DRIVING FORCE: How golf helps VANCE JOSEPH coach the Broncos
Elevating the Game.
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DESERT MOUNTAIN
With six Nicklaus courses and limitless leisure options, Scottsdale’s famed golf community couldn’t possibly get better. Or could it?
A SHOW of HANSE
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The Mountain is Calling...
...and you must go—to Desert Mountain, Arizona’s premier golf community. EVER SINCE OPENING its gates in 1986, Desert Mountain has defined the upscale Arizona snowbird lifestyle. Occupying 8,000 acres—an area twice the size of Cherry Hills Village—this luxury master-planned community comprises seven percent of the city of Scottsdale. It remains the only club in the world with six Jack Nicklaus Signature Courses. In addition to enjoying distinguished architecture and 108 holes of championship golf, members can dine at one of the community’s nine restaurants; serve and volley on their choice of clay, hard court or Wimbledon-quality grass; and rejuvenate in the 42,600-square-foot Sonoran Fitness, Tennis and Spa Center that recently underwent a $12 million renovation.
COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | Fall 2017
They can also hike, bike, run or walk on the property’s 15-mile award-winning private trails system, which consists of seven segments, each varying in degree of difficulty, leading into the adjacent Tonto National Forest and up the scenic eastern slope of the Continental Mountains. “Desert Mountain is built around golf in its heritage, but they’ve built a community that has something for everyone,” says one Cherry Hills Country Club member whose family joined Desert Mountain seven years ago. “The more time I spend down there, the harder it is to leave.” It’s easy to see why. COMMUNITY-MINDED Desert Mountain may have “something for every-
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one,” but the enormity of the development—1,850 equity golf members and 2,300 properties (1,800 homes, 500 sites) in 32 subdivisions—can intimidate some prospective members. “With the size and scope of the offerings at Desert Mountain, there can be a perception that it can be a bit overwhelming,” Director of Membership Sales Nicole Forbes says. “The people here are very welcoming. We make sure everybody finds their niche.” A member services team coordinates events and programming and serves as a personal concierge “to ensure that each and every member’s needs are met no matter what the request may be,” according to Director of Member Services Kathy Wyckoff.
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Wyckoff’s group regularly arranges onproperty glamping (tents with running water, queen beds and wood floors), four-wheeling, horseback rides and even grocery delivery and 50-minute rides to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. That team also manages the more than 30 social clubs to which Desert Mountain members belong. They range from bridge, poker and mahjong to hunting, running, biking, motorcycling, gardening and more. Authors, artists and experts in health and other topics regularly present to eager audiences. The programming is extensive. Daily events pack the calendar. From October to May, the club hosts an 18-event Dinner Series highlighted by a Glenfiddich Single Malt Dinner, Tequila and Mescal Taco Dinner and wine dinners featuring Silver Oak/Twomey, Duckhorn, Mondavi, Darioush and other fine wineries. Desert Mountain also enjoys a tradition of ladies-only Bella Constantina dinners featuring foods and wines from specific parts of the world. The food and wines prepared and served at Desert Mountain’s nine restaurants rival those at any eatery in dining-rich Scottsdale. To ensure this, the club in April hired as its Director of Culinary Operations Bertrand Bouquin, who during his 12 years as executive chef at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs opened the award-winning Summit and elevated Penrose Room to Mobil 5 Stars and AAA 5 Diamonds.
A MOUNTAIN OF HEART In addition to kicking back, Desert Mountain members enjoy giving back. Desert Mountain boasts a number of grass-roots charities. The Desert Mountain Community Foundation raises funds to provide college scholarships for employees and their families. CARE has raised millions for cancer research over the past 15 years. And that aforementioned 15-mile trail network? It was paid for and is immaculately maintained by the Desperados, a lime green-shirted brigade of members that raises funds to protect, promote and enhance Desert Mountain’s outdoor recreation experience. Further evidence of this altruistic spirit came this September when Desert Mountain CEO Damon DiOrio organized Clubs Helping Clubs, an initiative involving 12 private clubs whose staff and members collected more than 250 boxes of donated food, clothing, water, cleaning supplies, diapers and other necessities that Desert Mountain staff delivered to their club peers in the Houston area. There’s something for everyone, but no pressure to do any of it. “You can be as engaged or as secluded as you want,” says another Colorado-based member. “It’s the best of both worlds.” DISNEYLAND FOR GOLFERS “I’d never seen a more beautiful place in my life,” PGA Director of Golf Mike Scully remembers thinking when he interviewed for the job he got at Desert Mountain five years ago. For
perspective, the club he left wasn’t exactly Bushwood; it was the illustrious Medinah Country Club. Scully now oversees what Membership Director Forbes calls “Disneyland for Golfers.” The description is apt. Each of the six courses—Cochise, Geronimo, Chiricahua, Outlaw, Apache and Renegade—is a unique and thrilling ride. The property’s four dual-sided ranges let you practice every conceivable lie. The Jim Flick Performance Center features six bays: four for high-tech instruction; one for custom clubfitting with master clubfitter Chris Heasley; and one for a Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) Fitness assessment so the TPI trainers in the Sonoran center can customize a regimen. THE COURSES Each course has its own practice area, as well as a distinct layout and clubhouse—complete with restaurant and shopping—except for Cochise and Geronimo, which share a large Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired clubhouse. Cochise, perhaps the best known of the bunch, hosted The Tradition, a PGA Tour Champions major, from 1989 to 2001, as well as four of the last five Charles Schwab Cup Championships. Geronimo, a visually intimidating layout that rollercoasters around boulders and through ravines, rates as Desert Mountain’s toughest test, according to Scully. The northernmost of the courses, Chiricahua features an Old World-inspired clubhouse
THE LONG VIEW: The 10th on Renegade overlooks the valley and distant mountains.
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Fall 2017 | COLORADO AVIDGOLFER
that perches above 18 spectacular holes and houses Constantino’s, arguably Desert Mountain’s finest restaurant. On the southeastern side of the property lies Apache, a popular course among women and late-afternoon couples because of its lack of forced carries. But it’s no cupcake from the back tees, from which the club championship is decided every year. The newest course, Outlaw, opened in 2003 beyond the gates on the property’s eastern edge. Featuring views of Pinnacle Peak and the Tonto National Forest, this “desert links” is unencumbered by real estate and favors better players and creative shotmakers. Nicklaus opened the oldest of the six, Renegade, in 1986, “right after he’d won the Masters,” Scully notes, “and he shot an 83 here in his first round.” Renegade also earned notoriety because, in addition to the usual range of teeing areas, each hole has two sets of greens—the white greens eliminate a number of the forced carries over waste areas and bunkers. “It can play 4,000 to 8,000 yards,” Scully says. “Everyone from the beginner to the most accomplished player can get around.” A SEVENTH COURSE They should be able to get around even better once the premieres an upgrade of the course on Super Bowl Sunday, 2019. Also on that day, a little southwest of Renegade, Desert Mountain will unveil an 18-hole par-3 course designed by Bill Brownlee and Wendell Pickett, the same team that designed the highly acclaimed 9-hole Li’l Wick Par 3 at Wickenburg Ranch and Social Club 70 miles to the west. A par 3 from the back tees, the as-yet-unnamed course can double as a putting course from the front tees. Adjacent to the course will stand a new indoor-outdoor clubhouse, featuring bocce, cornhole, firepits, music and other elements conducive to what has come to be known as “the hang.” The par 3 will bring the total number of courses to seven—and the number of members potentially to 2000, attracting new blood with
PERFECTING PRACTICE: One of the six high-tech bays at the Jim Flick Performance Center.
COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | Fall 2017
FOOD WITH A VIEW: The Chiricahua Grill overlooks the course and beyond.
a more relaxed, accessible approach to golf and the Desert Mountain lifestyle. MEMBERSHIP DRIVE Another huge attraction is a new 30-day Trial Preview Membership. For $3,000, you and your family can become Desert Mountain members for 30 days. Participants can rent a house on property and enjoy the same access and privileges as full golf members. If, after the 30 days, you decide to join, the $3,000 applies to your initiation deposit. Should you opt not to join, you’ve had a month of amazing golf, dining, spin classes, hikes and stargazing beneath the inkblack desert sky. Members have owned Desert Mountain since 2011, with the market-based initiation fee for an equity golf membership currently trending in the $40,000 range. Monthly dues run $1,510 and the annual food and beverage minimum is $2,000, which can be met at any of the restaurants, beverage carts, commissary or even the mobile chef who makes his rounds on the golf courses and new pickleball and croquet facilities. Members are no longer required to own property in Desert Mountain, although home purchases occasionally come with a membership folded into the price. Properties range from 2,500-square foot lock-and-leave adjoining townhomes in the mid-$600s to $10 million estate homes. The average lot size for a single-family home ranges from one to 10 acres. There are roughly 500 vacant homesites and 150 homes being built, remodeled or on the market. Desert Mountain itself is going through a slight remodel. The place that once boasted the hardest courses in Arizona now promotes the USGA/PGA’s Play It Forward initiative and is building a Par 3 course with piped-in music. Spinning, Zumba, yoga and Pilates classes fill the new Sonoran studio spaces. And a triathlete, Mirinda “Rinny” Carfrae, not a golfer, has become its resident touring professional.
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BIKE AND BIVOUAC: Desert Mountain’s 8,000 acres include 15 miles of trails and numerous glampsites.
Yet the club still logs 145,000 rounds a year and remains a golfer’s dream. “My wife and I looked at numerous, more traditional clubs in the area, and there was just no comparison,” one Denver-based member explains. “From the variety of golf courses and restaurants to the facilities and community, Desert Mountain really is world-class and all-inclusive. Plus, you can’t beat the convenience from Denver.” For more information, visit desertmountain.com or call 480-595-4110 coloradoavidgolfer.com
TRAVEL guide SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
2017
ARIZONA | NE VADA | UTAH
serenity
Welcome to
Courses, resorts, spas and other paths to discovering bliss in the desert
Boulders Resort & Spa, Curio Collection by Hilton
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Fall 2017 | COLORADO AVIDGOLFER
CONTENTS
An Experience...
that Truly Represents Golf in the Arizona Desert
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ARIZONA 42 Scottsdale/Phoenix A curated selection of resorts, destinations, developments, activities, restaurants and golf courses in the Valley of the Sun.
54 Tucson
There’s nothing “old” about the Old Pueblo. It rocks in every way. So do nearbyTubac and Marana —all hubs of great golf, lodging and culture.
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NEVADA 60 Mesquite
Surreal golf, fun casinos, fine food and abundant natural beauty waits 90 minutes from Las Vegas.
68 Summerlin
A trifecta of stellar courses and stay-and-play deals proves the TPC isn’t the only game in town.
UTAH 70 St. George
480-488-0398 5734 E. Rancho Manana Blvd Cave Creek, AZ 85331 www.RanchoManana.com COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | Fall 2017
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Golf along the Red Rock Trail is nothing short of spectacular— and trips to the nearby canyons are pretty sweet, too. coloradoavidgolfer.com
ALWAYS DRIVING
Talking Stick Resort offers plenty of thrills on and off the links. Start your day with championship courses that feature stunning desert scenery. After your rounds, enjoy award-winning gaming and dining options. Relax in our world-class spa and luxurious accommodations for a break from the action. You can always find a way to play— and golf is just the beginning. Best Golf Resorts for a Group Getaway - USA Today 10 Best
S C O T T S D A L E | 8 6 6 . 8 7 7. 9 8 9 7 | TA L K I N G S T I C K R E S O R T.C O M L o c a l l y o w n e d a n d c a r i n g l y o p e r a t e d b y t h e S a l t R i v e r P i m a - M a r i c o p a I n d i a n C o m m u n i t y.
Art. Brought To Life.
Desert Highlands isn’t just about where you live, it’s about how you live. It has often been said that life imitates art. At Desert Highlands, there is no imitation. Desert Highlands has always been a beautiful place to live. And a world class country club.
Welcome to Desert Highlands. Let the celebration begin. Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf | 13 Tennis Courts with Grass, Clay or Har-Tru 18-Hole Putting Course | Central Location | Award-winning Clubhouse 7,000 sq. ft. Fitness Center 10040 East Happy Valley Road, Scottsdale, Arizona 85255 480-419-3745 | www.deserthighlandsscottsdale.com
ARIZONA
scot tsdale / phoenix
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Talking Stick
Desert Highlands
SNOWBIRDS have flocked to Desert Highlands ever since the gated enclave opened at the base of Pinnacle Peak
in 1983, the year it hosted the first of two televised Skins Games featuring Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus, who designed the 7,072-yard course. A total of 560 homes fill the idyllic 850-acre development, and they range from $800,000 to $2 million—important to know because only Desert Highlands property owners can become members. In addition to golf, there are four grass, six clay, and three hard tennis courts; as well as a spa, fitness center, gourmet restaurant, outdoor pool and three-mile trail network. deserthighlandsscottsdale.com
Eat & Drink SCOTTSDALE’S craft-brewing scene is pouring the
Making It Stick STAYING: With two golf courses, 497 guest rooms, six restaurants, a 240,000-square-foot casino, 13,000-square-foot open air spa and 20 cabanas (with misting systems) around three pools, Scottsdale’s Talking Stick Resort has everything—including big-name entertainment at the Showroom. Atop the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community-owned resort sits the fine-dining Orange Sky Restaurant and O Lounge, which feature more than 300 wines to pair with the award-winning cuisine and stunning sunsets. talkingstick.com PLAYING: The names of the two courses may have changed, but 36 holes of memorable golf still await at Talking Stick Golf Club’s links-style O’odham (née North) and tree-lined Piipaash (South) courses, designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. The facility celebrates 20 years in 2017. talkingstickgolfclub.com COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | Fall 2017
competion on Denver’s. Craft 64, a pizzeria in a historic home, taps its own blondes, IPAs and wheat beers. McFate Tap & Barrel’s Porch Pilz German-style lager is great at Sunday Brunch. You can’t go wrong with Four Peaks Grill & Tap’s six-time World Beer Cup medalist Kilt Lifter. The sour ales at Two Brothers Tap House & Brewery rock, and no beer lover should miss Goldwater Brewing’s Desert Rose, which is brewed with real cactus fruit. experiencescottsdale.com
NEARLY 800 restaurants pepper the Scottsdale
landscape. Among the best is the award-winning FnB, whose co-owner, Pavle Milic, curated the first Arizonaonly wine program. His favorites include the 2013 SandReckoner W, 2014 Rune Wild Syrah, 2014 Saeculum Cellars Viognier, 2015 Los Milics Hannah’s and the 2009 Dos Cabezas El Campo. fnbrestaurant.com
SANCTUARY ON Camelback Mountain is even more tranquil than it sounds. Renowned for its private luxury casitas and newly renovated Sanctuary Spa, the resort serves as home base to celebrity chef Beau MacMillan, who dishes up farm-fresh American Cuisine with Asian accent at elements. sanctuaryoncamelback.com
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Four Peaks Grill & Tap
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Insta
GOLF
AND SO MUCH MORE
• Two championship golf courses and an innovative par-3 course • Tennis, Pickleball and Bocce courts, exercise facilities, art and dance studios, hiking and biking trails, and much more • Access to over 250 courses worldwide with our Troon Privé & Advantage Programs. • Custom homes on large lots priced from $350,000 to $1.5 million
To Learn More About Rio Verde’s Welcoming Lifestyle 480.471.7010 | 1.877.746.8373 r i o v e r d e a r i z o n a . c o m /a v i d membership@rioverdecc.com
ARIZONA
scot tsdale
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Troon North
Top Shelf NORTH STAR: Stretching through the natural ra-
vines and boulder-strewn foothills of Pinnacle Peak, Troon North Golf Club’s Pinnacle and Monument courses remain the hallmarks of daily-fee desert golf. Designed by Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish—with some sweet recent remodeling work by Weiskopf —the 27-year-old flagship of the Troon empire represents the apex of the brand. troonnorthgolf.com Ak-Chin Southern Dunes
SOUTHERN EXPOSURE: Employing creative routing, native grasses and rugged, unbridled landforms, archi-
tects Lee Schmidt and Brian Curley, along with popular Tour player Fred Couples, created this homage to the great sandbelt courses of Australia 40 miles south of Scottsdale. Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club sprawls across 320 acres of the Ak-Chin Indian Reservation in Maricopa and Golfweek and Golf magazines rank it among Arizona’s top daily-fee golf courses. No traffic or homes intrude on the 7,546-yard experience. The Arroyo Grille turns out mojo pork street tacos and frybread “popovers.” Troon Golf manages the upscale facility. golfsoutherndunes.com
Cowboy Up LOOK FOR the cutout cowpoke with the red shirt and
lasso on Scottsdale’s Main Street. Then push through the swinging doors into the Rusty Spur Saloon, a Scottsdale institution since 1951. Line-dancing and two-stepping to all forms of country and western music rattle the rafters in this shrine to good times. The barstools get funnier the longer you’re at the bar. rustyspursaloon.com
MORE THAN a collection of leather chaps and arrowheads, Scottsdale’s Museum of the West opened in a sleek wood-and-steel building in 2015. Current exhibits include the must-see Rennard Strickland Collection of Western Film History and 100 years of artist impressions of the Grand Canyon. Permanent exhibits contain artifacts, paintings and instruments of trailblazing and conflict resolution.scottsdalemuseumwest.org
SADDLE UP at MacDonalds Ranch. The premier Rusty Spur Saloon
COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | Fall 2017
Scottsdale stable specializes in individual, group and moonlight horseback and stagecoach rides, cookouts and more. macdonaldsranch.com
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Rio Verde
ITS NAME IS RIO: Part of the exclusive Troon
Privé network of clubs, Rio Verde Country Club tucks into the trail-rich McDowell foothills at the edge of the Tonto National Forest. The club features the challenging White Wing and Quail Run golf courses, two pickleball and two bocce courts, tennis, fitness and stables. The clubhouse food is superb. Members in the 42-year-old ungated community are welcoming and unpretentious. Try a Rio Verde Discovery package to find out for yourself. rioverdearizona.com coloradoavidgolfer.com
TEE IT UP
AT T R O O N N O R T H G O L F C L U B
“#1 ranked course you can play in Arizona”–Golf Magazine 2016 Come experience both of Troon North’s Monument and Pinnacle courses for the best desert golf in Arizona. Please visit www.TroonNorthGolf.com for best available rates and 36-holes packages. After your round, stop in at the Dynamite Grille where you can enjoy great food with a view. Use Promo Code “Dynamite10” online or by phone and get 10% off the already best available rate through 2017.
SCOTTSDALE, AZ
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T R O O N N O R T H G O L F. C O M
T R O O N N O R T H G O L F C L U B I S M A N A G E D B Y T R O O N G O L F,® THE LE ADER IN UPSCALE GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT
C A L L 4 8 0.5 85.7700 OR V ISI T T ROONNOR T HGOL F.C OM U S E P R O M O C O D E “ D Y N A M I T E 10 ” T O B O O K T O D AY
ARIZONA
scot tsdale / phoenix
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Wickenburg Ranch Golf and Social Club
Tonto Verde
MANY CONSIDER the greens at Tonto Verde Golf Club to be the finest in the area. Roll a few on the club’s Peaks
and Ranch courses and see if you agree. Situated in a 717-home gated community adjacent to the Tonto National Forest, the 7,004-yard Ranch and tighter 6,733-yard Peaks both claim Gary Panks and David Graham as designers. Both welcome the public—as does Tonto Verde’s Mesquite Grill. Members enjoy a fitness center, pool, saddle club and artist’s league. The debt-free community currently offers a $795 four day/three night couples Discovery Package that includes two rounds of golf, dinner, use of a luxury townhome, bikes and copius amenities. tontoverde.com
Hike & Bike Golf in Two Hours or Less... PARADISE VALLEY: The resurgent Mountain Shadows Resort this spring debuted The Short Course at Mountain Shadows, an upscale 18-hole par-3 layout designed by Forrest Richardson, who worked with Jack Snyder on the original course in the 1960s. Holes range from 75 to 193 yards from the tips, with challenges galore. Golf Inc. rated it 2017’s “Renovation of the Year.” mountainshadows.com/golf WICKENBURG: Li’l Wick, the short course at WIckenburg Ranch Golf and Social Club comprises nine huge greens pivoting around a small lake and The Watering Hole. Speakers pump tunes into every green complex and five holes are lit up for night golf. The concept has proved so popular that Desert Mountain hired the designers to create an 18-hole version to bring its course total to seven. wickenburgranch.com COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | Fall 2017
THE 1.75-MILE Pinnacle Peak Trail, a wide mani-
cured path that clambers up and over the shoulder of one of Scottsdale’s most distinctive formations, thrusts up and down through a blend of saguaro, cholla, ocotillo, creosote and more. Rewards come at two overlooks with benches, not at the top, which is for experienced rock climbers only. The trail isn’t a loop, so you get to double your fun coming down. experiencescottsdale.com
A TRAIL MIX, from easy to difficult, can be found
in the superb Hiking and Trail Guide available at the Scottsdale Tourist Information Center in Fashion Square. Among the recommendations is the 30,200-acre McDowell Sonoran Preserve, where five trailheads lead to a latticework of two-footed adventures such as the Granite and Cholla Mountain loops, Tom Thumb’s Trail and Sunrise Trail to Sunrise Peak. experiencescottsdale.com
ADVANCED RIDERS looking for the most rigorous
terrain should hit the steep Gateway Loop or the technically demanding National Trail at South Mountain. For gentler rides, head to McDowell Mountain Park’s popular 15-mile Pemberton Loop, Desert Park and Coachwhip Trail. 360 Adventures, among other outfitters, provides exhilarating tours for all levels. 360-adventures.com
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McDowell Sonoran Preserve coloradoavidgolfer.com
Take Tonto Verde AZ for a Test Drive Two 18-hole championship golf courses surrounded by breathtaking mountain views Custom homes or townhomes available in a gated community Join 80 of your fellow Coloradans that own and golf here!
Discover Package $795 • 4 days/3 nights in luxury townhome • An electric golf cart and two mountain bikes included • Golf for 2 on both of our championship courses • Tour and use of the clubhouse, fitness center, pool • $100 gift card to our award winning Mesquite Grill and spa This package is for couples considering a purchase in the next 1-2 years.
For Details Call (855) 405-4340 or Visit TontoVerde.org
ARIZONA
Arizona Real Estate
scot tsdale / phoenix
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Are you thinking about living in a warmer climate in winter? Whether your passion is Golf, Tennis, Hiking, Cycling, Fine Dining or Desert Sunsets, you simply have to experience Scottsdale and Phoenix. Arizona home values can be exceptional and include many property types: • Golf Course Properties • Patio Homes / Condos • Single Family Homes • Investment Opportunities • Vacation Homes As a former Coloradan, I have represented buyers and sellers from Colorado in Arizona since 2010. Let me show you the opportunities that are available! To learn more about owning real estate in our beautiful Sonoran Desert, please contact me by phone, email or visit my website. Your CO / AZ Real Estate Connection www.desertfinehomes.com
Wayne Little, Realtor
The Boulders
NAMED THE BEST HOTEL in Arizona this year by the readers of Travel+Leisure and Best Course in the
Southwest (2016-2017) by Golf Digest, The Boulders recently unveiled an exquisitely appointed new clubhouse that further elevates the golf experience in this jaw-dropping natural landscape. Guests can play two award-winning Jay Morrish-designed golf courses and can make use of the club’s certified caddie professionals who know the intricate tricks and challenges of the North and South layouts. The Boulders also offers memberships, with access to all hotel amenities, including the 33,000-square-foot spa, six restaurants and eight-court tennis gardens. theboulders.com
Ways to Play PLAYER-FRIENDLY: Rancho Mañana Golf Club,
located in historic Cave Creek, features a highly scenic, superbly conditioned par-70 layout ranked by Golf Digest as one of the Top 50 Courses in the Country for Women. Challenges abound in the form of water, washes and elevation changes. The resort includes luxurious 1,500-square-foot casitas, a full-service European style spa, expansive outdoor swimming pool and the award-winning Tonto Bar & Grill. ranchomanana.com
CAREFREE IN CAREFREE: The Boulders Resort
boasts 160 newly renovated casitas and villas with wood-burning fireplaces, private patios and many border the two golf courses. Outdoor adventures such as rock climbing, desert hikes, horseback rides, bicycling, jeep tours and hot air balloon rides take place right on the resort’s 1,300 acres. theboulders.com
TALE OF TWO CITIES: Neighbors Cave Creek and
(480) 532-5479 wayne@desertfinehomes.com COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | Fall 2017
Carefree provide a delightful yin-yang experience. The former has a charming Frontier Town that exudes its rugged history, complete with saloons and general stores. The latter, as its name suggests, is more “new west” with boutiques, galleries, and a pedestrian thoroughfare called, yes, Easy Street. carefreecavecreek.org
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Rancho Mañana
coloradoavidgolfer.com
Named “Best Hotel in Arizona” – Travel + Leisure magazine
Take Desert Golf to the Next Level
Experience challenging play in the sun-splashed atmosphere of the Boulders Club, featuring two Jay Morrish-designed champion courses sculpted into the natural terrain of the high Sonoran foothills. Golfers can tee off atop a boulder, look out over fairways framed by ancient saguaros and catch a glimpse of desert wildlife darting into the rough at this award-winning golf resort. Afterwards, take in the million dollar views from the new golf club patio.
480.488.9009 | theboulders.com
ARIZONA
scot tsdale / phoenix
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION The Grill at The Boulders
Après-Golf NOTHING CAPS OFF a memorable round better
Desert Trails
A Week of Tee Times WITH A DIFFERENT COURSE FOR EACH DAY, Sun City West might be the best reason to turn 55.
Located an hour’s drive west of Scottsdale, the 40-year-old Del Webb active-adult development features four attratively priced 18-hole, par-72 layouts (Grandview, Trail Ridge, Deer Valley and the original, Pebblebrook) and three par-60 /61 executive layouts (Desert Trails, Echo Mesa and Stardust). The seven courses more than handle the golf needs of Sun City West’s 30,000 residents, so non-resident tee times are relatively easy to get. Superb conditioning and walkability make rounds at all courses a pleasure. The community features miles of walking trails and three recreation centers with pools, fitness centers, pickleball courts, ballroom and clubrooms and more. suncitywest.com
THE WEST VALLEY also features the pricier Trilogy Golf Club at Vistancia (trilogygolf.com) in Peoria, Wickenburg Ranch Golf Club (wickenburgranch.com) in Wickenburg and Buckeye’s Verrado courses (verradogolfclub.com).
than an equally unforgettable meal. After playing Troon North, head to the scrumptious Talavera at the Four Seasons Scottsdale at Troon North (talaverarestaurant.com), a modern take on the classic steakhouse with equally vibrant sunset views. Another post-round indulgence is The Grill at The Boulders, which boasts an exhibition kitchen, a fireplace, and newly renovated patio seating with grand views of the lush 18th hole fairways. theboulders.com
SCOTTSDALE HAS PUT the art in party every
Thursday night for the last 42 years. The Scottsdale ArtWalk showcases the eclectic artistic styes of the city’s vibrant gallery scene along Main Street and Marshall Way. Wander into galleries and stroll around a delightful area punctuated by dramatic statues, bubbling fountains, live music, lighted palms, courtyards, restaurants and bars. scottsdalegalleries.com
You thought a winter golf trip to Phoenix would be too expensive to take…
think again! Must play on Friday (PM), anytime Saturday or Sunday on three consecutive days. Based on tee time availability.
Decemb er 201 April 201 78.
Available at ALL 7 golf courses Deer Valley, Desert Trails, Grandview, Echo Mesa, Pebblebrook, Stardust, Trail Ridge
Contact Patrick O’Hara, PGA at patrick.ohara@suncitywest.com or 623.544.6499 to discuss how you can take advantage of this offer. Group size must consist of 4-16 players. Tee times will be booked once fees are paid. COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | Fall 2017
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Omni Tucson National
DURING ITS THREE decades as host of the Chrysler Classic of Tucson, Omni Tucson National Resort’s Robert
Van Hagge/ Bruce Devlin-designed Catalina course had one of the PGA Tour’s hardest finishing holes—a blind par 4 with water on both sides of the fairway. The event’s gone, but the 7,262-yard parkland challenge remains, as does the Omni’s Sonoran course, a 6,552-yard Tom Lehman desert layout that opened in 2005. Combined with the resort’s Forbes 4-Star spa, 128 oversized guest rooms, four lighted tennis courts and the Texas-sized cuts of meat at Bob’s Steak & Chop House, they complete the perfect golf destination. tucsonnational.com
Count ’em Up Pride of the Pueblo NOTAH’S ART: The 7,283-yard Notah Begaydesigned Sewailo Golf Club has shot up the lists of Arizona top courses. Sewailo, meaning “the land where flowers grow” in the Pascua Yaqui language, blends the native landscape with 14 acres of lakes, 70 bunkers and enough challenge to have the University of Arizona golf teams make it their home course. Troon Golf manages it. sewailogolfclub.com THE SOL OF TUCSON: Owned and operated by the Pascua Yaqui Nation, the 215-room Casino Del Sol Resort ranks as the only Arizona casino resort to have earned a Forbes Four Star award and a AAA Four Diamond award. A superb combination of gourmet fare (try PY Steakhouse and Ume Asian Cuisine), championship golf, elegant décor, 5,000seat amphitheater and lively gaming make this a sure bet. casinodelsolresort.com COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | Fall 2017
45 HOLES OF GOLF, 31 lighted tennis courts,
five swimming pools (including one with a 143-foot “Sliderock” water slide), four pickleball courts and an Elements Wellness Center highlight The Hilton El Conquistador Golf & Tennis Resort. Greg Nash and Jeff Hardin designed both the 18-hole Conquistador and Cañada courses, as well as the highly creative ninehole Pusch Ridge Course that encircles the resort and features a par-4 fifth hole surrounded by water with an island green. hiltonelconquistador.com
THE 5,300-FOOT CLIFFS of Pusch Ridge provide the backdrop for El Conquistador’s alfresco Epazote Kitchen, which plies diners with such inspired fare as Chipotle-Braised Beef Short Ribs, Tamarind-Glazed Quail and Ancho Pepper Salmon served with CaperCilantro Chimichurri. hiltonelconquistador.com/dining
THE BEST 23 MILES of Mexican food north of the
border can be found in Tucson, the First UNESCO City of Gastronomy. From Alejandro’s Tortilla Factory in the south to Berraco’s in the north, the Old Pueblo sizzles with authentic restaurants serving carne asada, ceviche, empanadas, raspados, elote and the popular Sonoran hot dog. Get the mouthwatering list at visittucson.org
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El Conquistador
coloradoavidgolfer.com
It delightfully can at Sewailo Golf Club.
Fits you to a tee.
Designed by PGA Tour pro and Native
American Notah Begay III, this 18-hole, par-72 course offers a one-of-a-kind championship golf
experience.
Sewailo—which
means,
“flower world” in the Pascua Yaqui language— is just that with more than 30,000 native
flowers and 14 acres of exquisite water features throughout its design. Come play
and stay and watch your game blossom in The Sol of Tucson.
8 5 5 . S ol . STAY • CA S I NO D ELS O L .CO M
I-19, EXIT VALENCIA WEST
Home of the Arizona Wildcats
A N E N T E R P R I S E OF T H E PA S C UA YAQ U I TR I B E
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
ARIZONA tucson / dove mountain SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
The Gallery at Dove Mountain
Getting Home GOLF AND LUXURY LIVING intersect at The
Gallery at Dove Mountain, an upscale community located along the 36-hole Gallery Golf Club in the Tortolita foothills northwest of Tucson. The stunning residences start around $650,000, with most singlefamily homes costing $1-3 million. The highly rated courses hosted the 2007 and ’08 WGC-Accenture Match Play. gallerygolf.com/real-estate The Golf Club at Dove Mountain
FOR SIX YEARS the host of the PGA Tour’s WGC Accenture Match Play Championship, The Golf Club at Dove
Mountain is a 27-hole expedition through dense desert foothills of the Tortolita Mountains. All three nines—Saguaro, Tortolita and Wild Burro—feature ample landing areas, strategically placed fairway bunkers and few forced carries; that is, unless you play the 7,814 tips on Saguaro/ Tortolita as the pros did. The greens vex everyone. Play designer Jack Nicklaus’ favorite nine, Wild Burro, which serves up incredible vistas of the Tortolitas and a panoramic view from the fifth green of The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain Resort. thegolfclubatdovemountain.com
Ritzy Digs AT JUST SHY of 250 rooms and casitas—the latter
climbing into Wild Burro Canyon above the resort—the Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain exudes an intimacy that many Western golf facilities lack. Pair the elegant accommodations and an exceptionally attentive staff with world-class amenities including a spa, four tennis courts, sprawling three-pool complex and five dining options and you’ve found an unbeatable destination. The 850-acre resort blends into its surroundings, where adventurous guests can tackle 20 miles of saguarostudded trails. ritzcarlton.com/dovemountain
LOVE THE DOVE? Consider full ownership of one of
Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain
COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | Fall 2017
The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain. Homes in eight distinctive Southwestern styles range from the $800s to $2 million; in size from 1,650 to 5,400 square feet; and occupy lots between one and seven acres. The Residences occupy only 14 percent of the development’s 6,200 acres and ownership comes with access to resort amenities and the 45,000-square-foot golf clubhouse. theresidencesdovemountain.com
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DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun
LOCATED on 10 acres in the Santa Catalina Moun-
tains east of Dove Mountain and north of Tucson, the DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun is a National Historic District devoted to the thousands of paintings, mosaics, sculptures and structures created by Ettore “Ted” DeGrazia (1909-1982). His life was a joyous work of art and this brillant complex, which also features the open-air chapel he constructed, testifies to his genius. degrazia.org coloradoavidgolfer.com
RECONNECT AND ESCAPE IN AN UNFORGETTABLE LUXURY GOLF DESTINATION Discover 63 holes of World Match Play golf combined with Forbes Five-Star and AAA 5-Diamond award-winning luxury. Reconnect with nature among towering saguaro and challenge yourself on five stunning Championship courses at The Gallery Golf Club and The Golf Club at Dove Mountain. Find balance in healing spa treatments, soak up the sun in sparkling heated pools, hike and bike alongside ancient petroglyphs, savor innovative cuisine, and relax in the comfort of luxuriously-appointed rooms, suites and spacious casitas. For more information on available golf packages or to make reservations, contact your travel professional, call The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain at 520-572-3000 or visit ritzcarlton.com/dovemountain. For membership inquiries about Tucson’s premier private club experience at The Gallery Golf Club, please call 520-579-4118 or visit gallerygolf.com.
ARIZONA
tucson / tubac
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Tubac
Tubac Resort & Spa
PLAY THE HOLES Kevin Costner made famous in Tin Cup at a historic resort where Bing Crosby was an original
investor. Located an hour south of Tucson, Tubac Golf Resort & Spa weaves its way through the mesquite groves between the Tumacacori and Santa Rita mountain ranges with a river running through it. Robert “Red” Lawrence designed the original 18 in 1959; Ken Kavanaugh added nine more in 2006. Each nine—Anza, Rancho and Otero— boasts memorable holes, including island greens. In addition to the “Tin Cup” holes, the Rancho nine has the “Tubac Triangle”—nos. 6, 7 and 8—which culminates in Train Wreck, an aptly named 651-yard par-five. tubacgolfresort.com
Off the Beaten Track It’s Tubac for Sure BABY GOT TUBAC: Set on the historic (est. 1789) 500-acre Otero Ranch, Tubac Golf Resort & Spa’s 98 private haciendas and casitas lead to golf, lush gardens, a swimming pool, rejuvenating spa and a 3,000-square-foot showroom featuring the hand-crafted Mexican, Spanish and Western furnishings for which the area is famous. The Stables Ranch Grille & Patios’ rustic dining room, bar and patio all have views of the “island green” and Santa Rita Mountains. tubacgolfresort.com HIKES: Tubac was where Spaniard Juan Bautista de Anza began his westward journey to found San Francisco. The four-mile Anza Trail to Tumacacori commemorates the trip. Part of the trail-rich Coronado National Forest, Madera Canyon offers great hiking, birding, mountain biking and picnicking on the way to Mount Wrightston. tubacaz.com COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | Fall 2017
THE VILLAGE OF TUBAC, just one mile from the
resort, features meandering streets punctuated by hidden courtyards, sparkling fountains and eclectic shops and world-class galleries featuring painting, sculpture, ceramics, photography, regional fashion, leather, crafts and jewelry. The Tubac Center of the Arts features acclaimed pieces from artists in the Santa Cruz Valley and throughout the United States. tubacarts.org
MEXICO’S LOSS is Tubac’s gain. In 2009, Elvira’s
Restaurant—for 82 years a fixture south of the border in Nogales—relocated to Tubac with some of the funkiest, flavorful moles and molcajetes ever imagined. The 34ingredient Mole Negro and Flank Steak Molcajete are two of the dozens of must-haves on Chef Ruben Monroy’s colorful menu. The décor, highlighted by 2,000 glass raindrops suspended from the ceiling, is just as spirited. A second Elvira’s is open in Tucson. elvirasrestaurant.com
GET BUSY in Bisbee. A two-hour drive southeast from Tubac, the old copper-mining town of Bisbee features a charmingly preserved downtown featuring eccentric specialty shops, quirky galleries, rocking restaurants and what seems like a street party every weekend. Bisbee embraces the weird, wild side of the wild, wild west. discoverbisbee.com
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Tubac Center of the Arts
coloradoavidgolfer.com
Colorado Avid Golfer
Unlimited Golf Package For Two
For reservations call 800.848.7893 Ask for the COLORADO AVID GOLFER PACKAGE (Code AVID) (Valid until Jan 14, 2018)
Luxurious Hacienda Accommodations Unlimited use of Practice Facilities One-Day of Unlimited Golf for 2 • A Sleeve of Tubac Golf Resort Golf Balls Unlimited Fitness Center Access • Beautiful new swimming pool and lap pool New Patio at Stables on the Island Green 10% off Spa Treatments • Club Storage $349 per night (Plus tax and resort fee, based on availability)
Make your reservations now! 1.800.848.7893 www.TubacGolfResort.com
I-19, Exit 40 (30 minutes from Tucson)
www.TubacGolfResort.com 1.800.848.7893
NEVADA SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
CasaBlanca
Lost Vegas “VEGAS, THE WAY IT USED TO BE” provides
the slogan for Mesquite Gaming, owner of the CasaBlanca Resort and Virgin River Hotel & Casino in the border town of Mesquite, an hour’s drive from Las Vegas. The two properties total 1,186 guest rooms, a luxury spa, six restaurants and 76,000 sf of casino space. Mesquite Gaming properties help you build your own discounted golf vacation from 11 courses in this golf-rich region. mesquitegaming.com Wolf Creek
THE GOLF WORLD has howled about Wolf Creek Golf Club ever since the homespun architectural effort by the
father-son team of Dennis and John Rider earned Golf Digest’s Best New Course in 2002.It has resided permanently on the rosters of America’s 100 greatest public courses—as well as on most golfers’ bucket lists—ever since. From the very first tee shot, holes plunge and squiggle through canyons, disappearing behind buttes and reappearing as you wind along precipitous cart paths. A surreal masterpiece of verdant lushness painted onto the sere mountains, Wolf Creek enjoys a stay-and-play relationship with Eureka Casino Resort and six other courses. golfwolfcreek.com
Eat and Play OYSTERS ROCKEFELLER, escargot, fresh Florida
stone crab, tender dry-aged USDA beef and other classic steakhouse fare comes impeccably prepared at the Katherine’s Steakhouse, the well-appointed oasis of fine dining in the CasaBlanca Hotel. Tableside preparations of signature appetizers, warm salads and dramatic desserts enhance the experience. casablancaresort.com
ETCHED INTO THE WETLANDS of the Mesquite
Valley, the Cal Olson-designed CasaBlanca Golf Club winds in and out of the Virgin River Basin offering a new experience from every tee. Five sets of tees allow golfers of all skill levels a fair chance on this championship golf course, which annually hosts the Nevada Open and Mesquite Amateur. casablancaresort.com
VIRGIN TERRITORY, in the form of the Virgin Moun-
Katherine’s Steakhouse
COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | Fall 2017
tains rising west of Mesquite, inspire a short drive to the trailheads for Little Virgin Peak, the top of which affords views of Davidson, Moapa and Mormon peaks, Valley of Fire, Lake Mead and Virgin Peak. summitpost.org
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Virgin River
CASABLANCA AND VIRGIN RIVER both
provide exceptional experiences. CasaBlanca features a world-class spa with a full menu of relaxing, nourishing services for body and soul, as well as Katherine’s Steakhouse, Skydome Lounge and the rocking Casapalooza poolside concert series. Virgin River provides extra enjoyment with a complete bingo hall, bustling bowling alley and amusing game arcade. mesquitegaming.com coloradoavidgolfer.com
Presented By: Mesquite Gaming
NOVEMBER 7–9, 2017
$140,000.00 Larger Tournament Purse
November 10–12, 2017
NEWEST
Learn More CasaBlancaResort.com/ii-m/
Amatuer Two Man Golf Tournament Total Cash and Prizes
*With 25 Teams
Play 3 Championship Golf Courses Day 1: Scramble Day 2: Best Ball Day 3: Alternate Shot
A Unique If there’s a recipe for the ultimate golf experience, Wolf Creek Golf Course in Mesquite, Nevada has discovered it. Wolf Creek combines equal parts of breathtaking views and challenging (but not impossible)golf holes. It mixes in some of the Southwest’s most rugged desert terrain, then to balance that out, it adds in 6,939 yards of some of the most beautifully kept fairways and greens a golfer will be lucky enough to land a ball on. And then, to finish it all off, a 19th hole called The Terrace Restaurant that takes golf course cuisine to the next level. Since Wolf Creek opened in 2000 that recipe has made it a yearly staple on the “Best Of” lists of just about every golf publication in the world. The year it opened it was voted Golf Digest’s “America’s
Best New Course,” and since then it has kept raking in the accolades. “Top 100 Courses You Can Play,” Golf Digest’s “Fan’s Choice 2011,” “Top 100 Greatest Public Courses,” “Best Resort Courses,” and “Ten of the Best Places in the World to Play Golf.” After being consistently featured for the past 10 years in Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroys PGA Golf video game from EA Sports, Wolf Creek has been on many more golfers’ must play lists. But to really get what Wolf Creek is all about, it must be experienced, not just read about in the pages of a golf magazine or previewing the magnificent photos on a website. Standing on the first tee is when reality hits, the spectacular beauty of Wolf Creek and the anticipation of what the next 18 holes have in store. At times Wolf Creek feels less like a golf course than
Experience. an 18-hole roller coaster that just happens to wind its way through a wild and rugged southern Nevada desert. Many of the tee boxes are perched 100 feet above the greens, providing 360-degree views of the surrounding desert. But on the fairways and greens, the desert landscape takes a backseat to the luxurious fairways and expertly manicured bent grass greens. The contrasting colors are simply stunning. It’s this environment that makes a round at Wolf Creek unlike a round at any other course in Nevada – or the world, for that matter. It’s a challenge for any golfer, but despite the challenging nature, it’s fun for a golfer of any ability. After a round is over, golfers can look forward to rehashing their experience over cocktails and Southwest-inspired cuisine at The Terrace Restaurant.
Wolf Creek vacation’s seasoned sales team and staff can help golfers arrange play and stay packages with the recently renovated Eureka Casino Resort for those that want to experience this first-rate golf destination.
GOLF RESORT 403 PARADISE PARKWAY • MESQUITE NEVADA FOR RESERVATIONS CALL 866.252.4653 OR CLICK GOLFWOLFCREEK.COM
NEVADA SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Falcon Ridge
Coyote Springs
TUCKED BETWEEN two picturesque mountain ranges in the high desert 50 miles north of Las Vegas, Coyote
Springs Golf Club offers a breathtaking setting accented by native grasses, cacti, sage and other indigenous plants, clear sapphire blue skies and 360 degrees of mountain views, including the snow-covered Sheep Range during winter. Originally planned as the first of a series of courses in the Coyote Springs community, the par-72 Jack Nicklaus Signature design measures between 5,349 and 7,471 yards. Eleven lakes come into play. The 19-acre practice facility features opportunities to work on every conceivable type of shot. coyotesprings.com
All Teed Up Golf in a Border Town FALCON RIDGE: Designed by Kelby Hughes and Cresent Hardy, Falcon Ridge Golf Course winds through the hills and canyons of Northwest Mesquite. This 6,569 yard par 71 desert layout boasts spectacular elevation changes, numerous water features and high mesa views along with numerous teeing areas that make it playable for all levels of player. golffalcon.com I-15 SURPRISE: The spectacular 29.43 miles of road between Mesquite, Nev. and St. George, Utah, is located in Littlefield, Arizona, home of the first golf course built in the Mesquite area. The William Hulldesigned Palms Golf Club was the first golf course built in the Mesquite area and plays 6,813 yards from the championship tees. The wide, grassy front nine segues into a back-nine desert test set around arroyos and deep canyons. casablancaresort.com COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | Fall 2017
MESQUITE’S NEWEST GOLF challenge, the
Gary Panks-designed Conestoga Golf Club, artfully interweaves within the character and contours of Sun City Mesquite’s spectacular landforms. Undulating through canyons with gently ascending and descending elevations, rugged rock outcroppings and tranquil water elements, the Troon Golf-managed course preserves the integrity of the land at every opportunity, creating the appearance of a course crafted by nature and forged over time. conestogagolf.com
THE 36 HOLES at Oasis Golf Club feature two
magnificent layouts: the Palmer Course and the Canyons Course. Designed by Arnold Palmer himself, the par-71 Palmer serves up some of the most scenic desert panoramas in Southern Nevada. Its rugged canyon fairways and meticulous contour greens distinguished it during The Golf Channel’s Big Break Mesquite in 2007. The Canyons Course complements the Palmer Course and rates as the more difficult of the two. It has distinct front and back nines. The front plays a lot like the Palmer course because, well, Palmer designed it; the back, originally designed by David Druzisky, demands length and precision to narrow targets. theoasisgolfclub.com
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Conestoga
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YOUR 2018 PASSPORT to GREAT GOLF
on sale
11.20.17
NEVADA summerlin SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Palm Valley
Long & Short THE LONG: Built in 1989, Golf Summerlin’s oldest, longest and most challenging course, the 6,849-yard Palm Valley, features mature, gently undulating fairways that are wide enough to allow most players to hit driver all day, but the deceptively rolling bent grass greens make every two-putt a test. Pines line many of the fairways, and 68 bunkers also tighten this well-kept traditional layout. golfsummerlin.com Golf Summerlin
JUST OFF I-15 and near TPC Summerlin, home of the PGA TOUR’s Shriner’s Hospitals for Children Open (November 2-5) lie three golf courses designed by Billy Casper and Greg Nash. Highland Falls, Palm Valley and Eagle Crest are managed by Golf Summerlin, which combines these well-conditioned courses and the excitement of Suncoast Hotel Casino into one the most affordable stay and play packages in the Las Vegas area. Less than 10 miles from the Strip, you can enjoy the same valley views and playing conditions as the TPC for half the price. golfsummerlin.com
Why Summerlin? A RESORT-LIKE ATMOSPHERE without the sticker
shock is one of Summerlin’s appeals. “We are a hidden gem in a community of 7,800 homes, but all three courses are public and open to outside play,” Golf Summerlin PGA Director of Golf Donny Long says. “The private feel is a bonus. Not only are you guarded in a beautiful community, but you will also enjoy the mountain scenery as we are located at the base of the Charleston Mountain range, making us about five degrees cooler than most of the Las Vegas area.” golfsummerlin.com
A FAVORITE AMONG out-of-town visitors for its
Highland Falls
COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | Fall 2017
spectacular conditions, elevation changes and views of the Las Vegas Strip, Summerlin’s 25-year-old Highland Falls Golf Club recently won the Las Vegas ReviewJournal’s “Best of Las Vegas” award. The rolling hills of the front nine become steeper on the back side, leading to abundant risk-reward opportunities on the inward nine. Elevation changes, rich fairways and strategically placed bunkering makes each of Highland Falls’ 18 holes fun, fair and challenging. golfsummerlin.com
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Eagle Crest
THE SHORT: A par-60 executive course, Eagle Crest Golf Course has become popular with locals and visitors looking for a quick, quality round. Built into the side of a stately mountain, Eagle Crest plays along some of Las Vegas’ highest points, showcasing exciting city vistas. The course even lets you swing the driver on some holes. As course designer Bill Casper said, “You can take any hole from this course, put it in the middle of a championship course, and it would fit right in.” golfsummerlin.com coloradoavidgolfer.com
summerlin
NEVADA
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Marché Bacchus
Suncoast Hotel & Casino
GOLF SUMMERLIN’S lodging partner, Suncoast Hotel & Casino, is located in Summerlin with incredible views of the Las Vegas Valley and the nearby Spring Mountains. The property offers 388 newly remodeled deluxe guest rooms at 550 square feet and 39 newly remodeled lavish guest suites ranging from 1,100 to 2,300 square feet. Exclusive restaurants, fun gaming, deluxe accommodations, bowling, movie theaters, bingo and a 500-seat showroom, a throwback to the showrooms of splendor that made Las Vegas famous. suncoastcasino.com.com
What’s Summerlin? Of Fine Food and Fun
MORE THAN THE HOME to TPC Summerlin,
TPC Las Vegas and the Golf Summerlin courses, the community also serves as the gateway into Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, a 10,000-acre showcase of geological marvels visited by more than 2 million people annually. It showcases a set of large red rock formations—sandstone peaks and walls called the Keystone Thrust that draws hikers and rock climbers. Bikers and drivers like the relatively flat, paved 13-mile loop road that provides access to many of the features in the area. redrockcanyonlv.org
FINE FOOD: Las Vegas proper will always draw high rollers to its restaurants, but Summerlin more than holds its own. Among the best is Vintner Grill, (vglasvegas.com) a compellingly designed bistro featuring American dishes infused with flavors from Spain, France and Italy that diners can also enjoy on a beautifully appointed patio featuring two illuminated cabanas. Another winner is Nittaya’s Secret Kitchen (nittayassecretkitchen.com), an absolute shrine to authentic Thai food, and Marché Bacchus (marchebacchus.com), a bistro and wine shop where swans drift by as you dine along Lake Jacqueline.
ONE OF THE MOST affluent areas in Nevada,
Summerlin traces its history to Howard Hughes, the reclusive multibillionaire who bought the 25,000 acres in northwest Las Vegas in 1952. Though technically still part of Las Vegas, Summerlin couldn’t be more different. Yes it features a dynamic urban core, but it also has 19 subdivisions and a 150-mile trail system—comprised of street-side, village, bike, regional and natural—that connects neighborhoods to various amenities throughout the community and will soon expand to 200 miles and connect to 2,000 miles of regional trails, making it one of the most comprehensive and efficient trail systems in the southwest. summerlin.com coloradoavidgolfer.com
FUN: Participate in Golf Summerlin’s stay-and-play package and then attend the PGA Tour’s Shriners Hospitals for Children event at TPC Summerlin November 2-5. The Suncoast Hotel will provide free parking and shuttles to the course from the hotel. Day tickets range from $35-$125. pgatour.com
Downtown Summerlin
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Fall 2017 | COLORADO AVIDGOLFER
UTAH SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Zion National Park
Sand Hollow
SOUTHERN UTAH’S PREMIER golf destination, Sand Hollow Resort blends the appeal of the state’s top golf
course (per Golfweek, eight years running) and a spectacular red-rock setting with six types of foursome-friendly suites, spacious villas and luxury homes; two swimming pools and numerous other amenities. The clubhouse grill serves dinner Tuesday through Thursday, and then turns into a live music venue Friday and Saturday nights. Attentive service, equipment rentals and local opportunities for boating, motor sports, biking, and hiking at Sand Hollow Reservoir, the Sand Mountain Dunes, and Zion National Park help complete the rosy picture. sandhollowresort.com
27+ Holes Off-Course Drives PUT IT IN PARKS: Sand Hollow lies east of St. George on the southwestern edge of Hurricane, less than 30 miles east of Zion National Park, home of such geological wonders as The Great White Throne, The Watchman, Angels Landing and Weeping Rock. An 80-minute drive from Zion places you amid the myriad brilliantly colored spires rising from the amphitheaters of Bryce Canyon National Park. COLISEUMS AND THEATERS: Only 80 miles from Sand Hollow is the coliseum-like Cedar Breaks National Monument,which sits within the lush Dixie National Forest. There’s boating in nearby Sand Hollow State Park, as well as mountain biking along the Anasazi Trail and Gooseberry Mesa. For a bit of culture, drive 15 minutes northwest of St. George to the Tuacahn Amphitheater, Utah’s version of Red Rocks Amphitheater. visitstgeorge.com COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | Fall 2017
FRAMED BY THE NATIVE landscape, Sand
Hollow’s 7,300-yard, Par-72 John-Fought-designed Championship Course perpetually cops top honors among Utah courses. It takes brilliant advantage of the red rock outcroppings, natural vegetation, indigenous sand bunkers and rolling fairways that define the region’s beauty. And that’s just the front nine. The back nine holes, as Fought says, “are unlike anything in the West.” They tightrope along ledges, undulate wildly and perch precipitously along a towering ridgeline, affording camera-worthy views and birdie-worthy shots. sandhollowresort.com
THE AULD SOD INSPIRED Sand Hollow’s 3,600-
yard 9-hole Links Course, designed by Fought and Andy Staples. It suggests an old-world course—i.e. sheep fencing—with a desert twist and the state’s largest greens and fairways. sandhollowresort.com
PITCH, CHIP, FLOP, bump and run and lob your way
around Sand Hollow’s nine-hole Wee Course, which offers both fun for the whole family and a quick shortgame practice round. Holes vary from 50 to 120 yards, and require players to hit those pesky scoring shots to go low. sandhollowresort.com
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Sand Hollow
coloradoavidgolfer.com
! Stay & Play
$646 6 Nights, 6 Rounds
You’ve seen green grass and blue skies before, but mix that with the colorful terrain of the Red Rock Golf Trail and you’re in for a blast of color that will widen your eyes and revitalize your game. With courses like Green Spring, Dixie Red Hills and Coral Canyon, you can see that golf has always been built around the inspiring colors of the area. ar St. George, Utah is the new hot spot for destination golf trips. It’s easy to see why. With 10 courses within a 10 mile radius, the Red Rock Golf Trail has everything you’re looking for. Daily ights on Delta, DEN >> SGU, make getting there a cinch. Going home.... well, that may take some convincing.
888.345.2550
UTAH SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Coral Canyon
Colorful Golf A PRIME and stunning example of why many
consider southern Utah “Color Country,” the 7,029yard Keith Foster-designed Coral Canyon Golf Course in Washington contrasts verdantly with the pastel reds and oranges of the surrounding rock formations. The generous fairways and sightlines echo the shapes of the land. Coral Canyon’s receptive greens invite creative shotmaking. redrockgolf.com Sunbrook
COMPRISING 10 STELLAR golf courses within a 30-minute radius, the Red Rock Golf Trail is a complimentary
service provided by the St. George and Zion National Park Tourism Office. In addition to Sand Hollow Golf Resort, the service connects you to the nine Southern Utah courses of Sunbrook, Coral Canyon, Southgate, Dixie Red Hills, Green Spring, Sky Mountain, as well as The Ledges Golf Club, St. George Golf Club and Falcon Ridge Golf Course in Mesquite. A one-stop shop for staying and playing, The Trail has partners with 11 hotels, two of which—Sand Hollow in Hurricane and The Ledges in St. George—are located on-property at the golf course. redrockgolf.com
Stops on the Trail FROM THE ELEVATED teeing areas, the appropri-
ately named Sky Mountain Golf Course delivers amazing views of Zion National Park and the azure rim of the distant Pine Valley Mountains. A public 18-hole golf course owned and operated by the City of Hurricane, the 6,383-yard Jeff Hardin-design plays tougher than the scorecard suggests. redrockgolf.com
THE SANTA Clara River weaves along the narrow front nine of the eminently walkable Southgate Golf Course, bringing water—and your ability to avoid it—into play on eight holes. The slightly longer back nine adds the element of risk /reward and allows you to recover shots lost on the front nine. redrockgolf.com
THE HISTORY of golf in the St. George area begins in
Sky Mountain
COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | Fall 2017
the mid-1960s with the nine-hole par-34 Dixie Red Hills Golf Course, which took St. George from a gas-station stop to a true place of tourism. In addition to sandstone formations, hundreds of mature cottonwoods and pines provide ample shade when it’s hot.redrockgolf.com
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The Ledges
EVER PLAY golf in a postcard? At The Ledges
Golf Club in St. George, that’s what the red rock panoramas from the rim of Snow Canyon State Park make you feel like. Designed by Matt Dye, this innovative and challenging 7,200-yard course has a friendly atmosphere with an upscale pro shop and delightful Fish Rock Grill restaurant. The front nine sets up well to help you break in your driver, and the back nine is a great test of iron play. redrockgolf.com coloradoavidgolfer.com
We aren't just golf anymore. Home to one of America’s most prestigious golf courses, we are also positioned perfectly for respite and adventure in the heart of the southwest near Zion National Park, Sand Hollow Reservoir, and the Sand Mountain Dunes. The resort offers boat and jet ski rentals, UTV rentals and Jeep tours, shuttles to and from Zion National Park, nearby rock climbing, zip-lining and hiking. Sand Hollow Resort is conveniently located 15 minutes from the St. George Regional Airport and 2.5 hours away from Las Vegas’ McCarran Airport. Shuttles are available.
sandhollowresort.com | 5662 W. Clubhouse Dr. Hurricane, UT 84737 | 435-656-4653