Bargains in the Valley of the Sun

By Scott Behmer
Southern Arizona Bureau Chief

June 17, 1999

Chip Shot: These five championship courses in the Valley of the Sun offer special rates from sunrise 'til after the sun sets, so you can beat the heat and still take advantage of the bargains they offer.

PHOENIX - As the temperatures rise, greens fees usually drop during the hottest part of the day; however, these five courses in the Valley of the Sun have bargain rates from sunrise 'til after the sun sets. This means that you can get their great summer deals while beating the heat at the same time.

Further, these five are all championship layouts in beautiful settings that are difficult to get on during the prime golfing season. Here's a look.

The Arizona Golf Resort offers a bargain of $22 with cart Monday through Thursday, and it's only $29 Friday through Sunday. This 6574-yard, par 71 championship design offers a traditional layout compared to the many desert courses nearby. Numerous lakes and bunkers put an emphasis on accuracy while the tree-lined fairways create a beautiful outline of the holes. Further adding to the beauty are the fountains shooting water into the lakes.

The lush green surroundings combine with the water to create a feeling of paradise, drawing your thoughts away from the heat. Additionally, the Arizona Golf Resort offers a complete practice area including two putting greens and a clubhouse easily up to the high standards expected of a top-notch resort.

Thunderbird Golf Resort has a special of $20 with cart Monday through Friday. At 6500 yards, it too, is a shorter course and was designed especially for women, children, and newcomers to the game. With only 3 water holes and 15 bunkers on the course, it's an ideal layout for newcomers, showing on the front nine the beauty and risk involved with desert golf, and on the back the more traditional layout where the difficulty is evident from the tee.

Set in the foothills of the South Mountain Preserve, it presents beautiful views of the city skyline and Camelback Mountain while offering a full practice facility, bar and grill, and a pro shop loaded with top-of-the-line golf merchandise.

Another resort with an excellent summer deal is Gold Canyon Golf Resort's Sidewinder Course, where a foursome can play for only $100. In the fall, the rate will probably triple and you may never again be able to play this fine addition to the Gold Canyon championship courses for such a low rate. The Sidewinder Course is a par 71, 6,500-yard desert layout.

Designed to minimize the impact on nature, there are small greens and tee boxes and accompanying tight fairways with little rough. Set at the base of the Superstition Mountains, there are mountain outcroppings and an abundance of natural wildlife. Further, you may already be aware of the renowned practice facilities and clubhouse which it shared with Gold Canyon's other two resort courses.

A very similar layout, yet a well-kept secret, is Palm Valley Golf Club. Ideal for a quick round, this 7000-yard, par 72 layout is only $20 during weekdays. Nestled at the base of the Estrella Mountains, the course is surprisingly flat.

However, man-made moundings and ridges along with natural desert grasses add difficulty to your shots. Its signature hole, the 395-yard, par 4 #5 will instantly become one of your all-time favorites. It's uphill from the tee and then the second is severely uphill to the course's pinnacle. From the green the views are breathtaking and can be appreciated even more after you hole your putt. A medium-size practice area and clubhouse provide places for pre-round work and post-round relaxation.

Finally, Sun City's Hill Crest Golf Club is only $30 with cart on weekdays, with a special two-for-one deal on Tuesday. Seven major Tour-events are hosted by this championship course throughout the year. The 6960-yard layout is designed to circle its large lake.

Overall, the 25 acres of water and palm tree-lined fairways will remind you of Florida, but the low humidity won't. Its complete pro shop and large clubhouse should satisfy your needs. And if you want to practice, Hill Crest is home to the renowned John Jacobs Golf School with one of Arizona's top practice facilities.

Now's the time to take advantage of the day-long bargains and exemplary supporting facilities at these stellar courses, all located in the renowned golfing haven known as the Valley of the Sun.