in
connoisseur’s choice
Recreation
Dove Mountain #3
Ventana Canyon #18
Tubac Rancho #3
“The local Thunderbirds have organized a Tour event in the area since 1932. It’s now officially called the Waste Management Phoenix Open, but it’s locally known as The Party.” Name recognition is important, and one of the distinct pleasures of a visit to the Valley is a stay at the Fairmont Princess Hotel. A shining example of the iconic international brand, the Princess in Scottsdale does not disappoint on any level. Among the many perks is the proximity to the site of the most enjoyable of all PGA Tour venues, the TPC Stadium Course. The local Thunderbirds have organized a Tour event in the area since 1932. It’s now officially called the Waste Management Phoenix Open, but it’s locally known as The Party. Anyone who has ever attended the Open or watched it on television, can still hear the roars from the grandstands at the par 3 16th. The raucous celebrations over great shots and the Bronx cheers for bad ones turn the usually genteel behaviour of Tour galleries on its ear and into a great time for the fans—and for the players with senses of humour. This Jay Moorish and Tom Weiskopf design is terrific for watching an event, but is even more fun to play. The wheat-coloured rough outlines the dark green Bermuda grass of the fairways, and the waste bunkers and cacti give it a sense of place. 26 Good Life Connoisseur | Spring 2011
Similarly, one of the calling cards of Scottsdale golf since it opened in 1990, Troon North’s Monument Course, is another fine example of Moorish/Weiskopf unique desert layouts. Set in the High Sonoran Desert, the Monument course—named for the massive pillar of rock in the middle of the third fairway—and the Pinnacle Course on the lower slopes of Pinnacle Peak introduce players to the dramatic and rugged terrain. Another of the standard-bearers of Arizona’s unique brand of highend daily fee golf is Grayhawk Golf Club with two superb courses, Talon and Raptor. Not only is Grayhawk a favourite with PGA Tour superstar Phil Mickelson, for whom the club’s grillroom is named, but it has hosted some top-flight events, including the Tour’s Frys. com Open. For sheer beauty, it is hard to beat We-Ko-Pa Golf Club, located in Fort McDowell, a part of the Yavapai Nation. The two stunning courses—Cholla and Saguaro—are listed among Golf Magazine’s “Top 100 You Can Play in the U.S.” www.GoodLifeConnoisseur.com