Hole profile from
Estrella Mountain Ranch:
No. 9 - "The Island"
By Shannon Gazze,
GolfArizona.com Valley Editor
GOODYEAR, Ariz. – Normally, a hole called "The Island"
brings to mind a floating green and swiftly sinking golf balls.
But we’re in the middle of a desert here, people, so we’ll
have to adjust our thought patterns a bit. You’ll find an "island"
and a "stream" on the ninth hole at Estrella Mountain
Ranch, but the only water in sight is in the cup-holder on your
cart.
The "island" is really a circle of desert cut into
the short grass about 10 feet in diameter, complete with boulder
and cactus and flanked by a bunker. Together, they bisect the
fairway of this 435-yard par 4.
The odd layout gives golfers a choice on the tee box. First,
let’s assume you can clear the standard 100 yards of desert
off the tee and avoid rattlesnake country to the right. You can
then either aim for the wider, flatter right side of the fairway
and leave yourself an imposing approach shot up a slight grade,
over a desert wash (a dry "stream" that cuts across
the fairway) and green-side bunker and onto a shallow putting
surface.
Or you can carve your way through the narrow left side of the
fairway, which should open up more of the green and cut down on
the distance and steepness of your approach.
Either way, reaching this green in two is an accomplishment,
and you should reward yourself with a freshly grilled hotdog at
the turn.
If you manage to par the hole, go ahead and throw in a nice refreshing
glass of lemonade. After all, we’re in the middle of a desert
here.
If you want to experience "The Island" for yourself,
call (623) 386-2600 for tee times, or for more information, visit
www. estrellamtnranch.com/golf/.
Estrella Mountain Ranch Golf Club
11800 South Golf Club Drive
Goodyear, Arizona 85338
(623) 386-2600
www.estrellamtnranch.com/golf
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Las Sendas Golf Club