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.
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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.