Spotlight
Ten reasons why Troon North is worth the hefty price tag
It's become a cliche to say Troon North Golf Club is one of the best golfing experiences in Arizona, if not the country. Any list ranking the top courses in the Valley shouldn't be taken seriously if it doesn't include either the Pinnacle or Monument Course. The scenery is spectacular, the courses are always in immaculate condition and the service is first-rate. But here's our own top 10 -- the 10 best reasons Troon North is worth the hefty price tag.
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Luxury, great golf reign at the Westin La Paloma Resort and Spa near Tucson
It's hard to know where to start when describing the Westin La Paloma Resort and Spa just northwest of Tucson. Do you begin with the world-class golf course that sits on the property? How about the 10 tennis courts, four of which are clay? Or maybe the 18 treatment rooms at the Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa? Maybe it's best just to say this: La Paloma is a bit of north Scottsdale dropped into the Tucson desert.
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The Phoenician: Twenty-seven working-class holes at a world-class golf resort in Scottsdale
Here's the thing about The Phoenician: If golfers expect the three nine-hole golf courses to be as splendorous as the resort itself, they'll be disappointed. But if they don't mind a few extra par 3s, spectacular views and a few chance meetings with the group in the next fairway, they'll be happy they left the comforts of the resort behind to chase the little white ball around for a few hours, Scott Bordow writes from Scottsdale.
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Feature Stories
Ten reasons why a tee time at Troon North Golf Club in Scottsdale is worth the hefty green fee
It's become a cliche to say Troon North Golf Club is one of the best golfing experiences in Arizona, if not the country. Any list ranking the top courses in the Valley shouldn't be taken seriously if it doesn't include either the Pinnacle or Monument Course. The scenery is spectacular, the courses are always in immaculate condition and the service is first-rate. But here's our own top 10 -- the 10 best reasons Troon North is worth the hefty price tag.
... full article »- In Phoenix for a Cardinals game? Here's where to play golf near the stadium
- Don't let the temperature scare you: Summer deals can be had on top Phoenix/Scottsdale golf courses
Reviews
Be ready for forced carries over desert at The Golf Club at Vistoso in Tucson
There are so many forced carries over desert at The Golf Club at Vistoso in northeast Tucson that it should be included in the course's name. How difficult are the forced carries? You may want to fill out a flight plan before you play a round there, Scott Bordow writes. Vistoso might be one of the more difficult 6,900-yard tracks in all of Arizona.
... full article »- Luxury, great golf reign at the Westin La Paloma Resort and Spa near Tucson
- The Phoenician: Twenty-seven working-class holes at a world-class golf resort in Scottsdale
Arizona Golf Destinations
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Tucson
Savvy Arizona golfers are quick to remind anyone who asks that the Valley of the Sun is like the Old Pueblo on steroids when it comes to fairways available for public consumption. But since the early 1990s, Tucson has made a respectable run in the realm of high-end resort and daily-fee golf. What's more, Tucson is not nearly as inundated with players as Phoenix or Scottsdale, and the Old Pueblo's lack of serious traffic issues will enable you to get from one course to another in a much more expedient fashion than in grid-locked Phoenix.
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Northern Arizona
Northern Arizona will never be mistaken for the Valley of the Sun when it comes to golf, and therein lies the beauty. At elevations ranging from 5,000 to 7,000 feet above sea level, the northern part of the state presents golfers with a completely different set of challenges, landscapes, and (for the budget minded) price points.
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Southern Arizona
Make the trip out to Arizona and the Phoenix area will attract you like a magnet with its legion of golf courses and resorts, all fighting over your golfing dollar. But if you are overwhelmed by the choices the "Valley of the Sun" has to offer, head south into spacious, affordable Southern Arizona. The small towns here have a certain charm that Phoenix, Tucson and Scottsdale lack, not to mention a handful of challenging, affordable golf courses.
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Prescott
Outside of Arizona, Prescott largely remains a mystery, its charming old-time downtown streets and its ancient Victorian homes almost as undiscovered by tourists now as Arizona was in general back before the gold rush boom of the mid 19th century. Not surprisingly, it's a few club-toting, birdie-seekers who are starting to change that. Prescott is emerging as a golf destination, a quality, lower-priced alternative to the crowded meccas of Phoenix and Scottsdale.
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Phoenix/Scottsdale
The Valley of the Sun -- made up of Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa and a slew of other rapidly growing cities -- is the 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 from sun-starved winter climates make their way to this sun-splashed golfing pantheon to test their mettle on desert courses that yield more lost balls than birdies.
