Scottsdale Arizona's Sonoran Desert
By:The Phantom Golfer
For all the golf I have played all around this great country there are few locations that have truly moved me more than the Scottsdale region of Arizona. There is something about the area, the weather, the people and this place that just keeps you coming back time after time. It is easy to see what elevates Scottsdale to the level where it is today among the best locations worldwide to come and enjoy a golf vacation. No other place boasts such a diverse and solid mix of some of the finest golf courses anywhere in the world today. The desert southwest continues to be one of the most popular destinations for golf trips for one simple reason, it has it all.
The greater Phoenix area has 200 great golf courses to choose from, 70 hotels and golf resorts, many with wonderful spa’s and lets see, Hum 330 days of sunshine. If this is not the best ingredient for a great golf trip, lets ad 600 restaurants and some of the best nightlife in the country. It may be boring to have bright sunshine every day for a solid week, but I think you will be able to handle it, you won’t need the umbrella. It is a pure and simple fact why this is one of the fastest growing cities in the United States, it is a great spot to be. Once you visit here I guarantee you will be coming back.
In the first week of February of this year the Southwest will host two of the largest attended sporting events in the world in the same week. After 18 straight wins the New England Patriots will be playing for the perfect season in Superbowl XL11 against the New York Giants in the new University of Phoenix Stadium, the new home of the Arizona Cardinals. The Sonaran Desert will play host to NFL fans from all over the world at the same time one of the most popular PGA Tour events will be held in Scottsdale at the TPC Scottsdale, the FBR Phoenix Open. The new stadium, which is in Glendale right outside of Phoenix, is designed after a Barrel Cactus by architect Peter Eisenman and will hold nearly 75,000 fans for the big game. It should be a great time in Phoenix and you can be sure that many of the attendees and players will be taking advantage of the great golf the region has to offer. Because this is such a special season for the New England Patriots thousands of New Englanders will get there first look at this great part of the country.
This was our second trip in the last two years to Scottsdale. Last year we had the opportunity to play some great courses like legends Trail, Gold Canyon, Octillo and Eagle Mountain. This year we had a special treat as we got to play at Talking Stick a Troon Golf managed course designed by Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw. The course played at 7133 yards from the tips and was just a great layout. On the next two days we got to Play Troon North’s Monument Course and Pinnacle Course. Under Tom Wieskopf the 36 hole facility was reconfigured by blending the two courses together and changing the sequence in which the holes are now played. The changes have been lauded by many golf purest in the region since the reopening in October of 2007.
With over 25 years of industry experience developing and operating golf facilities worldwide, Dana Garmany, Chairman and CEO of Troon Golf, founded the company following the success of Troon North and the philosophy of treating guests like a “member for the day.”
“Making changes of this magnitude to two of the game’s most highly acclaimed courses was something we extensively studied and took very seriously,” Garmany stated. “In the end, both Tom Weiskopf and I are confident we have improved both golf courses and enhanced the player experience significantly.”
On our final day we got to visit The TPC Champion Course of Scottsdale home to the FBR Phoenix Open a great facility only a few minutes from Resort Suites, you could not ask for a better finishing track on your last day in the desert. Scottsdale is one the finest vacation destinations in the country. The golf, resorts, restaurants, shopping, and attractions are unmatched by almost anywhere. The region has so much to offer that it is literally impossible to see it all in just one visit. The perfect weather is just one facet of what makes this region such a great location to visit. The regions strongest asset may be its wonderful knack for making people feel welcome. The staff at Resort Suites, and all the Troon Golf Facilities as well as the The TPC Scottsdale made it all easy. They were professional, friendly and as consistent as the weather. They made us feel at home away from home, and that’s what really made this a great trip. There are many times of year which are perfect for a trip to the greater Phoenix / Scottsdale area. The first week of December turned out to be perfect for us, the temperatures were mild and the city was lit up with Christmas cheer in the spirit of the holiday season. For Golf package information you may contact Resort Suites at 800-541-5203 or at www.resortsuites.com. Or the Scottsdale Convention and Visitors Bureau at 800-782-1117 or at www.scottsdalecvb.com
The Phantom Golfer
tim@nebulletin.com
