The Legend at Arrowhead
Designed by Arnold Palmer, The Legend at Arrowhead opened in 1986. There are four different tees to accommodate various skill levels, ranging from 5,233 yards to nearly 7,000. Golfers face the challenge of six lakes and a familiar Palmer design feature: dogleg holes that invite players to take risks. Mature palm trees soar above the fairways of this par-72 layout. High and low handicap players alike find the beautifully conditioned, undulating Bermuda/rye greens to be a stern test. The Legend is conveniently located on 67th Avenue in Glendale, just .6 miles north of the 101 Freeway.
The Legend at Arrowhead
21027 N. 67th Ave.
Glendale, AZ 85308
(623) 561-1902
legendatarrowhead.com/
Estrella Mountain Golf Course
This course was originally designed by Red Lawrence and opened way back in 1962. It went through a complete redesign in the late 1990s that enabled it to be named one of the Top 5 most improved courses in the May 2000 issue of Golf Digest magazine. Estrella Mountain is fun for golfers of all skill levels. The fairways of this traditional-style course are, for the most part, generous. The course opens with a straightaway par 5 that is reachable in two shots from the middle tees but presents more of a challenge from the back tees, 544 yards, particularly because golfers must deal with a mesquite tree in the fairway about 200 yards from the green. The final hole is also a par 5, only 472 yards from the back tees, but the second shot plays uphill. Estrella Mountain has a full practice facility with driving range, chipping area, putting green and a practice bunker.
Estrella Mountain Golf Course
15205 West Vineyard Ave.
Goodyear, AZ 85338-9718
(623) 932-3714
estrella-golf.com/golfCourse.html
Wigwam Golf Resort & Spa
For more than 75 years, Wigwam has set a standard of excellence for luxury resorts in the Southwest. Wigwam began as a small guest ranch that only accommodated 24 guests when it opened in late 1929.
Today, Wigwam is large in scope, spanning more than 500 acres. Guests can choose from 331 rooms and 72 luxury suites, three championship golf courses and the new Red Door Spa by Elizabeth Arden. The three courses offer completely different--but always challenging--golf experiences. Two were designed by renowned architect Robert Trent Jones, Sr. The courses underwent a substantial renovation in 2005, supervised by architect Forrest Richardson, that enhanced rather than changed the vision of the original architects. Wigwam was named both Best Southwest Golf Resort for Buddy Trips and Best Southwest Golf Resort for Family Trips by Travel + Leisure Golf magazine in September 2006.
The Gold Course, of Trent Jones design, is a whopping 7,430 yards from the appropriately named "Monster" tees (a more reasonable 6,348 yards from the "Club" tees). Red Lawrence designed the Red course. Features include ponds and streams and numerous mature pine, eucalyptus and cypress trees. The much shorter Blue course, another Trent Jones design, is only 6,001 yards from the back trees but has many formidable hazards including ponds and bunkers to create a strategic challenge for players of all skill levels.
Wigwam Golf Resort & Spa
300 Wigwam Blvd.
Litchfield Park, AZ 85340
(800) 327-0396
wigwamresort.com/
About The Author
Brian Hill's first writing credit was the cover story for a national magazine. He is the author of three popular books, "The Making of a Bestseller," "Inside Secrets to Venture Capital" and "Attracting Capital from Angels." Among his magazine article credits are the March 2005 and June 2008 issues of "The Writer." His interests include golf, football, movies and his two dogs.
