKSON CREATIVE PHOTOGRAPHY
Let the Swings of Spring Begin
BEARDED BOMBER: Colorado outfielder Charlie Blackmon
Spring, the traditional season of hope and rebirth, injects both golfers and baseball fans with a faith in fresh starts. That new putter is going to help you contend for the club championship just like Kyle Freeland’s comeback will deliver the Rockies (with a National League-worst 5.56 ERA in 2019) into the postseason. While both sports begin in April—the Masters is golf’s version of Opening Day—February and March let us revel in optimism. From the snows of Colorado, we head to sunny Arizona to play 18 holes in the morning and watch nine innings in the afternoon. We know neither of these games count for anything more than our own enjoyment and, perhaps, a reason always to let hope triumph over experience.
# IS IN THE NAME: Ak-Chin’s six-hole par-3 #miniDunes course offers unlimited play and costs adults $12 and juniors (17 and under) $0. Holes span 61 to 114 yards.
Southern Hospitality Catch Weezer, Dave Matthews Band and other acts, along with appearances by star MLB ballplayers at the third annual Innings Festival Feb. 29-Mar. 1 at Tempe Beach Park. inningsfestival.com COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | Spring 2020
Other courses may be more convenient to Salt River Fields, but none offers Rockies fans more than Ak-Chin Southern Dunes. Located 30 minutes south of Sky Harbor in Maricopa, this nationally ranked design by Lee Schmidt, Brian Curley and Fred Couples—which can stretch to 7,546 yards
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and annually hosts U.S. Open qualifiers—offers a number of sweet stayand-play packages with Harrah’s AkChin Casino & Resort, including one that features Rockies Spring Training tickets. Players on the team also frequent the Troon-managed course. akchinsoutherndunes.com coloradoavidgolfer.com
520.426.6827 akchinsoutherndunes.com
Golf – Tennis & Pickleball – Bocce – Pool
Proudly Managed by Troon Privé
Rio Verde is my perfect fit. “We love it here for so many reasons, like our two beautiful golf courses, gorgeous mountain views at every turn, and warm and friendly neighbors – many of whom have become wonderful friends. We’re always meeting up for a round of golf, game of pickleball, drinks and dinner, or a fabulous event at the club. We stay busy and happy. This is our paradise!” R o n & N a n c y M i l l e r
TAILORED TO YOU To learn more about making this your perfect place to live and play, contact David Benham: (480) 471.3410 │ dbenham@rioverdecc.com RioVerdeArizona.com
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Fitness
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Global Golf Benefits - TroonPrive.com
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Trails
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We-Ko-Pa Golf Club doubles down on stellar golf with its Scott Miller-designed Cholla Course and the Coore-Crenshaw Saguaro Course. Both offer breathtaking views of the McDowell Mountains, Red Mountain, Four Peaks and the Superstitions. The courses lie on Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation land that will never be commercially developed. wekopa.com
Rio Verde Country Club
Its Name is Rio TRAIL OF BEERS: Drink in the region’s craft brew scene along the Scottsdale Ale Trail. Stops include Bottled Blonde, Craft 64, Goldwater Brewing, Two Brothers Tap House, Scapegoat Bar and Vines & Hops.
COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | Spring 2020
Like the delectable cabernets and malbecs served at the Box Car Grille in its recently renovated clubhouse, the 44-year-old Rio Verde Country Club improves with each passing year. Located about 45 minutes northeast of Salt River Fields, Sloan Park and HoHoKam Stadium, this private enclave offers 36 holes of Tom Lehman-designed golf, six tennis courts (two lighted), two bocce pitches, a heated resort-style swimming pool, fitness classes and a firstrate art studio. A latticework of mountain trails invites hiking, biking and horseback riding in the adjacent Tonto National Forest and McDowell foothills. Visitors and prospective members can rent homes in the community and enjoy full golf and other club privileges. rioverdearizona.com
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The We-Ko-Pa Resort & Conference Center, recipient of 14 straight AAA Four Diamond Awards, luxuriously handles its course’s stay-and-play deals. A glorious upscale casino will open this summer. wekoparesortandconferencecenter.com
A setting for The Amazing Race, the tribally owned, 20,000-acre Fort McDowell Adventures specializes in trail rides, cattle drives, UTV Tomcar tours, intimate cookouts and more. fortmcdowelladventures.com
coloradoavidgolfer.com
UNSPOILED. UNRIVALED.
UNBELIEVABLE.
36 HOLES | PL AY SAGUARO & CHOLL A The Coore/Crenshaw-designed Saguaro course (No. 1) and the Scott Miller-designed Cholla course (No. 8) have made Golfweek’s Top-10 Best You Can Play for a decade. And you can experience both within a 3-day period with the 36-hole package. Located minutes from Scottsdale, Arizona in the pristine Sonoran Desert of the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation.
CALL 800.660.7700 OR VISIT WEKOPA.COM
AN ENTERPRISE OF THE FORT MCDOWELL YAVAPAI NATION
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Rising in the West Valley If good things do indeed come in threes, then The Wigwam in Litchfield Park is really good. Since welcoming its first guests in 1929, the venerable resort has grown to comprise 331 elegant rooms, three signature dining venues, three pools and three lush 18-hole parkland-style courses. Called “Arizona’s Monster,” Wigwam’s 7,345-yard, Robert Trent Jones-designed Gold course has hosted numerous regional qualifiers for USGA and NCAA championships, while his 6,000-yard Blue course appeals to shorter hitters and beginners. Splitting the difference, the popular 6,852-yard Red course—designed, appropriately, by Red Lawrence—features 10 holes with water and one of Arizona’s toughest closing stretches. Afterwards, recover with a golfer’s spa package at the resort’s 26,000-squarefoot LeMonds Aveda Salon. The Wigwam’s 440-acre property lies within a 10-minute drive of the Spring Training sites of the Indians, Reds, Dodgers and White Sox. wigwamarizona.com
MIX IT UP: The Wigwam offers Hybrid Golf Outings (HgO) as alternatives to standard rounds, and after 11 a.m. on weekends, it shortens one course for Footgolf.
INSIDER INSIGHTS The West Valley rocks. See a concert at AkChin Pavilion or State Farm Stadium. Catch a Phoenix Coyotes game at Gila River Arena, or the FanShield 500 at Phoenix Raceway. Want culture? Go to the West Valley Art Museum or Arizona Broadway Theatre.
Arrowhead Grill
Glendale’s glamorous outdoor Westgate Entertainment District sports 30 restaurants to fuel its shoppers. Those hungering for more intimate West Valley dining head to Arrowhead Grill, Bella Luna Ristorante or the Wigwam’s delightful Litchfield’s. COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | Spring 2020
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PLAN YOUR GOLF ESCAPE Enjoy award-winning golf courses & warm, sunny days at The Wigwam in Arizona.
TEE IT UP GOLF PACKAGE The ultimate golfing experience includes: • Accommodations • Unlimited same-day consecutive play • Daily breakfast
STICKS & STONES PACKAGE Experience our signature pampering and dining experience with this package that includes: • One-night stay • One 18-hole round of golf (per registered adult) • One $150 spa credit (per registered adult) • $50 food and beverage credit (per room, per night) Tee Times must be booked in advance. A member of our team will reach out to you within 72 hours of booking your reservation to assist with making a tee time. Dates, times & specific course are based on availability. Some restrictions & black-out dates apply. Based on availability.
GO BEYOND GOLF WITH THE WIGWAM’S OTHER EXCITING AMENITIES TENNIS
Improve your swing at our state-of-the-art tennis complex, featuring 9 lighted tennis courts among towering palm trees.
DINING
Dine at one of our three acclaimed restaurants, including our signature restaurant, Litchfield’s, showcasing seasonal farm-totable cuisine, and everyone’s favorite place to relax, Red’s Bar & Grill, to enjoy famous burgers and never ending golf course views.
SPA Treat yourself to a rejuvenating massage or facial, featuring fresh, seasonal ingredients from the on-site spa garden, at LeMonds Aveda Salon - Spa.
WIGWAMARIZONA.COM | 866.990.9316
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A superb layout, exquisite views and fab fare make Fountain Hills’ Eagle Mountain Golf Club a true delight. eaglemtn.com
Longbow Hits the Target Located in Mesa, just minutes from Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport and Old Town Scottsdale, the Ken Kavanaughdesigned Longbow Golf Club ranks as one of Arizona’s top courses—especially among the Cubs and Athletics fans who fill the tee sheets each spring. The
superb 7,050-yard, par-71 layout opens with a monster par 5 that tips out at 626 yards, and closes with a 556-yard three-shotter. You can surf all 18 holes on a Golfboard for $25, and cool off with the misters that keep things chill on The Grille’s patio. longbowgolf.com
SCORE AN EAGLE: Stay at the 37-suite Inn at Eagle Mountain until March 31 and get 25% off the rate and $20 per day for breakfast at the golf clubhouse. innateaglemountain.com
Your Perfect Arizona Golf Experience Awaits!
BREATHTAKING SCENERY • GREAT CONDITIONS • EXCEPTIONAL VALUE
Book a Tee Time When You Visit Scottsdale! (480) 816-1234 • eaglemtn.com COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | Spring 2020
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GOLF
LEAVE YOUR CLUBS AT HOME Longbow Golf Club features premium rentals SPRING TRAINING FANS
Reserve a full set for your next round of golf! All rentals include 6 Callaway premium golf balls
• Gen 1 & Gen 2 irons - available in (P) performance and (XP) Xtreme Forgiveness models • Choose 1 of 8 putter models to fit your preference • Epic Flash woods and Rogue irons available men's & ladies’ right or left handed regular or stiff flex sets
• G410 woods and irons available men's right or left handed regular or stiff flex sets; G Le2 woods and irons available ladies’ right or left handed regular ALLIGA or stiff flex sets T
LON
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Home of ®
The Essence of Arizona Golf ™
5601 East Longbow Parkway • Mesa, AZ 85215 RESERVATIONS at 480.807.5400 • ONLINE www.longbowgolf.com
Another Daedalus Development. Professionally managed by
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Discover the best-kept secret in Southern Arizona 45 minutes from Tucson. Located on the site of a historic Spanish Colonial ranch, Tubac Golf Resort & Spa sports 98 distinctive luxurious suites and guest rooms, 27 holes of golf, a world-class spa and restaurant, and the distinction of having some of the best scenes from Tin Cup filmed on property. tubacgolfresort.com Arrive early for Spring Training and head to Tucson Feb. 28-Mar. 1 for the PGA TOUR Champions Cologuard Classic (won last year by Mark O’Meara) at the Omni Tucson National Resort. cologuardclassic.com
Westin La Paloma
Where They Played 18 For the first 18 years of their existence, the Colorado Rockies and their fans would head each spring to Tucson, where the team played at Hi Corbett Field and the faithful could go tee off practically next door at the municipal Randolph Park or 17 miles up the road at Omni Tucson National—both of which had hosted the PGA TOUR’s Tucson Open. They also frequented the 27-hole resort facilities at JW Marriott Starr Pass and Westin La Paloma.
COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | Spring 2020
Although the Rockies may now train 125 miles north, those stellar Tucson courses, as well as the ones at Sewailo and Ventana Canyon remain less than a two-hour drive—and a world away— on I-10. visittucson.org/golf
COME HUNGRY: The first UNESCO City of Gastronomy in the United States, Tucson also touts itself as having the best 23 Miles of Mexican food in the U.S. Dig into why. visittucson.org/ food-drink
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The oft-photographed par-3 third on the Tom Fazio-designed Mountain Course is just one of many pieces of eye-candy at the plush Lodge at Ventana Canyon. The 35 other holes, 50 suites and spa are very sweet, too. thelodgeatventanacanyon.com coloradoavidgolfer.com
CHANGE OF
COURSE
Golf in Tucson means a break from the average links. Challenge your game on daring desert layouts or hit it long on fairways that host the champions.
Whatever your style, Tucson has it in the bag.
Find Your Course At VisitTucson.org/Golf
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Extra Holes Come spring, baseballs and golf balls fly all over the Valley of the Sun. This map and key reference the courses* near each Cactus League stadium. No ballpark lies more than an hour’s drive from another; nor do most courses from most stadiums. A. CINCINNATI REDS & CLEVELAND INDIANS Goodyear Ballpark
D. LOS ANGELES DODGERS & CHICAGO WHITE SOX Camelback Ranch
1933 South Ballpark Way, Goodyear goodyearbp.com; 623-882-3130 Courses: Wigwam, Estrella, Tres Rios at Estrella Park, Palm Valley, Verrado
10710 West Camelback Rd, Glendale camelbackranchbaseball.com; 623-302-5000 Courses: Wigwam, Palm Valley, Sun City, Sun City North, Verrado
B. TEXAS RANGERS & KANSAS CITY ROYALS Surprise Stadium
E. MILWAUKEE BREWERS Maryvale Park
15850 North Bullard, Surprise surprisespringtraining.com; 623-222-2222 Courses: Wigwam, Coyote Lakes, Hillcrest, Rancho de los Caballeros, Cimarron, Trilogy at Vistancia, Wickenburg Ranch
C. SEATTLE MARINERS & SAN DIEGO PADRES Peoria Sports Complex
16101 N. 83rd Ave., Peoria peoriasportscomplex.com; 800-677-1227 Courses: Quintero, Trilogy at Vistancia, Sun City West (7 courses), Westbrook Village
3600 N. 51st Ave., Phoenix phoenix.gov/sports; 800 933-7890 Courses: Papago, Raven Phoenix, Verrado
F. LOS ANGELES ANGELS Tempe Diablo Stadium
2200 W. Alameda Dr. Tempe tempe.gov/diablo; 888-796-HALO Courses: Ak-Chin Southern Dunes, Papago, Raven Phoenix, The Legacy, Wild Horse Pass
G. SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS Scottsdale Stadium
7408 E. Osborn Road, Scottsdale scottsdaleaz.gov/stadium; 877-473-4849 Courses: We-Ko-Pa, Camelback, McCormick Ranch, McDowell Mountain, The Phoenician, Westin Kierland
H. COLORADO ROCKIES & ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS Salt River Fields at Talking Stick
7555 N. Pima Rd, Scottsdale saltriverfields.com; 480-270-5000 Courses: Ak-Chin Southern Dunes, Eagle Mountain, Rio Verde, We-Ko-Pa, Talking Stick, Troon North, Grayhawk, McCormick Ranch, The Boulders, TPC Scottsdale, Wildfire
I. OAKLAND ATHLETICS Hohokam Stadium
1235 North Center Street, Mesa hohokamstadium.com; 480-644-4451 Courses: Longbow, We-Ko-Pa, Arizona Grand, Papago, Raven-Phoenix, Superstition Springs, The Legacy, Whirlwind
J. CHICAGO CUBS Sloan Park
2330 W. Rio Salado Pkwy, Mesa sloanpark.com; 800-THE-CUBS Courses: Ak-Chin Southern Dunes, Longbow, We-Ko-Pa, Arizona Grand, Papago Park, Raven Phoenix, Superstition Springs, The Legacy, Whirlwind, Las Sendas
*Courses advertising in this section appear in italics.
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