Virginia Golfer Sep / Oct 2018 | Page 36

Westin Kierland Golf Club has been ranked by Golf Digest as one of “America’s 9 Most Cheerful Golf Courses.” RIGHT: Kierland also offers a unique and fun variety of golf transportation options. WHERE THE PROS PLAY The only facility in the area with a higher profile is TPC Scottsdale , site of the PGA Tour’s annual Waste Management Phoenix Open, which drew a record crowd of over 719,000 spectators earlier this year. The Stadium Course is a vastly different expe- rience during tournament week when the famous par-3 16th is completely encircled by 20,000 fans. A tee time here in peak season costs $329 (plus tip for the mandatory forecad- die), but it’s always cool to play where the pros play. Do so and you will find out why the par-5 15th and par-4 17th holes are much more inter- esting than the famous hole they bookend. Also keep an eye out for plaques around the course denoting famous moments, like “Tiger’s Rock” and Andrew Magee’s hole-in-one on the par-4 17th. After your round enjoy a drink or a Cubano sandwich in Toro, the clubhouse restaurant. Accommodations at the Fair- mont Princess Scottsdale are within a short walk or shuttle ride to the course. Right across the street from the Sta- dium Course is the Champions Course, an option often underrated by visitors but not by locals. An enjoyable walk and almost half the price of its more famous Nearly three-quarters of a million people descended on TCP Scottsdale for this year’s fan-favorite Waste Management Phoenix Open. 34 V I R G I N I A G O L F E R | S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R 2 0 18 sibling course, it features opening and closing holes with challenging water haz- ards, plus memorable views of the nearby McDowell Mountains. A FINE CHOICE If you want to shoot the best score of your trip to the Valley, consider the Westin Kierland Golf Club . Always in fine condi- tion, the 27-hole facility offers a rotation of fun layouts, with many fairways shaped to help keep the ball in play. You can also choose from a menu of transportation options to make your way around the courses, from Shark Experience carts (featuring Greg Norman instruction vid- eos, a variety of music channels and live streams of PGA Tour events) to Segways, GolfBikes, Golfboards or TurfRider mopeds. As for the best of the nines, many locals prefer the Acacia, with an inter- esting variety of holes topped off by the par-5 ninth, which ends right behind the 700-room resort. Head inside there afterwards and reward the low score with a selection from more than 200 bottles in the impressive Scotch Library. BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL For a singular desert experience, check out The Boulders , a recently renovated resort where public play switches between two vsga.org outs both recently underwent renova- tions, including new sand in every bunker and restored green sizes. Green fees are much higher than back in the early days ($299 Thursday through Saturday in peak months) but dynamic pricing can lead to better deals. With Pinnacle No. 1 and Monument No. 4 on GOLF Magazine’s most recent ranking of Best Public Courses in Arizona, plus long-distance views of the Valley and surrounding mountains, Troon North’s famous duo is a must-play.