No longer a stagecoach stop in the middle of the Sonoran Desert, Phoenix has come a long way from its origins dating back to the 1880’s when cattle and cowboys were the norm.
Although Florida is regarded as the official “sunshine state”, the phrase befits Arizona as well, as the sun shines 330 days of the year. Despite scorching heat during the summer months, daytime temperatures are perfect between November and April. Sunny and warm during the day, cool and comfortable in the evening. Not surprisingly, you’re likely to run into plenty of sun-starved Canadians on the golf course this time of year.
There is no better destination for a golf/sports enthusiastthan Phoenix, Arizona. With approximately 4.5 million residents, Phoenix is the 5th largest metropolitan area in the United States and home to over 200 golf courses. The NFL’s Arizona Cardinals, NBA’s Phoenix Suns, and MLB’s Arizona Diamondbacks call this diamond in the desert home, making Phoenix one of the best spectator sports venues in the U.S.
What makes this area so special is that it is one of the few places on earth that offers a unique and authentic desert golf experience. You want to play golf in the desert – you come here.
So, where should you play? With a multitude of golf courses to choose from, it would take the average golfer several years to play them all. For this reason, I decided to share several of my favourite desert designs to help the next Phoenix-bound foursome plan their next golf getaway.
My first recommendation is the Troon North Golf Club. Two extraordinary courses comprise the Troon North experience – Monument and Pinnacle. Both epitomize desert golf, but it is the 7,028-yard Monument Course that gets the nod as Troon North’s crown jewel. Designed by Jay Morrish and Tom Weiskopf in 1991, the golf course meticulously weaves its way through rocky desert terrain. When you look around you can’t help but feel distracted by the rocks and gigantic boulders that line the contrasting green fairways. Desert flora, bushes, and towering saguaro cacti complete the landscape providing an abundance of Nikon moments and an unsurpassed golf experience. More
