Ohio Golf Journal July 2020

The Phoenician Golf Club is a real treat and has been completely redesigned. I have an especially fond memory of the par-3 11th hole as my tee shot found the bottom of the cup for an ace. The course winds its way along Camelback Mountain, one of the many peaks that litter the Phoenix metropolitan area. Architect Phil Smith did a masterful job of converting the former 27-hole course into a more expansive 18- hole track, that is a pure joy to play. Next up was the O’odham Course at Talking Stick Resort. Along with its sister, the Piipaash Course, Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw were able to provide two unique courses at one resort. O’odham is more typical of a desert course with open fairways that allow bombers to let it rip. Piipaash is tree-lined and much narrower, requiring thought and accuracy as you move around the course. Stay and Play packages can be arranged at the Talking Stick Casino Resort, plus the courses are open to the public. We-Ko-Pa Resort and Conference Center has two of the best public courses in Arizona. Make no mistake, you are in the desert now. Cactus of all varieties line every hole. They are beautiful to look at, but they can make retrieving an errant shot a bit of a challenge. The Saguaro Course, named after the most impressive of the cactus varieties, is a Coore-Crenshaw masterpiece, but the impressive vistas can be a distraction.You will need to give your full attention on your game, however, to make the correct decisions off the tee, even a small miscalculation can be disastrous to achieving par. The Cholla Course is slightly more difficult due to the plentiful arroyos, ridges and washes that come into play. After your round be sure to visit the Pro Shop that is ranked inside the Top 100 in the country, plus the We-Ko-Pa Grill will provide the perfect end to your day with delicious food and libation. You may also want to try your luck at the new Fort McDowell Casino, that offers every game of chance for risk takers. Choosing from among the scores of hotels, condos, and homes