Colorado AvidGolfer 2016 Spring Training Guide

The GOLFER’S GUIDE to the best COURSES, resorts, food and fun during

SPRING TRAINING in Arizona

PLUS:

A Taste of Florida’s Grapefruit League coloradoavidgolfer.com

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Spring 2016 | COLORADO AVIDGOLFER

SPRING TRAINING 2016

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DENVER IS A FOOTBALL TOWN. The Rockies haven’t had a winning season since 2010.

And this is a golf magazine.

So, knowing all that, why do we produce an annual guide to Spring Training in Arizona?

For one, Spring Training is less about a team than it is about tradition. A new baseball season represents a fresh start the same way the next shot or the next hole does in golf.

Besides, the connection between golf and baseball runs deeper than hitting a small ball squarely with a hard stick. Both games also feature nine a side—holes in golf and innings in baseball. Also, Babe Ruth famously loved golf, and played an arguably larger role in increasing the sport’s popularity during the 1930s than his contemporary, Bobby Jones, did.

The Rockies’ own Sultan of Swat, Nolan Arenado, also has mad golf skills. During the Cactus League season, he’ll occasionally hone them at Talking Stick Golf Club, just minutes east of the team’s home ballpark, Salt River Fields at Talking Stick.

The Rockies, of course, are just one of 15 teams that train within a 35-mile radius in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area—a region populated by more than 200 golf courses. That convergence, of course, explains why we produce this guide.

It lists some of the better golf, lodging, dining and activity options closest to each team’s ballpark. And with the training facilities all within an hour’s drive of one another, there’s plenty of overlap.

COLORADO ROCKIES/ ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

Salt River Fields at Talking Stick 7555 N Pima Rd, Scottsdale saltriverfields.com; 480-270-5000

PLAY: Seven 36-hole facilities wait within a 30-minute drive of Salt River Fields.

COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | Spring 2016

Start three miles east with the two superbly conditioned Coore/Crenshaw courses at Talking Stick Golf Club (talkingstickgolfclub. com ; 480-860-2221). Talking Stick’s North course presents an open “links-style” experience, while trees line the South. Adjacent to the luxurious Scottsdale Princess, TPC Scottsdale (tpc.com/Scottsdale ; 888-877-9193) annually hosts the golf bacchanal known as the PGA Tour’s Waste Management Open on its Stadium Course. The Stadium costs $329 per round for everyone. For half ($157.50), nonresidents can play the overshadowed but not second-rate Champions Course.

A former Tour stop and favorite of Phil Mickelson’s, Grayhawk Golf Club (grayhawkgolf.com ; 480-502-2075) boasts the Tom Fazio-designed Talon and Raven courses.

You’ll have to book your tee times at Wildfire Golf Club (wildfiregolf.com ; 888-705-7775) around the JTBC LPGA Founders Cup, which takes place March 14-20—or just buy tickets to the event.

A line drive west delivers you to the acclaimed 18s of We-Ko-Pa Golf Club (wekopa.com ; 866-6607700), while another pair of two-course treats await further north: the Tom Weiskopf-designed Pinnacle and Monument courses at Troon North Golf Club (troonnorthgolf.com ; 480-585-5300) in North Scottsdale; and Jay Morrish’s North and South Courses at the aptly named Boulders Club (bouldersclub.com ; 480488-9028) in Carefree.

STAY: For convenience to everything, you can’t top the $440 million Talking Stick Resort (talkingstickresort.com ; 866877-9897) near the fields and courses.

The resort includes 497 guest rooms, eight restaurants, a 240,000-square-foot casino, an expansive pool/garden area with 20-plus cabanas and a world-class, 13,000-square-foot, open-air spa. The majestic, sprawling luxury compound of the

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Spend a week in the Valley of the Sun and you might just consider joining the many Coloradans with second residences there. Arizona golf developments are as ubiquitous as cacti, but how can you know a community without actually living among it? Rio Verde Country Club’s Discovery Stay Package gives you this option. Its welcomes guests age 55 or older to spend up to four days in its secluded 980home enclave in the foothills of the McDowell Mountains, 40 minutes northeast of Scottsdale at the edge of the Tonto National Forest.

Guests stay in a well-appointed home, play a complimentary round of golf on Rio Verde’s Quail Run and White Wing courses, and receive a complimentary lunch and obligatory tour. The first Audubon International Certified Sustainable Community west of the Mississippi River, the award-winning neighborhood features tennis, pickleball, hiking/walking trails, fitness center, art studio, clubhouse and contagious Midwestern hospitality. Pricing varies, but four-day stays during high season range between $800 and $1,200. rioverdearizona.com; 480-471-7010.

Fairmont Scottsdale Princess (fairmont.com/ scottsdale ; 866-540-4495) features 830

stately guest rooms, suites and casitas, superb restaurants, five swimming pools and a spa.

In addition to playing golf in a kilt or traversing its course on a Golf Board, a highlight at the Westin Kierland Resort & Spa (kierlandresort.com ; 480-624-1000) is the Scotch Library, showcasing more than 100 single malts and 25 blends. The 1,950room JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa (jwdesertridgeresort.com ; 800-835-6206) highlights an expansive spa, numerous pools and the unique Lazy River floating stream. Tucked into the Pinnacle Peak foothills, Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North (fourseasons.com/scottsdale ; 480-515-5700) ooz-

es with sophistication.

EAT: The Scottsdale area overflows with dining options. In addition to the stunning Orange Sky Restaurant atop Talking Stick Resort, the above-named resorts also feature signature eateries. For something completely different, hit Toro, a Richard Sandoval creation in the TPC Scottsdale clubhouse that fuses the distinct flavors of South and coloradoavidgolfer.com

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF RIO VERDE COUNTRY CLUB

PHOTOGRAPH BY JAMIE SCHWABEROW, CLARKSON CREATIVE

A Rio Birdie

“SCOTTSDALE IS transformative.

IT encourages YOU TO BE OUTDOORS AND play.”

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known as Sanctuary, McDowell Mountain Golf Club (mcdowellmountaingc.com ; 480-502-8200) sports a fun 18 owned by Phil Mickelson.

STAY: The lodging options listed above for Rockies and D-Backs fans apply here.

Additionally, look into the J.W. Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort and Spa (camelbackinn.com ; (480-948-1700) and The Phoenician (thephoenician.com ; 480-941-8200).

EAT: Mastro’s Ocean Club (mastrosrestaurants. com ; 480-443-8555) and Tommy Bahama Restaurant & Bar (tommybahama.com ; 480-

505-3668) anchor Kierland Commons. Less dear options include The Mission (themissionaz. com ; 480-636-5005); Rehab Burger Therapy (rehabburgertherapy.com ; 480-621-5358); Eddie’s House (eddieshouseaz.com ; 480-946-1622); and FnB (fnbrestaurant.com ; 480-284-4777).

DO: Again, follow the Rockies fans.

Oenophiles should head to Kazimierz World Wine Bar (kazbar.net ; 480-946-3004) in Old Town Scottsdale (scottsdaledowntown.com ), where the quaintness the galleries, shops and restaurants contrasts with the chic vibe of Scottsdale Fashion Square (fashionsquare.com ), the largest mall in the Southwest.

Pitchers and catchers report February 28.

But what about pitchers and chippers?

If “Spring Training” applies to your golf game, some Colorado instructors are in Arizona to help.

At Rancho De Los Caballeros Golf Club in Wickenburg, Keith Lyford’s four-day VIP golf school package includes lodging, meals, golf school instruction and golf course play lessons. Lyford—whose Lyford Scottsdale School ranked in Golf Magazine’s Top 25 Golf Schools in America—teams with Colorado PGA professional Dana Smith of Plum Creek Golf Club to help you focus on improving scoring, with daily on-course instruction sessions and class sizes limited to just 12 golfers per session. March 28-31, April 1-5, 5-9, 9-13, 13-17, 19-23. lyfordgolf.net Award-winning Colorado instructor Lana Ortega’s popular Just For Women Golf Schools is moving to SunRidge Canyon Golf Club in Phoenix, with accommodations at the luxurious CopperWynd Resort and Club in Fountain Hills. The three-day “instructional vacation” includes two full mornings of instruction, including video analysis and short game instruction, plus three 18-hole rounds with on-course guidance. Transportation, meals, golf and lodging included.

March 4-6, 18-20, 25-27, April 1-3 and 1517. lanaortegagolf.com A Golf Digest “Top 40 Teachers Under 40” for four consecutive years, Alex Fisher summers at The Glacier Club in Durango and winters at the JW Marriott Wildfire Golf Club in Phoenix. The native Englishman is a U.S. Kids Golf Certified Coach who works with players of all ages and abilities. alexfisherpga.com; 602-363-9800.

COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | Spring 2016

LOS ANGELES ANGELS OF ANAHEIM

Central America with ingredients from Japanese and Chinese Peruvian cultures. Don’t miss the suviche (sushi and ceviche) bar or a cocktail made from one of 110 varieties of rum. (tpc.com/scottsdale ).At Grayhawk Golf Club, Isabella’s Kitchen delivers American Italian favorites, while Grayhawk’s Quill Creek Café offers a traditional American menu. Sports bars of note include Don & Charlie’s (donandcharlies.com ) and Zipp’s (zippssportsgrills.com).

DO: Stroll the more than 70 stores and restaurants at upscale Kierland Commons (kierlandcommons.com ), or Bumper-Boat or Go Kart with the kids at CrackerJax Family Fun & Sports Park (crackerjax.com ).

For local live music, hit Wasted Grain (wastedgrain.com ), and a party always awaits at The Mint (themintaz.com ) and the Red Revolver (redrevolverlounge.com ). The Thursday night ArtWalks along the galleries on Main Street are a 41-year-old tradition (scottsdalegalleries.com ).

Tempe Diablo Stadium 2200 W. Alameda Drive, Tempe tempe.gov/diablo; 888-796-HALO

PLAY: Numerous courses sit within five minutes of Tempe Diablo Stadium. The most challenging, the 7,002-yard Pete Dye-designed

We-Ko-Pa Golf Club

One-Stop Scottsdale For all things Scottsdale (including Spring Training packages), contact the extremely helpful Scottsdale Convention and Visitors Bureau (experiencescottsdale.com; 800-782-1117).

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS

Scottsdale Stadium 7408 E. Osborn Road, Scottsdale scottsdaleaz.gov/stadium; 877-473-4849 PLAY: In addition to being close to many of

the same courses as Rockies and Diamondbacks fans are, Giants aficionados can tee off on the 27 Scott Miller-designed holes at the Westin Kierland Resort & Spa (kierlandresort.com ; 480922-9283). Three more nines wait at the The Phoenician Golf Club (golfthephoenician.com ; 480-423-2449), as do another 36 holes on the Padre and Ambiente courses at Camelback Golf Club (camelbackgolf.com ; 480-596-7050).

McCormick Ranch Golf Club (mccormickranchgolf.com ; 480-948-0260) boasts two 18s, the Pine and Palm—the latter of which has hosted Canadian Tour events. Formerly

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ASU Karsten Course (asukarsten.com ; 480-

921-8070), helped produce stars such as Phil Mickelson, Billy Mayfair, Paul Casey, Anna Nordqvist and Grace Park. Other options include the brilliant, pine-lined Gary PanksDavid Graham-designed Raven Golf ClubPhoenix (ravenphx.com; 602-243-3636), and another Panks design, The Legacy Golf Club (golflegacyresort.com ; 602-305-5550).

STAY: The Phoenix Marriott Tempe at The Buttes (marriott.com ; 602-225-9000) tucks into the rock outcroppings near the stadium, and the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort (wildhorsepassresort.com ; 602-225-0100) boasts an equestrian center, spa, casino and the two Whirlwind golf courses.

EAT: Check out the panoramas at Top of the coloradoavidgolfer.com

PHOTOGRAPH BY LONA TUCKER

PHOTOGRAPH BY JAMIE SCHWABEROW, CLARKSON CREATIVE

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Spring Training is the perfect time to experience the Valley’s premier entertainment destination.

Featuring word-class cuisine, epic nightlife, thrilling gaming and award-winning golf courses, it’s no wonder Talking Stick Resort has been named “Best Casino” four years in a row.

For the latest Cactus League news, visit springtrainingphoenix.com.

Across the street from the Rockies

101 & TALKING STICK WAY | SCOTTSDALE | 866.877.9897 | TALKINGSTICKRESORT.COM Based on availability March 1-31, 2016. Not valid for groups or with any other offer.

Locally owned and caringly operated by the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community.

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Rock at the Phoenix Marriott Tempe at The Buttes (marriott.com ; 602-431-2370). Not connected to the superb Phoenix restaurant with the identical name, Caffe Boa (cafeboa.com ; 480-968-9112) is a foodie paradise, as is Quiessence at The Farm (qatthefarm.com ; 602-276-0601). Check out the cleverly named Aunt Chilada’s or the Rustler’s Rooste, both at the Arizona Grand Resort (arizonagrandresort.com ; 877-800-4888).

DO: Tempe is a college town. Shop on Mill Avenue (millavenue.com ) and play pool at Mill Cue Club (millcueclub.com ).

CHICAGO CUBS

Sloan Park 2330 W. Rio Salado Parkway, Mesa sloanpark.com; 800-THE-CUBS

PLAY: Fifteen minutes east of the stadium,

the highly decorated, dramatically bunkered Longbow Golf Club (longbowgolf.com; 480-8075400), draws sloths of Cubs fans. Whirlwind, ASU Karsten and Raven-Phoenix are within the same distance west. Thirty-five miles south in Maricopa sprawls the 300-plus acres occupied by the must-play Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club (golfsoutherndunes.com ; 480-367-8949), a stellar collaboration between Fred Couples and Schmidt-Curley Design.

TEAM FIELDS

PHOENIX SKY HARBOR INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Cincinnati Reds/Cleveland Indians Goodyear Ballpark 1933 South Ballpark Way, Goodyear goodyearbp.com; 623-882-3130 Closest Courses: Estrella, Palm Valley, Verrado, Wigwam Texas Rangers/ Kansas City Royals Surprise Stadium 15850 North Bullard, Surprise surprisespringtraining.com; 623-222-2222 Closest Courses: Rancho de los Caballeros, Surprise Golf Club, Trilogy at Vistancia, Wickenburg Ranch, Wigwam

San Francisco Giants Scottsdale Stadium 7408 E. Osborn Road, Scottsdale scottsdaleaz.gov/stadium; 877-473-4849 Closest Courses: Camelback, McCormick Ranch, McDowell Mountain, The Phoenician, We-Ko-Pa, Westin Kierland

Seattle Mariners/San Diego Padres Peoria Sports Complex 16101 N. 83rd Ave., Peoria peoriasportscomplex.com; 800-677-1227 Closest Courses: Quintero, Trilogy at Vistancia

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Tempe Diablo Stadium 2200 W. Alameda Dr. Tempe tempe.gov/diablo; 888-796-HALO Closest Courses: ASU Karsten, RavenPhoenix, The Legacy, Whirlwind

Los Angeles Dodgers/Chicago White Sox Camelback Ranch 10710 West Camelback Rd, Glendale camelbackranchbaseball.com; 623-302-5000 Closest Courses: Palm Valley, Verrado, Wigwam

Colorado Rockies/Arizona Diamondbacks Salt River Fields at Talking Stick 7555 N. Pima Rd, Scottsdale saltriverfields.com; 480-270-5000 Closest Courses: Grayhawk, Talking Stick, The Boulders, TPC Scottsdale, Troon North, We-Ko-Pa, Wildfire Oakland Athletics Hohokam Stadium 1235 North Center Street, Mesa hohokamstadium.com; 480-644-4451 Closest Courses: Ak-Chin Southern Dunes, ASU Karsten, Longbow, Raven-Phoenix, Superstition Springs, The Legacy, We-Ko-Pa, Whirlwind

Wildfire Golf Club

STAY: The Phoenix Marriott Tempe at The Buttes (marriott.com ; 602-225-9000) is close.

Mesa abounds with solid chains like Hyatt, Ramada, Marriott, Hilton and Holiday Inn—all of which have some kind of Spring Training package.

EAT: Cubs and Angels fans can eat alongside one another in Tempe. In addition, Diamond’s Sports Grille (diamondssportsgrille. com ; 480-844-3888) calls itself “the winter home of Chicago Cubs,” and R.T. O’Sullivan’s (rtosullivans.com ) two Mesa locations always sell $3 bottles of Harp. Vito’s (vitospizza.com ; COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | Spring 2016

Milwaukee Brewers Maryvale Park 3600 N. 51st Ave., Phoenix phoenix.gov/sports; 800 933-7890 Closest Courses: Maryvale, Verrado

Chicago Cubs Sloan Park 2330 W. Rio Salado Pkwy, Mesa sloanpark.com; 800-THE-CUBS Closest Courses: Ak-Chin Southern Dunes, ASU Karsten, Longbow, Raven-Phoenix, Superstition Springs, The Legacy, We-Ko-Pa, Whirlwind

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S T AY & P L AY

ALL DAY AND NIGHT

Escape to the We-Ko-Pa Resort and Golf Club Relax poolside. Enjoy the incredible spa. Then tee it up on the finest 36 golf holes in the Southwest. And our new Golfer Suites are perfect for buddy trips and groups.

For Stay and Play Packages and to experience the all new We-Ko-Pa Resort, call (866) 660-7700 or visit wekoparesort.com. Mention promo code COLGOLF16 for preferred pricing on Stay and Play packages. For golf tee times, call (480) 836-9000 or visit wekopa.com.

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Chili satisfies the Reds fans. For a non-chainrestaurant experience, try Flavors of Louisiana (flavorsoflouisianacajun.com ; 623-935-2357), Bella Luna Ristorante (bellalunaaz.com ; 623535-4642), and two Japanese restaurants— Nakama (nakamaaz.com ; 623-935-7676) and AH-SO (ahsoaz.com ; 623-535-8900).

DO: Phoenix International Raceway (phoenixraceway.com ) has its Spring Break NASCAR Weekend March 11-13. Watch the Arizona Coyotes (coyotes.nhl.com ) skate for a playoff spot in nearby Glendale.

Orange Sky Restaurant at Talking Stick Resort

480-832-3311) has deep-dished Chicago-style pizza for 30 years, and The Original Blue Adobe Grill (originalblueadobe.com ; 480-962-1000) is worth reserving a table.

DO: Cowboy up at Rockin’ R Ranch (rockinr.net ; 480-832-1539) or savor shopping at Modern Western experience at the upscale Dana Park (danapark.com ) or Mesa Riverview (mesariverview.com ).

CINCINNATI REDS/CLEVELAND INDIANS Goodyear Ballpark 1933 South Ballpark Way, Goodyear goodyearbp.com; 623-882-3130

PLAY: A John Fought-Tom Lehman collaboration, Verrado Golf Club (verradogolfclub. com ; 623-388-3000) cozies up near the White

Tank mountains 15 minutes northwest of the ballpark. A short drive north brings you to the mature 54-hole Wigwam Resort (wigwam arizona.com ; 800-909-4224) in neighboring Litchfield Park. Twelve minutes south of the stadium, the Jack Nicklaus II-designed Golf Club of Estrella (estrellagolf.com ; 623-386-2600) provides Troon Golf quality at a great value.

STAY: National chains with “inn” and “suites” in their names are always worth a look.

For an upgrade, the 440 acres and 331 intimate casitas and suites at the Wigwam (wigwamarizona. com ; 800-909-4224) make it the perfect retreat for post-game cocktails or stargazing.

EAT: Cleveland fans can slather their hotdogs with Stadium Mustard, and Skyline

TEXAS RANGERS/ KANSAS CITY ROYALS

TM

Surprise Stadium 15850 North Bullard, Surprise surprisespringtraining.com; 623-222-2222

PLAY: For the best courses, fans of the World Champs (and Rangers) have to travel to Wigwam Resort (wigwamarizona.com ; 800-909-4224) in Litchfield Park or the heralded Trilogy at Vistancia (trilogygolf club.com/vistancia ; 623-328-5100) in Peoria. Two extraordinary golf experiences lie 45 minutes west in Wickenburg: the lush, rolling Rancho de los Caballeros Golf Club (ranchodeloscaballeros.com ; 800-684-5030) and the celebrated new Wickenburg Ranch Golf Club (wickenburgranch.com ; 928-668-5535).

STAY: A good half-hour drive separates the ballpark from the Wigwam, Rancho de los Caballeros, or any of the finer Glendale/Phoenix/Scottsdale properties.

Among Surprise’s many economy hotels, the

Insta

COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | Spring 2016

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Windmill All Suites (windmillinns.com ; 623-

583-0133) ranks highest.

EAT: Vogue Bistro (voguebistro. com ; 623 544 9109) adds a Gallic flair to burgers and sandwiches, while The Irish Wolfhound (irishwolfhoundpub.com ;

623-214 1004) majors in pints and pub grub. New York Flavor (newyorkflavor. com ; 623-266-2520) is deli at its best, and Fresh Wasabi (freshwasabisurprise.com ; 623584-4800) spans the gamut of Japanese cuisine.

DO: The nearby White Tank Mountains provide enjoyable hiking trails. Surprise’s Aquatics Center includes a 4,700-square foot water play area.

LOS ANGELES DODGERS/ CHICAGO WHITE SOX

Camelback Ranch 10710 West Camelback Road, Glendale camelbackranchbaseball.com; 623-302-5000 PLAY: The three courses at the Wigwam (wigwamarizona.com ; 800-909-4224) lie less than

10 minutes from the ballpark. A bit further is Palm Valley (palmvalleygolf.com ; 623-935-2500) in Goodyear and Verrado Golf Club (verradogolfclub.com ; 623-388-3000) in Buckeye, just west of Phoenix. Talking Stick, Wildfire, Troon North and the other 36-hole facilities around Phoenix and Scottsdale (see listings in the Rockies section) are also easily accessible from Glendale.

STAY: In addition to the aforementioned Wigwam, the major chains all have multiple inns and suites here. Old-school fun awaits at

Welsch’s Rose Acres (no website ; 623-225-5127),

a bed-and-breakfast with pools, miniature horse racing, two chipping holes and putting greens.

EAT: Haus Murphy’s (hausmurphys.com ; 623-939-2480) brings Deutschland to the desert with a biergarten and authentic German fare.

A Touch of European Café (atouchofeuropean cafe.com ; 623-847-7119) is well worth any B.Y.O.B. inconvenience. Visit Westgate City Center (westgatecitycenter.com ) for nearly 20 different dining options.

DO: Westgate offers plenty of shopping options. Why not see who’s playing at Gila River Arena (gilariverarena.com )?

SEATTLE MARINERS/ SAN DIEGO PADRES

Peoria Sports Complex 16101 N. 83rd Ave., Peoria peoriasportscomplex.com; 800-677-1227 PLAY: The fabulous Trilogy Golf Club at Vistancia (trilogygolfclub.com/vistancia ; 623-

328-5100)

Rees Jones-designed (quinterogolf.com ; 928501-1500) make Peoria a legitimate golf destination. If you can get on, you might run into Colorado’s own Jim Engh, who designed and lives at the private Blackstone Country Club (vistancia.com/ blackstone-country-club ; 623-707-8700). Plus, the 101 Loop makes just about any course accessible within 20 to 30 minutes.

STAY: Outposts of Comfort Suites, Hampton Inn and other national chains all represent here, and North Scottsdale’s resorts remain viable options. In Peoria, Cibola Vista Quintero

and

Golf

the

Club

Your express flight to and from the finest courses.

Beer Here!

At Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, Rockies fans can slake their thirst with a number of Colorado craft ales. Scottsdale Stadium serves Giants fans Anchor Steam in 22-ounce bombers. Cubs fans drink Goose Island IPAs at Sloan Park. And the Peoria Sports Complex (Mariners and Padres), vies with Surprise Stadium (Royals and Rangers) for the Cactus League’s widest craft brew selection. Downtown Scottsdale buzzes with options. Start your own pub crawl at Sip Coffee & Beer House (3617 N Goldwater Rd.; sipcoffeeandbeerhouse.com). Steps away is the stellar Goldwater Brewing (3608 N. Scottsdale Rd.; goldwaterbrewing.com). The barrel-aged sours of Two Brothers Brewing (4321 N Scottsdale Rd.; twobrothersbrewing.com) are 10 minutes by foot.

Hit the taproom at Bad Water Brewing (4216 N. Brown Ave.; badwaterbrewing.com), where the suds are anything but bad. Don’t miss a pint of Hop Knot IPA or the Scottish-style Kilt Lifter from Four Peaks Brewing (four locations; fourpeaks.com). Fate Brewing (two locations; fatebrewing.com) does a solid American Pale Ale and unique Hatch Chile Cream Ale. O.H.S.O. (15681 N. Hayden Rd; ohsodistillery. com) taps 36 beers. And for a treat, go to Papago Brewing (7107 East McDowell Rd; papagobrewing.com), for the popular Orange Blossom Ale or a potent Oude Zuipers (Flemish for “Old Drunk”).

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Two 18-hole courses at Wildfire Golf Club.

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for Cubs fans (page 64), savor the Cajun cuisine and music at Pier dé Orleans Restaurant (pierdeorleans.com ; 480-844-7437).

DO: Bring the family to the Arizona Museum of Natural History (azmnh.org ) or the inspiring I.D.E.A. Museum (ideamuseum.org ).

Cruise Saguaro Lake aboard the Desert Belle (desertbelle.com ) or Canyon Lake, courtesy of the Dolly Steamboat (dollysteamboat.com ).

MILWAUKEE BREWERS

Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club

Resort & Spa (cibolavista.com ; 623-889-6700)

boasts plush suites and casitas and myriad water features.

EAT: Arrowhead Grill (arrowheadgrill.com ; 623-566-2224) and Cucina Tagliani (cucinata gliani.com ; 623-412-2670) both lie about a mile from the Sports Complex. Firebirds Wood-Fired Grill (firebirdsrestaurants.com ; 623-773-0500) offers quality theme dining.

DO: Explore the final frontier with simulated flights at the Smithsonian’s Challenger Space Center (azchallenger.org ; 623.322.2001).

OAKLAND ATHLETICS

Hohokam Stadium 1235 North Center Street, Mesa hohokamstadium.com; 480-644-4451

PLAY: The A’s replaced the Cubs as tenants at Hohokam last year, bringing their golf-loving fans to Longbow Golf Club (longbowgolf.com ; 480-807-5400), We-Ko-Pa Golf Club (wekopa. com ; 480-836-9000) and the ASU Karsten Course (asukarsten.com ; 480-921-8070). A superb round awaits those who drive 40 miles south to Maricopa, home to the highly rated (by both Golf and Golf Digest) Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club (golfsoutherndunes.com ; 480-367-8949).

STAY: Tempe Mission Palms (mission palms.com ; 800-547-8705) offers a sweet Spring Training package. So does The Phoenix Marriott Tempe at The Buttes (marriott.com ; 602225-9000). Accommodations from the national chains abound.

EAT: In addition to the restaurants listed

Maryvale Baseball Park 3600 N. 51st Ave., Phoenix phoenix.gov/sports; 800-933-7890 PLAY: The Verrado Golf Club (verradogolf club.com ; 623-388-3000) is a straight shot west

from the stadium on I-10. William Bell, who designed Torrey Pines, also did Maryvale Golf Course (phoenix.gov/recreation ; 623-846-4022), a classic muni with plenty of mature trees, doglegs and great practice facilities.

STAY: Budget motels dot the area. For a higher grade of service, head to the JW Marriott Desert Ridge (jwdesertridgeresort.com ; 480-2935000) or Royal Palms Resort & Spa (royalpalms hotel.com ; 602-840-3610).

EAT: In addition to Milwaukee-style brats, cheese curds and beer at every home game, you can get some authentic eats at Chelsea’s Kitchen (chelseaskitchenaz.com ; 602.957.2555), Sylvia’s La Canasta (sylviasfiesta.com ; 602-242-4252) and the iconic Bikini Lounge (thebikinilounge. com ; 602-252-0472).

DO: Head to the West Valley or Peoria’s P83 Shopping District (visitpeoriaaz.com ).

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SPRING TRAINING SPECIAL

How the Other Half Trains Fifteen teams and more than 1,000 golf courses beckon in Florida.

THE DIFFERENCE in time zone and humidity notwithstanding, Florida’s Grapefruit League

showcases some of baseball’s most storied franchises and more golf courses than any state in the country. Here’s where to tee it up during the same period (Feb. 25-March 20) as the PGA Tour’s four-event Florida Swing.

ATLANTA BRAVES Champion Stadium 700 South Victory Way Lake Buena Vista 407-541-5600

With the stadium located just minutes from the Magic Kingdom, in the ESPN World Wide of Sports Complex, nearby resort courses abound. Disney’s Palm and Magnolia courses (disneyworldgolf.com ) until recently hosted PGA Tour events; Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge (bayhill.com ) in Orlando still does (March 17–20). ChampionsGate Golf Resort (championsgategolf.com ) boasts two tough Greg Norman designs; Tranquilo Golf Club at Four Seasons Resort Orlando (tranquilogolf.com ) is an update of Tom Fazio’s Osprey Ridge course.

BALTIMORE ORIOLES Ed Smith Stadium 2700 12th Street Sarasota 941-954-4101

The best nearby golf option is the Arnold Palmer-designed Legacy Golf Club at Lakewood Ranch (legacygolfclub.com ), which also attracts Pirates fans. You only have to be a guest of the Ritz-Carlton Sarasota to play the spectacular Members Golf Club (ritzcarlton.com ), designed by Tom Fazio. For a kick, try the Bobby Jones Golf Club (bobbyjonesgolfclub.com ), a 45-hole muni sporting a Donald Ross-designed 18.

BOSTON RED SOX JetBlue Park 11581 Daniels Parkway Fort Myers 239-334-4700

A scaled-down version of Fenway Park’s iconic Green Monster makes watching games here worth the trip. Also worthwhile is the 15mile journey to Ostero, home of Jack Nicklaus’ COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | Spring 2016

(raptorbaygolfclub.com ), and guests also have access to the private, luxurious Colony Golf & Country Club (thecolonygolfcc.com ),

NEW YORK METS Tradition Field 525 NW Peacock Boulevard Port St. Lucie 772-871-2115

Fans of the National League Champions also have championship golf in their backyard: the courses at PGA Village (pgavillage.com ). The 54 holes at PGA Golf Club come courtesy of Tom Fazio and Pete Dye. The former designed the lengthy, lush Wanamaker and Ryder courses; the latter did the diabolical one named for him.

Avail yourself of the 35-acre PGA Center for Golf Learning and Performance, or take a crack at another PGA course, the snug, Jim Faziodesigned St. Lucie Trail Golf Club (stluciegolf. com ), which also welcomes footgolf.

tough Old Corkscrew Golf Club (oldcorkscrew. com ). The municipal Fort Myers Country Club (cityftmyers.com ) recently underwent a $5.8 million renovation to its 99-year-old Donald Ross layout once favored by Thomas Edison and Henry Ford.

DETROIT TIGERS Joker Marchant Stadium 2301 Lakeland Hills Blvd.

Lakeland 863-686-8075

One of the Grapefruit League’s oldest stadiums is a 30-minute drive from one of golf ’s newest gems—Streamsong Resort (streamsongresort.com ). The nationally ranked Blue and Red Courses, designed, respectively, by Tom Doak and Coore-Crenshaw were excavated from sand dunes of an old phosphate mine. If you’re not up for the pilgrimage, hit Cleveland Heights Golf Course (clevelandheightsgolf.com ), Lakeland’s recently renovated 27-hole muni.

HOUSTON ASTROS Osceola County Stadium 631 Heritage Parkway Kissimmee 321-697-3200

Kissimmee’s proximity to Orlando puts Astros fans in the same golf orbit as Braves fans.

There’s also Falcon’s Fire Golf Club (falconsfire. com ), a Rees Jones layout, 12 miles northeast of the stadium. Further north is Shingle Creek Golf Club (shinglecreekgolf.com ). West is familyfriendly Orange Lake Resort (orangelakegolf. com ), with two Arnold Palmer designs and the nine-hole Legends Walk, a par-3 course illuminated for night play.

MINNESOTA TWINS Hammond Stadium 14100 Six Mile Cypress Parkway Fort Myers 239-768-4210

Located less than six miles west of the Red Sox’ ballpark, the Twins’ stadium lies 12 miles north of The Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort in Bonita Springs (coconutpoint. hyatt.com ). The bayside resort operates the Raymond Floyd-designed Raptor Bay Golf Club

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NEW YORK YANKEES George M. Steinbrenner Field 1 Steinbrenner Drive Tampa 813-875-7753

If getting on the private Old Memorial Golf Club (oldmemorialgolfclub.com ) isn’t an option,

head north to Lutz, home of the publicaccess TPC Tampa Bay (tpctampabay.com ), an erstwhile Champions Tour venue designed

by Bobby Weed. Arnold Palmer authored an eponymous course at Saddlebrook Resort & Spa (saddlebrook.com ) in nearby Wesley Chapel.

Two world-class options wait an hour north at World Woods (worldwoods.com ), where Tom Fazio’s Top 100 masterpieces—Pine Barrens and Rolling Oaks—evoke Pine Valley and Augusta National.

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES Bright House Field 601 North Old Coachman Road Clearwater 727-712-4300

Just 11 miles from the stadium, Innisbrook Golf Resort (innisbrookgolfresort.com ) features

four immensely challenging courses—North, South, Island and Copperhead. On Mar 10 13 the Larry Packard-designed Copperhead will welcome the PGA Tour’s Valspar Championship (won last year by Jordan Spieth). A special treat awaits those who splurge for a night at the pink Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club: access to Vinoy Golf Club (vinoyclub.com ), a private Donald Ross gem on Snell Island.

PITTSBURGH PIRATES McKechnie Field 1611 9th Street West Bradenton (941) 748-4610

You may find yourself paired with the next PGA Tour star at the IMG Golf Academy Golf Club (imgacademygolfclub.com ), located six miles west from the ballyard. Eight miles in the opposite direction spread the three sweet nines at River Strand Golf & Country Club designed by Arthur Hills. Righteous options within 12 miles include Ted McAnlis’ demanding and coloradoavidgolfer.com

Grayhawk Golf Club, Arizona

beautiful layouts at The Preserve Golf Club (golfthepreserve.com ) and Waterlefe Golf & River Club (waterlefegolfandriverclub.com ).

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS/ MIAMI MARLINS Roger Dean Stadium 4751 Main Street Jupiter 561- 775-1818

All-Star Lineup In addition to the myriad Arizona and Florida resources listed on the previous pages, we’ve compiled this roster of some heavy-hitting websites: Major League Baseball: mlb.com/springtraining Cactus League: cactusleague.com Grapefruit League: floridagrapefruitleague.com Arizona Tourism: visitarizona.com Florida Tourism: visitflorida.com Scottsdale: experiencescottsdale.com

Unless you have a entrée into Trump National or The Bear’s Club, your best bet is Abacoa Golf Club (abacoagolfclub.com ), a Joe Lee design within walking distance of the stadium.

The Golf Club of Jupiter (golfclubofjupiter.com ) will do in a pinch, but in a neighborhood where the best golf is private, you’re better off heading 40 minutes north on I-95 to the golf Eden of PGA Village (pgavillage.com ) or 15 minutes south to the Champion Course at PGA National (pgaresort.com ) in Palm Beach Gardens.

TAMPA BAY RAYS Charlotte Sports Park El Jobean Road Port Charlotte

Only three miles from the stadium, the Gene Bates-designed Riverwood Golf Club (riverwoodgc.com ) received 4.5 stars from Golf Digest. For a funky change of pace, take a crack at the par-60 Oyster Creek Golf Club (oystercreekgolfclub.com ), where a dozen parthrees and six par-4s tip the course just short of 4,000 yards.

TORONTO BLUE JAYS Florida Auto Exchange Stadium 373 Douglas Avenue Dunedin 727-733-9302

How often do you get to play on a course listed on the National Historic Places Registry?

Only three miles from the stadium, the 90-yearold Dunedin Golf Club (dunedingolfclub.com ) sports a Donald Ross pedigree and underwent a restoration 10 years ago. If you want to play a PGA Tour-quality course, then drive further north to Innisbrook Resort (innisbrookgolfresort. com) , home of the Copperhead Course, March’s Valspar Championship and numerous Phillies fanatics.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS Space Coast Stadium 5800 Stadium Parkway Viera 321-633-9200

Laid out by Chip Powell on a former fertile sod farm, the 7,151-yard Duran Golf Club (durangolfclub.com ) unfurls less than two miles south of the stadium. Joe Lee’s Viera East Golf Club (vieragolf.com ) lies about the same distance north and minutes from Cocoa Beach.

South of Viera in Melbourne, the rugged Gary Player design at Baytree National Golf Links (baytreenational.com) rewards golfers with a quintessential Florida golf experience of white sand bunkers, red coquina waste areas and vast blue lakes.

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Spring 2016 | COLORADO AVIDGOLFER