Grand Canyon Golf
Saturday, March 15th, 2008 - 6:48 am by admin
America is unarguably blessed with natural geographical wonders but there are few places in the country as spectacular as the Grand Canyon State. The beautiful landscapes and a vibrant blend of cultures and traditions come together in a way that makes Arizona a truly unforgettable experience for the golf holiday maker. When the Spanish arrived in Arizona in the 16th century they focused on the three “Gs”: God, Gold and Glory. One more G has been added in this century Golf.
One of the hottest destinations figuring in almost every golf package, The Valley of the Sun is the undoubted golf capital of the American Southwest. With close to 200 courses, the Valley can make a legitimate claim to being the most golf-rich region in the United States. Each year millions of golfers plan golf tours to this sun-splashed golfing pantheon to test their mettle on desert courses that yield more lost balls than birdies.
Although Scottsdale is where most golf travel begins, Tucson has pulled up its socks and offers true desert golf to entice the golf vacation population. Case in point is the Starr Pass Golf Club in Pima County. An 18-hole Bob Cupp design, Starr Pass opened in 1985 and has been attracting hundreds of golf holiday makers each year for its year-round impeccable greens and a tricky layout that demands a skilful golfer. Youd be parting with $100 to $250 from your golf vacation budget for a days play at Starr Pass but we think it’s worth it.
Some of the best public courses in Tucson like the Robert Trent Jr. designed The Arizona National Golf Club came up in the late 1990s and are still figuring top of most golf packages. Carved out of the Santa Catalina Mountains, the rugged natural terrain dictates every hole on this course and elevation changes offer stunning views of the town. Green fees range from $55 to $165 depending on the time of year you plan your golf travel. Other courses your golf tour in Tucson must include are Tom Weiskopf designed Golf Club at Visoto and the Arthur Hills masterpiece, the 6900 yards Heritage Highlands Golf Course.
All that said, it is not an Arizona golf vacation if your golf package does not include Scottsdale. And if your golf travel leads to Scottsdale, spend $275 on the Tom Weiskopf/Jay Morrish designed Troon North Monument ranked in Americas Top 100 by Golf Digest. Both tracks on the course The Pinnacle and The Monument are traditional desert style championship layouts that offer unparalleled challenges at each one of their respective 18-holes. Another Scottsdale showstopper you must include on your golf package is the Grayhawk Golf Club. One of the most enjoyable and testing courses of South west, Grayhawk offers two tracks the Talon and The Raptor. Talon is a 6973 yard par 72 David Graham/ Gary Panks design that would cost a golf tour stop $155 in the coming summer months. Raptor is a daily fee course, easy on the eyes and tough on ball control. A Tom Fazio design, this 18-hole trickster runs to 7,108 yards, par 72 and can make grown men cry.
If you are feeling the pinch of the lack of really affordable golf in the Valley of the Sun, route your golf tour to southern Arizona for some challenging tracks including Torres Blancas, San Ignacio, Canoa Hills and Canoa Ranch. Golf travel moving north in Arizona may not have sensational golf like Phoenix or Scottsdale but a golf holiday maker can rest assured he will see a completely different set of challenges, landscapes, and (for the budget minded) price points.
