Superstition Mountain AZ

Superstition Mountain
Apache Junction AZ
We all know that the state of golf today isn’t the greatest. Play is down and memberships at clubs is hurting. Superstition Mountain, which takes its name from the ancient Pima tribes name for the surrounding mountains, in Apache Junction is no exception. But this may be a case where it truly benefits the public golfer who is looking for a private club experience.

Superstition Mountain is located about 25 miles east of the Phoenix airport, brushing against the base of the rugged Superstition Mountains and bordered by the 2.9-million-acre Tonto National Forest. It is a very private, upscale, housing community with 2 Jack Nicklaus design golf courses, Prospector and Lost Gold.
It has hosted 7 Champions and LPGA tour events. So, you may have seen it on TV.

Originally founded by Lyle Anderson, it has fallen on hard times in this economic recession, fell into bankruptcy and has recently been purchased by James Hladky, out of that bankruptcy for $13.5 million. I would guess that the elegant, 50,000 square foot old world clubhouse alone cost over $13 million to build. In 2008 the operation lost over $4 million and in 2009 lost almost $1 million. Mr. Hladky has dropped the initiation fee to $15,000, and hopes to attract enough new members in the next few years to take it back to private.

Part of their plan is to rotate one of the courses into public use every day.
The members keep a private course and the public gets access to a private club. “Everyone wins”, said one of my member playing partners. “At least there is now a plan to get things here back on track.”

I played the Prospector course, today, with my friend Paul Inderbitzen and two resident members from Superstition Mountain. This course has generous, friendly fairways which are in superb condition and large greens with very subtle, hard to read breaks. The greens play fast, which I love. The desert frames many of the holes but a few of the holes resemble Midwest parkland courses with fairways adjacent to each other. There is plenty of room for your tee shots and plenty of challenge once you get up to the greens. It has five sets of tee boxes stretching from 7225 yards to a very woman friendly 5223 yards. We played it from 6300 today which still presents plenty of challenge. The inspirational vistas of the surrounding Superstition Mtns are worth the trip alone.

Number 18 may be the prettiest hole on the course. A slightly raised tee overlooking a par 5 ribbon of green with water down the left side. There are several other beautiful holes some that are framed by the mountain vistas. It’s a wonderful site, seeing your ball soar against a mountain background.

Play late enough in the day to bask in one of their breathtaking desert sunsets. You will be glad you did.

If you go: visit http://www.superstitionmountain.com/
Phone: 480-983-3200
Fees: high season (winter) $165 Mon- Thursday
$180 Fri and Sat
Twilight: $85 and 95 weekends