rocks and water and the 17th with two sets of tee boxes that alternate from day to day , the longer option requiring a carry over desert scrub .
The course tests you throughout , and you often find yourself in the desert by underestimating distances .
GRAYHAWK GOLF CLUB
To say Grayhawk rocks is an understatement . Classic rock songs such as Lynyrd Skynyrd ’ s Free Bird , Led Zep ’ s Stairway to Heaven and the Stones ’ Honky Tonk Woman blast out from discrete speakers as you make your way to the driving range . But then it is called the Rock and Roll Range .
Sadly I didn ’ t have time to see if the driving beats helped my swing rhythm before teeing off on the Talon Course . Talon , the shorter of two Tom Fazio designs at the club that stretch either side of 7,000 yards , makes you think as you plot your way around . Tight , contoured fairways edged by desert scrub along with gaping , sculpted bunkers and fast , large greens all add to the challenge .
There ’ s even an island green on the par-3 17th , while the 18th is a real three-shot , 588-yard par 5 with ponds and waterfalls on the left as you approach the green .
OTHER SCOTTSDALE COURSES AND ACCOMMODATION
Scottsdale ’ s other golf offerings include the spectacular 36 holes of Troon North ,
We-Ko-Pa ’ s two courses in the Sonoran Desert setting of the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation , Talking Stick Golf Club ’ s flat but deceptively-tricky Coore and Crenshaw designs and TPC Scottsdale , home of the Waste Management Phoenix Open , famous for its raucous atmosphere and amphitheatre 16th hole .
Golfers who want to play 18 holes but are short of time can try the new Mountain Shadows Short Course , a challenging par 3 layout below Camelback Mountain that forms part of a soon-to-open boutique resort .
The Scottsdale Resort at McCormick Ranch offers hacienda-style accommodation with golf on the adjacent McCormick Ranch Golf Course .
Scottsdale ’ s latest hotel , the Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Spa , features luxurious art-inspired casita-style bungalows with décor and furnishings that hark back to the 1950s and 1960s .
SCOTTSDALE ATTRACTIONS
Downtown Scottsdale has plenty to do by day and night , notably in its walkable Old Town area . Western Spirit : Scottsdale ’ s Museum of the West opened in 2015 and celebrates the Western heritage , art of culture of the region . Close by , you can browse boutique art galleries and shops .
The city has a thriving craft beer scene . Old Town Scottsdale has an Ale Trail with
Volume 3 • Issue 37 31