MESA DESTINATION GUIDE

Mesa, Arizona: All grown up with hot golf opportunities

By William K. Wolfrum,
Staff Writer

(Aug. 25, 2005) - As a city that saw its population explode 37 percent in the 1990s, Mesa has rapidly carved its own niche in the Arizona desert, and has separated itself from its big brother of Phoenix, which lies just 15 miles east.

The spring training home of Major League Baseball's Chicago Cubs, Mesa is home to more than 420,000 people and ranks as the 43rd largest city in the U.S. according to the 2000 census. This is no longer a city to just consolidate with the rest of the East Valley region. Mesa can now stand on its own.

Mesa Golf Courses

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Los Sendas Golf Club: With a slope rating of 145, the beautiful scenery surrounding Los Sendas will likely help take your mind off the astronomical numbers you'll be putting on your scorecard.

This Robert Trent Jones Jr. design was meant to be a challenge for golfers. As Jones himself said: "It is a Wild West course, and you'd better bring your six-guns, because you're going to have to shoot it out here."

It's a course that requires tact off the tee and solid iron play to get anything approximating a low score, but at $45 during the week and $65 during the weekend, with plenty of promotions throughout the year, Los Sendas is truly a can't-miss course in Mesa.

Longbow Golf Club: Playing a course that is named after a military attack helicopter may seem strange - nearby Boeing developed the helicopter - but designer Ken Kavanaugh did a solid job taking some barren desert and creating a good place to play golf.

The course got better in 2003, after a complete redesign added length to make the course check in at a respectable 7,003 yards from the back tees. Also, fairways were widened and par was lifted to 71, while the slope rating moved to 129 from the tips.

Throw in a revamped clubhouse and practice facilities and Longbow has upped the ante considerably, making it a solid deal for the $50-a-round price tag. And once you put away your clubs, take a look back in aviation history at the nearby Confederate Air Museum.

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Superstition Springs Golf Course: Designed by Greg Nash, Superstition Springs is a good place to go if you want to experience a non-desert setting. Sure, it will likely still be hot, but Superstition has the look and feel of a course you would play in Florida rather than in the middle of Arizona.

Eleven holes have water come into play and the course is normally in pristine condition, offering plenty of chances for risk-takers. With a slope rating maxing out at 135 and a total yardage of 7,005 it's a good challenge for players of all levels and the price tag of $39-$49 makes it a good deal as well.

Painted Mountain Golf Club: Aside from offering an executive course, Painted Mountain also offers a brisk 6,000-yard course that comes in at a potentially ego-boosting slope rating of 104. Look for green fees in the $20-$30 area.

Also Playing

Viewpoint Golf Resort: Based in an RV resort, this smallish (just 6,226 yards from the tips) Michael Rus course gives you rolling fairways and more than half its holes have water come into play. The signature No. 9 is a 321-yard par 4 that plays over water and tempts big hitters. The green fees run from $30 in the summers to $60 during the peak winter months, but they are very generous with promotions and discounts.

Arizona Golf Resort & Conference Center: Not the longest (6,574 from the back tees) or toughest (a slope rating in the 117-124 area) you'll play, but plenty enough of both to give you a good round. A picturesque course packed with doglegs and bunkers, it will also have you playing with water on five holes. Green fees are in the $40-60 area and you'll want to look below and consider this as a place to stay, as well.

Dobson Ranch Golf Course: A nice municipal where you can get on for as low as $15 and rarely more than $25, this 6,593-yard, 117-slope course stays in solid shape despite getting around 100,000 rounds played on it a year.

Toka Sticks Golf Club: A lot of trees and a couple lakes come into play at this 6,605-yard, 117-slope course. One of the oldest courses in Arizona, being built by the Army in 1945. Green fees will get up to $50 during winter, but most of the time $25-$30 will get you 18 holes.

Private courses include Leisure World Country Club, Alta Mesa Country Club, Apache Wells Country Club, Mesa Country Club, Red Mountain Ranch Country Club and Fountain of the Sun Country Club.

Finally, for those looking for a quick nine holes, executive and smaller-type courses are available at Leisure World Country Club, Painted Mountain Golf Club, Sunland Village Golf Course, Dreamland Villa Golf Course, Desert Sands Golf Course, Riverview Golf Course, Augusta Ranch Golf Club and Viewpoint Golf Resort.

Where to Stay

Arizona Golf Resort: Obviously a popular stop for a traveling golfer, with an 18-hole course and great restaurant, the Arizona Golf Resort is popular for businessmen coming to Mesa. You can often get discount room rates or other deals at their Web site. Phone: (480) 832-3202.

Windemere Hotel & Conference Center: The Windemere is a classy joint and that should show up in the rates, but check out their golf packages and you may sweeten the deal for yourself. Phone: (480) 985-3600.

Best Western Dobson Ranch Inn:The biggest hotel chain going makes a nice effort in Mesa, offering central access to most courses in town, as well as several golf packages and other promotions. Phone: (480) 831-7000.

Local Restaurants

Los Dos Molinos: Named Best Mexican and Best New Mexican-Style Restaurant in the Phoenix-Mesa area by readers of the New Times. Featuring the Best Margaritas in the Phoenix-Mesa area according to the Arizona Republic in 1998. Phone: (480) 835-5356.

Annabelles: The restaurant offering of the Arizona Golf Resort, Annabelles offers an elegant atmosphere and a brilliantly varied menu. Try the grilled rack of lamb with Latin salsa, Cajun swordfish with pineapple raspberry salsa. Phone: (480) 832-3202.

Pier De Orleans: Owned by the same family since 1971, they offer a friendly atmosphere and a whole lot of seafood for not a whole lot of money. Aside from the king crab and lobster, you won't find anything more than $20 on the menu. Phone: (480) 844-7437.

Other Attractions

Park of the Canals is spread out over 30-acre and includes visual evidence of ancient Hohokam Indian canal systems that date back to 700 B.C., admission is free and includes a childs' play area.

And OK, it's not in Mesa, but it's just about a 20-minute drive to the Phoenix Zoo, and you can see the giraffes their every day of the year except Christmas.

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