GOLF TRAVEL
Desert Rose
The HK Golfer Guide to Scottsdale, Arizona, which is emerging as one the premier golf destinations in the United States
A Player’s Guide
BY THE EDITORS & GORDON LEE PHOTOGRAPHY BY LONNA TUCKER
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egardless of whether you’re a 30-year veteran or a relative newcomer to the game, the names of the world’s greatest golf destinations are instantly familiar. Everyone knows that to enjoy the best of links golf, a trip to Scotland – taking in the Old Course at St Andrews and Muirfield – is in order. Melbourne’s wonderful array of sandbelt courses – the likes of Royal Melbourne, Kingston Heath and Commonwealth – are a must for lovers of the more rugged form of the game. Woodland golf doesn’t get any better than at Pine Valley in the pinelands of New Jersey, while those hankering after sweeping ocean vistas should head directly to the Monterey Peninsula and the courses at Pebble Beach and Cypress Point. Desert golf courses, which are found mostly in the southwestern states of America and the Arabian Gulf, don’t yet enjoy the same reputation – but that’s largely because they’re a relatively new phenomenon. The quality of golf in Scottsdale, Arizona – widely considered the global capital of desert golf – is first rate and the uniqueness of its courses means that they could one day rival they’re better-known counterparts.
Scottsdale Stunner: The Scott Miller-designed Chollo Course at We Ko Pa. 60
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WHERE TO PLAY We Ko Pa (Cholla Course) HHHHH
What I will take away most from this course is the unencumbered views of the beautiful Sonoran desert – what feels like miles and miles of it – and the red-rocked mountains rising up in the distance. We Ko Pa means four peaks in a native Indian dialect. There is not a single house or building visible from the course and the tranquility is simply unbeatable. Arizonabased architect Scott Miller has combined old and new techniques here. For example his use of false fronts and smallish greens is inspired by the work of designers from the Golden Age of golf course architecture. And on the seventh, a tree bed is planted in the middle of the fairway so one has to play around or over it. The par threes are a particularly well-thought out set of holes, with all measuring different yardages so you’ll never play the same club twice. One or two holes might be deemed a little contrived – Miller has gone and made them as punishing as possible – but other than that it is a very well balanced course and certainly very picturesque, especially when you play the last few holes under the setting sun. Contact: (1-480)-836-9000; wekopa.com Green Fee: US$75-210 Yardage: 7,225 Par: 72 Course/Slope Rating: 73/136 Designed by Scott Miller
Troon North (Monument Course/ Pinnacle Course) HHHH/HHH
Both courses were originally designed by the dynamic pair of Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish – with the former returning a few years’ back to make improvements to the routings, which according to the residents pros, has greatly improved the flow. Weiskopf has gone on record to say the he likes to see constant changes in elevation throughout his courses and both these layouts meet that criteria – the continually shifting land provides a fair challenge and keeps you interested the whole way around. The Monument Course is perhaps the easier from tee to green, but the greens are testy. The par-fives are standouts. To find them in 62
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regulation one has to think carefully about choosing the correct lines from the tee – many of the fairways are angled making alignment all the more difficult. Nearly outstanding, the Monument unfortunately finishes on rather a dull note, the closing par-four eighteenth being one of the blandest on the course. With its tighter landing areas, the Pinnacle Course is a more demanding but also a more artificial test. Featuring many forced carries and greenside rocky outcrops – mini deserts, if you will – the Pinnacle can be unkind on the recreational golfer. Not unfair – but it can catch first-time visitors off their guard. This is a course that needs to be played a few times before it can be tackled with any degree of confidence.
Desert Dream: The Saguaro Course at We Ko Pau is the club's newest addition (above); lavish bunkering and rocky outcrops await at Troon North's Monument Course (left).
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Arizonan Aces: The eighteenth on the Pinnacle Course at Troon North finishes in front of the awardwinning clubhouse (top); the CrenshawCoore-designed features some of the strongest bunkering in the region.
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Unlike the Monument, which has splendid views of the desert and its accompanying cacti and other flora, the views from the Pinnacle are blocked by upscale housing that flanks the fairways. Nevertheless, there are no weak holes here and there is a nice rhythm to the layout. Troon North has regularly been named as the premier golfing facility in Scottsdale, and overall – taking into account the clubhouse, course maintenance practices, management and service – it lives up to that reputation. Contact: (1-480)-585-5300; troonnorthgolf.com Green Fee: US$55-295 Monument Course Yardage: 7,070 Par: 72 Course/Slope Rating: 72.9/147 Pinnacle Course Yardage: 7,025 Par: 71 Course/Slope Rating: 73/149 Designed by Tom Weiskopf & Jay Morrish
Talking Stick (North Course) HHHH
Talking Stick feels a world away from the manicured perfection of Troon North due to the severity of its desert backdrop. So much so that mustangs (feral horses) are often spotted roaming the landscape in search of their next meal. Designed by Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore, who believe in a minimalist approach to golf course architecture, and sited on tribal land, very little earth was moved during construction and the result is a course dictated more by nature than any other in the region. Playing hard and fast, the course is reminiscent of the classic sandbelt tracks around Melbourne and has a definite maturity to it, something that many other courses in Scottsdale lack. Locals reckon that Talking Stick has the finest bunkering in the immediate area – and it would be hard to disagree. These deep, rugged hazards can be especially costly to ones score, but fortunately there’s always a route around them. Credit to the designers: there are always options at Talking Stick; you’re never forced into playing any hole one particular w ay. Ta l k i n g S t i c k probably doesn’t get the respect it deserves, but for purists of the game a nd genera l ly more experienced players, this is a definite must-play. Contact: (1-480)-860-2221; talkingstickgolfclub.com Green Fee: US$40-170 Yardage: 7,133 Par: 70 Course/Slope Index: 72.7/123 Designed by Ben Crenshaw & Bill Coore HKGOLFER.COM
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