Virginia Golfer Sep / Oct 2019 | Page 33

t Drive Scottsdale is the gateway to Arizona’s elite golf experiences G by JOAN TUPPONCE OLF AND SCOTTSDALE ARE A MARRIAGE MADE IN HEAVEN. The warm sunny days and the cool mountain nights create a perfect scenario for fun and play. The area began its golfing history almost 100 years ago when players tried out their best shots on oiled dirt courses under the shadow of Camelback Mountain. Desert golf has welcomed every type of pro and golf enthusiast over the years, from Bing Crosby to Arnold Palmer. Today Scottsdale is home to 51 golf courses with an additional 200 courses sprinkled across the Valley of the Sun. While the names of some courses such as Troon North and TPC Scottsdale are synonymous with the game, other top-tier courses offer similar breathtaking views and incredible play. NO STRANGER TO TOURNAMENTS Grayhawk Golf Club is home to two 18-hole courses—the Raptor, which is hosting the NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Golf Championships from 2020 through 2022, and Talon. Both courses were designed to test your skills. Raptor, a Tom Fazio-designed course, stretches 7,090 yards from the back tees. The par-72 course offers generous fairways and spectacular views of the McDowell Mountains and the Sonoran Desert. The course—challenging but fair—hosted the PGA Tour Frys.com Open from 2007 to 2009. Designed by U.S. Open and 1979 PGA Champion David Graham, and golf course architect Gary Panks, Grayhawk’s Talon has hosted numerous high-profile golf events such as the pro-ams for the Waste Management Phoenix Open. S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R 2 0 19 | V I R G I N I A G O L F E R 31