Come to Quivira for the Golf and be awed by the views

Come to Quivira for the Golf and be awed by the views

by Larry Berle

I am staying at the Pueblo Bonito Oceanfront Resort and Spa, and tomorrow morning I am going to get up early  to watch the sun peak its head over the Sea of Cortez and provide me with a spectacular sunrise  from my balcony.  This particular hotel is adults only but several others on the property cater to families, the closest being  Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach Golf & Spa Resort, which has villas from 1-4 bedrooms.  So bring your family or your foursome of buddies.

The golf course here is Quivira, and  there are not many pieces of land that have such spectacular potential.   Jack Nicklaus must have been thrilled when he was asked  to plan a golf course here.  This par 72 plays 7139 yards from the tips but there are 5 sets of tees all the way down to 4793 yards which should make it fun for everybody.

The Pacific Ocean meets the sea of Cortez at lands end of Cabo St Lucas, which  is a spectacular location for a golf course.  Ernesto Coppel,  figured golfers would love to spend a few hours , playing golf and just absorbing these endless views, so he hired Jack Nicklaus to put a golf course here.  And if that wasn’t enough, he accompanied it with a very luxurious resort so dad could bring his entire family to enjoy a vacation here at Lands end.

The first 4 holes have generous fairways and are very welcoming. Number five may be one of the most interesting and confounding holes you will ever play… Just ask yourself how can a 310 yard hole from the tips be the #1 handicap and you will get the idea.  We rode over 1/2 mile up the steep mountainside  to the tee box which is perched  on a cliff nearly 300 feet  above the Pacific. The hole winds around and falls away to the green which is similarly perched on that same cliff.  All I can say is wow!!  The par three  number six sits on that same cliff but its route is much clearer.   If spectacular is what you are looking for, you have come to the right place

 Fifth Hole Quivira

It seems as though you can see the ocean from every hole.  9-12 lets up a bit on your sensory overload. Then comes number thirteen, a short 148 yard par three from the tips that may be as spectacular and 5 and 6, with a postage stamp green perched on a spectacular granite rock outcropping.  Just remember, you came here to play golf, not to gawk at the scenery. Fourteen through seventeen are visually stunning as well,   especially number 16 which  has an awesome tee shot  from over 100 feet above the fairway.  You will get hang time that would make an NFL punter proud. 

 When asked about this property Jack Nicklaus said “The sand dunes of the rolling desert foothills and gusts of wind from the Pacific Ocean are natural hazards. And the vivid colors and contours of the granite cliffs should challenge and awe golfers.”

 Then its time for the 19th hole at the clubhouse which sits right on the Pacific shore. Cool off and if your hungry try the Quivira  Steakhouse. Watch the crashing waves here at Baja’s lands end and you may want to stay till night fall.

13th tee in the morning

Did I mention the comfort stations?  Four in all, along the way with complimentary  food and beverage that will surely cause you to pause at each one.These are not just cookies and candy— they have chefs on site to prepare delicious regional dishes  for you.  To truly appreciate what this course has to offer you are most certainly going to have a round of golf longer than 4 hours.  But its worth it.

If you don't feel like hauling your golf clubs  to Mexico, then I suggest

 the resorts brand new Taylor Made  rental clubs and to be honest they were better than my own set.

*photos courtesy of Quivira Golf Club

If you go:

www.quiviragolfclub.com

http://www.pueblobonito.com/?lang=en

Greens fees range from $295- $240 in prime season down to $140 in the summer

Quivira  has won several awards already including  Golf Magazines 2014 Best New International Golf Course.

Seven Canyons Golf and Enchantment Resort Sedona AZ

by Larry Berle

Seven Canyons in Sedona AZ, just 100 miles north of Phoenix was built in 2003 when golf course developments were booming.  It is completely surrounded by 100,000 acres of Coconino National Forest and Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness.  It is a good golf course  neatly squeezed  into a jaw dropping setting.  If you are looking for Arizona desert golf, then head back to Phoenix because here you are among the Red Rocks, Canyon Walls, Chaparral and Pondorosa Pines and water falls.  How a private real estate development came to be inside of a National Forest is a good question that I don't have an answer to.

Brad Klein of Golf Week  described it as  “playing golf at the bottom of the Grand Canyon”  and also called it the IMAX  of golf.   Now there are two great images for you to ponder.  If you don't like those  try  “360 degrees of breathtaking beauty”

We are at 4600 feet above sea level, well above Phoenix, but that will vary today as there is over 300 feet of elevation change  here at Seven Canyons.  And be sure to bring your greatest concentration because its easy to be completely distracted by the beautiful red rocks landscape where you are spending your day.  Oh yeah!  I almost forgot I have to hit another golf shot.

The 175 foot drop from the tee to the par 3  fourth green  not only confounds you about what club to select but makes you think they should just provide a zipline down to the green.  

Often in cases like this, one might say  “words can’t describe it”  I am doing my best here but  clicking on this flyover may show you why its so hard to describe  http://www.sevencanyons.com/golf/3d-course-flyover/

In 2003 it was developed as a private club with  luxurious fractional share villas  to be sold.

But the recession hit and it fell on hard times.  Now homes are being built again and a brand new clubhouse will open in April of this year.   Enchantment Resort recently took  over management of the club.   The service here was terrific and the course was in  wonderful shape.  The scenery on the driving range alone makes you want to stay and hit just a few more practice shots.

Enchantment Resort

While there are still private club members, you can play here if you are staying at  Enchantment Resort.   And believe me staying here isn't exactly tough duty.  Its Five star luxury all the way  in an awesome setting.  I don't think there is anything else quite like it in Sedona.  It stands at the doorway to Boynton Canyon and every view is its own inspiration.  

The food is wonderful, there are plenty of spa services and the service is impeccable.  We are in a Casita Jr suite and tomorrow morning we will get up and participate in morning yoga.—  We told some friends in Phoenix we were coming here.  They used to live in Sedona.  They told us the biggest factor in their decision to move to Sedona was staying at Enchantment— its just drop dead gorgeous.

If you go:

525 Boynton Canyon Rd

Sedona AZ86336

928-282-2900

http://www.enchantmentresort.com

Call for rates as they vary with the season

The Mirabel Golf Club

by Larry Berle

Mirabel, in North Scottsdale, AZ is big in every sense. From the clubhouse to the service, to the golf course, Mirabel comes up large. The clubhouse is ultra comfortable, perfect for before and after, and the staff leaves no stone unturned to make sure you’re happy. The practice area has extensive targets and  the practice balls are Titelist Pro v1’s but the fun really begins on the first tee. 

Tom Fazio, Mirabel’s designer, has  more golf courses on the Top 100 than any living golf course architect. Mirabel is one of his Arizona masterpieces—7141 yards of glorious golf that displays all of Fazio’s trademark design elements, all big. 

It begins with the fairways. Fazio is known for creating generous landing areas and he does not disappoint here at Mirabel. The fairways are wide—60 yards and more at the par four 15th, and more than ample elsewhere. 

Large landing areas leaves plenty of room for undulation so good luck getting a flat lie. You know you ought to hit them, and Fazio thinks you should too. That is why he lined them with vast bunkers that you may dream about—or have nightmares about depending on how your day goes. 

And then there are the greens, where big becomes really big. Fifty to seventy-five foot putts are almost always a possibility, and they are complicated by ridges and more subtle rolls that can make two putts a real challenge.   The greens are running at 10.5 on the stimpmeter today but as the asst golf pro pointed out.  “Pay attention to where Phoenix is  on all your putts.  If you are putting down valley 10.5 may become 12.5 and if you are putting up valley, it may become 8.

But don’t worry—big fairways, big traps and big greens add up to a very playable course, especially if you choose the right tees. You can hit most of the fairways, you can get your second shots into the vicinity of most of the greens. Getting in the hole from there is where the real fun is. These greens are fiercely guarded and they all have more than enough movement in them to keep your full attention. Polish up your short game and you’ll have a lot of success.   This type of design is one of Fazios strengths,  fun for the Sunday golfer and a challenge for the single digit handicapper.

If you came for the views, then you have come to the right place.  We are at 3,000 feet above sea level with expansive views of the valley below.

Take number three tee box for example—  we can see all the way to downtown Phoenix and even to  Univ of Phoenix stadium, where the Superbowl was played yesterday.

If that view isn't expansive enough the tee box at number six  should be, as it is the highest on the course. 

Number eight may be the largest green on the course so club selection is critical here.  The green is deep enough that the club selection could vary by as many as four.  But alas on most days you will encounter the club chef at the grill as you leave this green to present you with one of his tasty treats.  If that doesn’t satisfy your appetite then stop at one of the two comfort stations which are  like refreshment stands on steroids, with every drink imaginable, cheese and crackers, ice cream bars, hard boiled eggs, fruit, freshly baked cookies, all complimentary .As one of the staff members told us  “ put some in a bag and take it home, everyone else  does.”

On number ten we finally see water in play and it will be the first and last time that we see that today.

Mirabl is member owned and operated and appears to be on solid financial footing these days.  They have reduced the maximum membership from 350 to 275.  In the past you had to own property to be a member here, but that is no longer the case.

If  having friends from all over the US is your goal, Mirabel may be the place for you.  Members here hail from well over half of the states in the US.  Monthly dues are $1350  and the initiation fee varies

If you are interested  to take a test drive, go to www.mirabel.com and click on learn more for a tour

If you go:

37100 N. Mirabel Club Drive

Scottsdale, AZ 85262

Phone: 480-437-1500

http://www.mirabel.com

Par 70

6746 yards from the tips

4986 yards for the ladies

Golf at King & Prince Resort St Simons Island GA

There is plenty of public golf in the Golden Isles, not to mention great weather, which probably explains why over a dozen PGA tour players live in the area. Jekyll Island Golf Club has 63 holes, Sea Palms has 27 holes, and the Sea Island Golf Club has 72 holes. In October there’s a PGA Tour event, the McGladrey Classic, at Sea Island’s Seaside Course. When it comes to getting up and down from the gnarly Bermuda rough, Seaside ranks as the second most difficult course on the PGA tour. There are also several private courses including Ocean Forest, which used to be in Golf Digest’s Top 100.

Today I played the King and the Prince golf course, located at the opposite end of the island from the hotel. At first glance its 6,462 yards from the tips seem short and even easy. Then you look at the rating of 71.7 and the slope of 140 and you realize it can’t really be easy, and it’s not. The King and Prince course was renovated in 2009 with new grasses:  Zoysia framing the bunkers, Century Bermuda in the fairways, and best of all, Mini Verde on the greens, which run fast and true with no noticeable grain. The greens are so firm that there are dramatically fewer ball marks than I expected. Over half of these greens are 35 yards deep or more, making for up to a three-club variance on your approach shots. Only two greens are 25 yards deep or less. I love them.

This island course is framed by towering oaks, salt marshes, lagoons and, of course, the Atlantic Ocean. You’d better hit it straight. This is a course that seems to boast not one but four signature holes. On holes 12,13,14 and 15 (see the flyover link below) you ride over boardwalks to reach holes built on small islands engulfed by marshland.    Then it is back to the clubhouse through lush forests on 16,17 and 18. It’s a challenge and a treat to play, and one more reason this area is a great place to consider for your next golf trip.

The best place to stay on St. Simons is  the King and Prince Resort.  It has undergone a wonderful renovation earlier this year and its the only hotel on the island located directly on the beach 

http://www.kingandprince.com/golf-flyover-tour.aspx

800-342-0212

A Day at Troon North in Scottsdale AZ

by Larry Berle

There are less than 20 public golf  facilities on the Golf Digest Top 100 list and Troon North  in Scottsdale AZ is one of them.  There are two courses here, Monument and Pinnacle and today we played  Pinnacle.  Both are wonderful and most  would agree they are among  the best in the Phoenix area.  Troon North sits just below the iconic Pinnacle Peak here in North Scottsdale and  winds it way through large boulder fields, Saguaro Cactus and ravines that create breathtaking views.

If you are looking for bargain golf, this is not the place for you but if you are looking for an outstanding golf experience with great value, Troon North may be just the place for you.  In the peak of the season the greens fees are $225 and you should book early because these courses fill up  (if you are looking for a bargain come play it in  the heat of the summer like I did today).

These two courses have been re routed since they were first created and the  two back nines became  Pinnacle and the two front nines became  Monument.   If you want easier, play  Monument.  If you want a challenge play Pinnacle.

Paying attention to the hole names may give you a clue  as to what you are in for, such as the par three number  six, called “Carefree”  which  overlooks the  nearby community of Carefree, Number ten called Pinnacle brings you face to face  with the iconic Pinnacle Peak. and of course the 609 yard par five, fourteenth  is called Cross Country.   (need I say more)

There seem to be more than a fair  share of forced carries over desert washes and at some point you might mutter  “enough with the up hill holes.”  You may even mutter this on the first green— as you look at the fairway below that you just played.   It does have its fair share of uphill holes but there are plenty of level and downhill holes as well.  As you stand on the tee box of number three (the highest point on the course) you will be treated to a vista that will take your breath away. Mike Friend the director of sales at Troon North told me “you can see forty miles from this tee box” and I believe it. But don't let it capture your attention for too long because this golf course demands your concentration at all times.

Most of the greens are larger than usual  and at least three of them  (#3,#5,#11) have greens over 40 yards deep.  To give you some perspective  the average field goal  in the NFL is 36 yards(the 11th green is 47 yards deep) and the longest field goal in history  (made in the mile high city) is 64 yards.   Some of these pin placements could have a four club difference.   If you don't like cross country putting, pay attention to the pin placements.

One unique feature of Troon North is  it seems to be in a weather bubble unlike the rest of Phoenix with  Bent Grass greens year round,  compared to the rest of the valley which have  bermuda greens most of the year, overseeded with Rye in the winter  (snowbirds expect green golf courses) — so even in today 104 degree heat, its in wonderful shape.

Troon Golf has instituted “Time Par” for all of the courses it manages and for Troon North it is  4:24.  We finished todays round in  4:10  a great pace.

If you want to see what I am talking about before you get here  visit

http://www.troonnorthgolf.com/Golf_4fc8e35babee0784a3f4b617617.html

and watch the flyovers.

In a few weeks I am going to return and play Monument—  watch for my comparison.

 If you go:

10320 E Dynamite Rd

Scottsdale AZ

480-585-7700

Par 71

5 tee boxes from  7025 yards to 4833 yards

www.troonnorthgolf.com

Or contact Troon Golf and have them set up a complete trip to many of the best courses  in the area.