The 12th at Gold Canyon's Dinosaur Mountain Course is a Site to Behold

By Shane Sharp
Regional Staff Writer

June 21, 1999

PHOENIX -- When I asked Head Pro Scott Scherger to tell me a little bit about the signature hole at Dinosaur Mountain, he in turn asked me if I had a while, because he had about twelve we could talk about. If I could have a Titleist for everytime I've heard this from a head pro about their respective course, I'd never have to go to the pro shop again.

The only problem is, this time it was as true as the greens that grace the ends of the fairways at the Dinosaur Moutain Golf Course. While Scherger and I decided upon the par-4 12th Hole, after heading out for my round immediately after our conversation, I was ready to write two thirds of the holes on the course (see front nine and back nine highlights).

The 12th Hole has one of the longest carries off the tee, but the elevated tee box ensures that a well-struck drive will clear any trouble. My playing partner and I both played the hole in par from the Coyote tee boxes (the whites), but from the tips, the 12th becomes an entireley different challenge of golf. Signature hole or not, the 12th hole is a great hole among great holes.

The Hole: The 12th Hole at Dinosaur Mountain. Plays 454 from the racks, 381 from the whites, and 343 from the forward tees.

Architect: Phoenix based Ken Kavanaugh.

The Layout: An elevated tee box presents the player with one of the best views of the Phoenix Valley to the west. A narrow fairway with a bunker in play to the right bottlenecks into a realitively large green with plenty of undulation.

The Strategy: For a golfer with solid accuracy off the tee is to hit down the right side of the fairway while tiptoeing around the fairway bunker on the right. Favoring the right side will allow for an approach shot to the fat part of the green, and will effectively take the left greenside bunker out of play. If your driver is not with you that day, take it straight up the middle or a little left to eliminate the possibility of an approach shot from the right fairway bunker.

The Average Golfer: Should make sure they are playing from the right tees, which holds the key to the difficulty level of the 12th. If you're over a 20 handicap, play the holes from the Coyote tees (white) to make par a real possibility for yourself. Strategy-wise, adhere to the philsophy above.

Don't Play: A high fade on this hole off the tee. The majority of the time it will be pushed even further right by the prevailing winds, and will end up either in the right fairway bunker or in the desert.

Play the Hole: In the evening as the sun drops towards the White Tank Mountains west of Phoenix. However, if the sun is actually setting over the White Tanks, hurry up and play for crying out loud.

Inside the numbers: The 12th Hole is the No. 8 handicap hole.

Shane Sharp is a staff writer for Myrtlebeachgolf.com and GolfArizona.com. Contact him at sharp@rockies.com