Tag Archives: golf trip

Arizona Grand Golf Course

Posted on by • Posted in Golf Tips • Tagged , , • Leave a comment

Arizona is home to many fine golf courses, some of which rank among the best in the country. The desert terrain, scenic mountains, and the glaring Arizona sun provide some of the best setting for premiere golf vacation destinations. On the top list’s top list, the Arizona Grand Golf Course holds ground. For two decades now, the golf course has been known to provide challenging games and excellent resort services.

The Arizona Grand Golf Course is situated in the luxurious Arizona Grand Resort, right in the protected natural desert preserve of South Mountain Park. Designed by Forrest Richardson, the course features links style set on desert landscape. The result is a challenging course layout of many twists and turns, and an escalating challenge that is only revealed one hole after another. Golfers of all handicaps can enjoy the 6,331 yards of golf and its rolling fairways and dramatic elevation changes. This 18-hole par-71 golf vacation favorite offers the most scenic views of the mountains surrounding it and of the Sonoran desert.

Coupled with excellent service and world-class amenities, these superb playing conditions of the golf course make the Arizona Grand Golf Course a favorite among its counterparts. Players and golf publications alike all praise the golf trip haven in unison, as is proven by the following awards: “Greens of Distinction” & “Golden Links Award” from Corporate Incentive Travel Magazine; Gold Tee Award from Meetings & Conventions; “Top 35 Courses in Arizona”, “Best Golf Hole”, & “Best Service in Golf” from The Arizona Republic; and named among the nations Top 50 “Great Service” facilities by Golf Digest. It also holds 4 diamonds from AAA, and 4-stars from Golf Digest’s “Best Places to Play”, and an “Excellent” rating from the Zagat Survey. Justifying its rank won’t be so hard to do. A single visit to the course is all it needs and no trace of doubt shall remain: this is definitely among the best.

Whirlwind Golf Club – Devil’s Claw

Posted on by • Posted in Top Golf Destinations • Tagged , , • Leave a comment

The older of the two sibling courses at the Whirlwind Golf Club, the Devil’s Claw Course has been, for the most part, the inspiration of the younger Cattail Course. Both courses were designed by Gary Pank and were meant to provide a golf vacation destination that both provides a good and challenging layout at the same time preserve the cultural heritage of the Gila River Indians of the area.

The Devil’s Claw Course at the Whirlwind Golf Club plays on 7,017 yards at the tips for a par of 72. The 18-hole championship golf course features sweeping elevation changes, dramatic bunkering and multi-tiered greens. Just like the Cattail Course, this golf trip haven has had minimal landscaping to preserve the natural contours of the desert terrain it stands on. Like its sister course, the Devil’s Claw has five sets of tees to accommodate players of various handicaps.

What makes the Devil’s Claw Course at the Whirlwind Golf Club stand out, apart from the obvious superb playing greens and fairly challenging layouts, is the excellence in conditioning and maintenance of the course. The management has successfully combined that with outstanding service from their brood of friendly and knowledgeable staff – the exact same philosophy applied in the newer Cattail Course. All that and the natural beauty of the area and the interesting Native American heritage woven tightly into the design and golfing principles make the course a favorite for golf vacations. And as with every passing year, there is no doubt the golf facilities at the Whirlwind Golf Club – both the Devi;’s Claw and the Cattail courses – are getting better and better.

Whirlwind Golf Club – Cattail Course

Posted on by • Posted in Top Golf Courses • Tagged , , • Leave a comment

The brains behind the creation of the Whirlwind Golf Club had one thing in mind:FLEXIBILITY. They wanted a golf course that goes beyond the usual scenic, slightly challenging course layout. What they wanted was a golf course that can accommodate players of various handicaps whilst providing the most scenic vistas and the best of services and amenities – a complete and top of its kind course both for the resident golfer and the golf trip enthusiast. And they got that with the Cattail Course of the Whirlwind Golf Club.

Located in Chandler, Arizona, its designer Gary Panks did very minimal and mild intervention to the natural desert terrain of what now holds the Cattail Course of the Whirlwind Golf Club. The golf vacation destination boasts of 5 sets of tee areas, each offering a different golfing experience for the determined player. It stretches to almost 7,300 yards at the championship tees. The Cattail course meanders through natural Arizona wetland areas and canyons that provide natural hazards for the game. The holes at the course have names on the scorecard, written both in English and in Native American language of the Gila River Indian tribe to pay homage to the heritage of the land it belongs to. Twice in the past has the Cattail hosted the Gila River Nationwide Tour Classic – in 2003 and 2004.

Another feature of the Cattail Course of the Whirlwind Golf Club are its superb quality service and world-class amenities. The staff of the course are all friendly, knowledgeable, and bears the same accommodating stance of the course. Every visiting golfer will feel easily at ease at the course and enjoy the wonderful clubhouse and all its many offerings that are even more wonderful. This place makes for the perfect golf vacations for anyone and everyone.

Rancho Mañana Golf Club

Posted on by • Posted in Top Golf Destinations • Tagged , , • Leave a comment

The question of whether a golf course is beautiful or not is not answerable merely by the scenery of the course. Neither is it based on its playability alone. It must be a little of both, and the factor of being able to deliver an unforgettable game of golf, making every golf trip worth taking. Rancho Mañana Golf Club has all that – and more. And for the big names in golf course reviews to recognize that, there’s no way for it not to be true.

The Rancho Mañana Golf Club has been voted on Golf Digest as having one of the most scenic layouts, and listed by the same as one of the top 50 courses IN THE COUNTRY for women. Ranking Arizona ranked it in the top 10 courses in the state. These merits alone are enough to answer the question on whether or not the golf vacation destination is beautiful or not. It has got the most beautiful desert vistas in the state and one of the most challenging, dramatic elevation changes. Golfers could enjoy the heart of Sonoran desert, whilst being treated to captivating views of the Camelback Mountain, Mummy Mountain, Squawk Peak, Black Mountain, and South Mountain, as well as that of the Tonto National Forest. The elevation changes are very prominent, rising on each hole on the front nine. The back nine treats golfers into a very tricky water hole and the most awe-inspiring views.

The course was designed by Bill Johnston, maintaining the natural beauty of the land, following its natural contours and placing the balls perfectly to capture the best sights. It’s a perfect combination of scenery, challenging desert layout, and always a memorable golf vacation for anyone. The Rancho Mañana Golf Club has, no doubt, all the necessary requirements to call it a BEAUTIFUL COURSE.

Legend Trail Golf Club

Posted on by • Posted in Top Golf Destinations • Tagged , , • Leave a comment

If it isn’t a classic and a legend already, the Legend Trail Golf Club is definitely on its way there. The 18-hole Championship facility in Scottsdale, Arizona is becoming known as one of the best ones in the state, and in the country. Of course, if the layout was designed by the Rees Jones, nothing less is to be expected. Naturally, it is a premiere and top-of-the-rank golf vacation destination.

The Legend Trail Golf Club is in North Scottsdale, near the Carefree/Cave Creek border. It is set in the very beautiful golden dunes of the Sonoran desert, with all the most spectacular views of the Pinnacle Peak and the nearby desert hills that seem to glisten under the glaring Arizona sun. The golf trip hotspot features a course that simply winds through the wide desert following the natural contours of the desert terrain. Golfers will play on seemingly endless acres of a former desert ranch that now features flawless fairways, perfectly manicured greens, small bunkering and island greens. The course plays on four different tee boxes, and the Long Trail which stretches to 6,845 yards and the Short Trail of 5000 yards may be enjoyed by players of all handicaps.

With its rare breed of quality service, captivating scenery, and challenging layout, the Legend Golf Trail has earned a reputation among its guests, and 4 ½ stars from the Golf Digest’s Places to Play. It is also one of the best, most favored venues for golf vacations, as it is conveniently located just 40 minutes from downtown Phoenix and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Without a doubt, it has all the makings of a legend.

Grayhawk Golf Club – Raptor Course

Posted on by • Posted in Top Golf Destinations • Tagged , , • Leave a comment

The Raptor Course of the Grayhawk Golf Club may be fierce on some shots, but it definitely doesn’t look like it. While the name may sound monstrous, as are its unforgiving bunkers, the Raptor holds some of the most breathtaking vistas of the Sonoran desert, the Pinnacle Peak and the McDowell Mountains which make it a golf vacation favorite in Arizona.

Together with its sibling course, the Talon, the Raptor Course is part of the renowned Grayhawk Golf Club whose ambassadors include 2010 Master’s Champion Phil Mickelson who spent much of his pre- championship days in the facility honing his now world-famous skills. The 18-hole par-72 championship course designed by Tom Fazio bears its designer’s signature large bunkers and daring-play layouts. The most prominent features of the Raptor Course of the Grayhawk Golf Club, apart from the heavy bunkering, is the tricky use of the water hazards that are as beautiful as they are treacherous. The greens are large and fairly undulating, and the fairways are wide with lush desert vegetation. There is that fair share of challenge and beauty to this course, and the ambiance is always fun and never intimidating – it is a powerful combination that makes any golf trip a memorable experience.

It could so easily be said of the Raptor Course of the Grayhawk Golf Club that it is simply one of the best golf courses in Arizona and in the country. This is not some solitary opinion, as Golf Magazine thinks so too. The golf vacation destination has been listed one of the Top 100 Courses You Can Play in the US. Perhaps the fiercest quality of the course does not only lie in its name. Among its counterparts, it is indeed fierce because of its characteristics that make for an exceptional golf course.

Grayhawk Golf Club – Talon Course

Posted on by • Posted in Top Golf Courses • Tagged , , • Leave a comment

The Talon Course of the Grayhawk Golf Club is a most fitting example of perfect combinations. Every single element – from its creators down to the smallest detail of the course – is made of many different combinations that worked perfectly alongside each other thus creating one of the best and most beautiful golf vacation destinations in Arizona, and perhaps, in all of the United States.

Standing in the midst of the golden Sonoran desert in Northern Scottsdale, the Talon Course is only one of the two premiere golf courses at the famed Grayhawk Golf Club, the other being the Tom Fazio-designed Raptor Course. The Talon Course at the Grayhawk Golf Club is the brainchild of US Open and PGA Tour Champion David Graham and architect Gary Panks. They have successfully blended their layout of a stunning landscape and natural desert vegetation with the breathtaking vistas of the desert and the Phoenix and Scottsdale skylines surrounding the area, thereby making the Talon a sight to behold. Golf wise, the designers have come up with just the right amount of difficulty in the shots, narrowness of the fairways and landing areas, as well as the undulation of the greens to make every game and every golf trip at the Raptor as pleasant as it is challenging.

A series of four par 3’s, ten par 4’s and four par 5’s dot the 18-hole par-72 championship golf course. Visitors at the Talon Course of the Grayhawk Golf Club would never regret spending their golf vacations here, as they shall be treated to world-class service from the course’s friendly staff. That, and being conveniently located 40 minutes from the Sky Harbor Airport just makes it even more ideal. The Talon Course is one place that offers a perfect breed of golf all-out goodness – from fun to challenge, to scenery.

The Shoals – Schoolmaster (Muscle Shoals)

Posted on by • Posted in Top Golf Destinations • Tagged , , • Leave a comment

The Schoolmaster Course at the Shoals Golf Club is named after President Woodrow Wilson , the “Schoolmaster of Politics”, because it sits right next to one of the President’s most noted projects, the Wilson Dam. But there must absolutely be something more about this premiere golf vacation destination that makes it worthy of being a namesake of a President. It could perhaps be the scenic vista offered by the course, or the toughness of it that makes it exciting and challenging for the visitors, or it could be both. All that’s certain about the Schoolmaster course is that it has earned the reputation of being one of the best golf courses in the country that merited it a four-star rating from Golf Digest.

Along with the Fighting Joe course, the Schoolmaster course makes up the 36-hole golf facility, The Shoals Golf Club in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Together, they make up in part the famous Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. This golf trip favorite is said to be a tougher course than the Fighting Joe with its narrower fairways and tree-lined greens. The Schoolmaster Course at the Shoals Golf Club was designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr to follow the natural topography of the area surrounding the Tennessee River. It is built, like a schoolmaster, to test the every visiting golfer’s ability.

The Schoolmaster Course at the Shoals Golf Club runs on almost 8000 yards of golf, with 18 neat holes on a par of 72. Whatever it is that makes this golf vacation haven worthy of a Presidential namesake, one thing is for sure: the course, like a true schoolmaster, tests its golfers to help them improve their game. It is one tough challenge made only for those who dare to become better!

Magnolia Grove Golf Club – Falls Course (Mobile)

Posted on by • Posted in Top Golf Courses • Tagged , • Leave a comment

When breathtaking scenery, affordability and good golf playability combine, a golfer is assured of a golf trip that can only be described as beyond excellent, fun and memorable. These elements are combined quite creatively at the Falls Course of the Magnolia Grove Golf Club in Mobile, Atlanta. As a result, its visitors are treated to a unique golf experience that would make them fall in love with the sport – and the course – over and over again.

The Falls Course of the Magnolia Grove Golf Club is part of the 26-course golf wonder, the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Alabama. Two other courses, the Crossings course, and the Short Course, make up the beautiful and highly-praised Magnolia Grove Golf Club. Both the Crossings Course and the Falls course are named Great Value Courses by Golf Digest’s Places to Play. Both courses run on hilly terrain and rolling undulated greens. However, the Falls Course is a more difficult course to play compared to the Crossings Course, which is sort of a ladies’ man in golf – a favorite LPGA course. The Falls Course is known for its large contour greens, huge cloverleaf bunkers, and a scenic falls right next to the course’s signature hole, the par-57 hole number 10. It was after this 8-feet of cascading waters that the golf vacation destination was named.

Every minute of golf trip spent in this wonderful 18-hole par-72 championship course is time – and money – well spent! It lives up to, and even exceeds, the expectations on its being a Robert Trent Jones Sr creation. The Falls Course at Magnolia Grove Golf Club is beautiful, affordable, and delivers a great round of golf every single time.

Grand National – Lake Course (Auburn/Opelika)

Posted on by • Posted in Top Golf Courses • Tagged , , • Leave a comment

The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail makes Alabama one of the must-visit golfing states in the country. With its array of 25 championship golf courses, any golfer would crave at the thought of a state-wide golfing escapade. One of the most visited, most scenic courses on the Trail is the Lake Course at the Grand National. From the starting hole, a short but challenging introduction to what lies ahead, to the signature 15th hole that is the make or break of the course, down to the very last hole, the Lake Course promises to make a golf trip unforgettable.

The Lake Course is one of the three golf vacation destinations that make up the Grand National, along with the Links Course and the Short Course. The Lake Course at the Grand National has twelve of its eighteen holes along the glistening waters of the Lake Saugahatchee, making the holes as challenging as they are scenic. The Lake Course is famous for its par 3 15th hole. It is a 190 yard shot over the water to an island green – requires excellent club selection and the perfect shot to be able to make it past this very tricky hole. The Lake Course offers a golf view like no other on the whole trail, coupled with a great round of golf one hole after another.

With 25 Robert Trent Jones designs, the Trail definitely promises a one-of-a-kind golf vacation. And The Lake Course at the Grand National would definitely be a good place to start. It has every bit of element that makes a golf course exciting and pleasant to the golfer and a treat to the eyes for the masterful execution of a challenging golf layout.