Arizona Travel: Grand Canyon State groans with 300-plus golf courses

From Scottsdale to Sedona, Arizona boasts golf courses for just about everyone.

By: Ian Cruickshank Travel Reporter, Published on Thu Feb 21 2013

SCOTTSDALE, AZEarlier this month Phil Mickelson scorched the Arizona desert, winning the Waste Management Phoenix Open with a ridiculous score 28 under par. While the numbers that Phil the Thrill posted are nonsensical, the really astronomical digits were the tournament attendance figures. For the week, over half a million golf nuts showed up at the Scottsdale TPC, with a record 179,022, making the trip for Saturdays round to watch Phil and the boys defy gravity with 300-plus yard drives. Clearly, Arizona is a golf mad state and it now boasts more than 300 courses. Even better, golfers can combine their Arizona games with a wide variety of off-course fun. Lets Play Ball For a sports fan, theres nothing finer than turning the double playin this case, teeing it up at one of Scottsdales 100 plus golf courses in the morning and then spending a sleepy, sunny afternoon at the ball park, watching spring training. The World Champion San Francisco Giants play at Scottsdale Stadium while the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies run around the bases at the Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. Right around the corner from the diamond is the highly ranked Talking Stick Golf Club, home to the North and South courses, designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. (The duo will be the architects behind the second course at Cabot Links in Cape Breton which may open in 2015.) Both Talking Stick layouts run through the desert and through the shadows of the mountains, but the North has a more links style feel, while the South features a more traditional, tree-lined look. Good Vibrations The town of Sedona, which is a 90 minute drive north of Phoenix, is an eclectic mix of hardnosed millionaires, New Age mystics, painters and sculptures and cowboys. The universal attraction is the Sedona horizon which is spiked with stunning buttes and spires of ragged, red stone. Even if youre a first time visitor, the views will look familiar. The rocks have been the backdrop for dozens of cowboy movies. Everyone from John Wayne to Jimmy Stewart has ridden through these hills. (Entertainment royalty such as Lucille Ball, Walt Disney and Orson Welles also had second homes in Sedona.) The town is also a refuge for New Age mystics who believe that Sedona is the epicenter of four major magnetic energy sources vortexes that emit a stream of positive energy. The good vibrations are helpful at the Sedona Golf Resort which is tucked right in the middle of the vortexes and the surreal, technicolour vista. A Gary Pank designed course, Sedona isnt particularly long, just 6,646 yards. But with elevated tees and greens it can be a challenge. In the end, your score is secondary at the coursethe surrounding scenery and feel good energy is more than enough. Phils Grill Besides winning golf tournaments in Phoenix, Phil Mickelson has other strong ties to Arizona. He attended university in the state, lived in the Valley of the Sun for a dozen years and his brother is now the golf coach at Arizona State University. Phil is also the Tour Ambassador for the Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale. The club features two tough layouts, the Talon and Raptor courses and the club has hosted PGA Tour events and a World Matchplay tournament. Its also home to the Arizonas top 19th holePhils Grill. Its dotted with comfy leather coaches and chairs and plenty of HD televisions and Mickelson memorabilia. If the weather is good, grab a seat outside in the patio alcove, which curls around the fire pit overlooking the golf. The menu is pretty wide ranging you can order a blackened swordfish sandwich with green chile mayo and pico de gallo. And, while Phil now personally opts for a healthier diet, one of the Grills firm favourites is the massive barn burger. Ian Cruickshank is a Toronto based writer. His column usually appears on the fourth Saturday of each month. JUST THE FACTS Adjust Your Aura If you want to combine golf and getting your fortune told, head to Sedona. The Hilton Sedona Resort is featuring a golf package for two that starts at $347 per night and includes overnight accommodation, breakfast in the Grille at Shadow Rock, one round of golf for the two people with golf cart and a bucket of balls for the range. www.hiltonsedonaresort.com , 1 877 273 3762. Batter Up To catch all the balls and strikes try the W Scottsdale Hotels spring training package which includes everything from a ball cap to a bag of peanuts and complimentary transportation to Scottsdale Stadium. Room rates start at $345 per night and the special runs from Feb. 21 March 30. www.wscottsdalehotel.com 1 888 627 8347.