Phoenix Country Club

HOLE #1

The opening hole provides players an opportunity to get off to a good start. This reachable par 5 requires an accurate tee shot to a fairway protected by a large tree right and a bunker left. A well placed tee shot will leave the player with a decision to go for the green in two or lay back and pitch to this long and narrow green. The green is guarded by bunkers short left and right as well as water behind. This slightly elevated green slopes from back to front and a missed approach will leave the player with a difficult up and down. This is a great birdie opportunity to start the day.

Par 5

511 yards

HOLE #2

Don’t let the yardage fool you! This simple-looking par 3 requires proper club selection into a spacious green that is guarded by a lake surrounding the left and a large bunker right. The green slopes severely from back to front making a two putt from above the hole a challenging situation. Players must pay close attention to the wind conditions as tee shots that come up short or left will find a watery grave. An aggressive play from the tee could lead to an easy birdie, but could also lead to an easy double . This is a good hole to play to the middle of the green, take your par and move on.

Par 3

164 yards

HOLE #3

The third hole is a strong par 4 that typically has the highest stroke average in relation to par under tournament conditions. A long straight tee shot is required in order to have mid to long iron approach to this heavily guarded green. The landing area is guarded by OB on the right and a large bunker on the left. Players that find the fairway will be left with a second shot of approximately 185 to 200 yards to a large green sloping from the back right to the front left guarded by bunkers front left and front right. Back right hole locations are the most difficult due to the slope of the green and OB just right of the green. Par is a great score on this No. 1 handicap hole.

Par 4

457 yards

HOLE #4

This dogleg left par 4 requires the player to decide whether to take on the large bunker that guards the left side of the fairway or lay up short of the small pot bunker that guards the right side. If the player decides to take on the bunkers and successfully finds the fairway, they will be left with a short iron to this long narrow green guarded by bunkers front left and right. The green slopes toward the player in the front and slopes severely away from the player in the back. Two-putting from the wrong side of the narrow ridge that runs through the middle of the green is a monumental task. The front hole location seems to provide the best chance at making birdie and back hole locations must be respected as water looms just over the back of the green.

Par 4

405 yards

HOLE #5

Players will look at the fifth as an early birdie opportunity. This par 4 can be reached by most players in the field. The elevated green is protected by large bunkers left and short right. The green slopes from front to back making short pitches difficult to get close. It’s important not to lose your focus on this simple hole as making par will lose ground to the field.

Par 4

306 yards

HOLE #6

This is where the golf course begins to show its teeth. The tee shot requires the player to turn the ball right to left off of two bunkers that guard the right side of the fairway. If the player turns the ball too much they will certainly find the trees that guard the whole left side of the fairway, making par difficult. If the player finds the fairway, they will be left with mid to short iron into this small two-tiered green protected by a large bunker on the left side and bunker and OB on the right. The green slopes from back left to front right and the player must keep the ball below the hole at all costs. Par is a great score on this difficult hole.

Par 4

425 yards

HOLE #7

The longest of the three par 5s offers a good birdie opportunity if the player can find this slender fairway. The tee shot is protected by trees down the left and a large bunker on the right. The landing area narrows to 20 yards at 290 yards from the tee, making accuracy a must. If the player finds the fairway, they will have an opportunity to attack the hole by getting as close to the green as possible, or reaching in two. Players that miss the fairway will be forced to lay back and have a much longer shot into this difficult green. The green is protected by two bunkers on the right side and by the severity of its undulations. The green slopes mostly from back to front and from the sides of the green toward the middle.

Par 5

571 yards

HOLE #8

This long par 3 seems simple enough from the tee, as the green is only protected by a large bunker located left. The green is one of the largest on the course, but distance control is a must for success. The green slopes mostly from back to front, but has a lot of movement from the sides as well. Hole locations on the left side of the green will produce the most birdies, while hole locations on the right can cause problems. Par is always a good score here.

Par 3

203 yards

HOLE #9

This dogleg right par 4 requires a left to right tee shot to a narrow landing area protected by a large bunker on the left and large pine tree on the right. If the player is fortunate enough to find the fairway, they will be left with a short iron into an elevated green protected by bunkers short right and long left. The green slopes hard from back right to front left. An accurate second shot below the hole can lead to birdie opportunities, but a miss could lead to an easy bogey. The hole requires two quality shots for success.

Par 4

401 yards

HOLE #10

The 10th hole is a long dogleg left par 4. This is the longest of the 4s on the course and requires two well struck shots to reach the green in regulation. The driving area is protected by a large bunker on the right and trees down the left. Once in the fairway, the player will be left with a mid to long iron to a large two-tiered green protected by bunkers on the front, left and right side. The green slopes severely from back to front and players must be careful with their speed. This is one of the prettiest second shots in Arizona as the green is framed by “Piestewa Peak” in the background.

Par 4

460 yards

HOLE #11

This long dogleg right par 4 has ruined many a scorecard. A left to right tee shot is required to this narrow landing area protected by a large bunker on the left and the famous “Goldwater Tree” on the right. If the player is able to find the fairway they will be left with a mid to long iron to a long slender green sloping severely from back to front. The green is protected by bunkers on the right and back left, but they are the least of the player’s problems. This is likely the most difficult green on the course, making par a great score.

Par 4

444 yards

HOLE #12

Don’t underestimate this short par 4. The player must decide whether to attack from the tee and leave a short pitch or lay back and leave a full shot into the smallest green on the course. If a player decides to lay up, the landing area is well protected by a large bunker on the left and water to the right. If the player decides to attack the hole, they must stay to the left side of the fairway as tee shots to the right will be blocked by a large pine tree that guards the green. The green sits at a 45 degree angle to the right and is protected by a bunker on the front and back left. This is a great opportunity to make up a shot on the card, but a poor tee shot could leave you in a spot of bother.

Par 4

339 yards

HOLE #13

The par 3 13th starts a difficult three-hole stretch. This large green is protected by only water on the right and a collection area to the left. This is the only hole on the course without any bunkering, making it seem relatively straightforward. Most players will play a mid to long iron toward the left side of the green leaving a long putt or difficult chip to a green that slopes severely from back to front. Hole locations will determine how aggressive a player can be as the hole can play anywhere between 180 to 215 yards. Balls that end up on the green right of the hole location may find trouble.

Par 3

194 yards

HOLE #14

This dogleg right par 4 can make or break your round. Though the fairway is the widest on the course, a large pine in the left center of the fairway makes it seem a lot smaller. The landing area is protected by the large pine and a bunker on the right as well as OB right and left. The second shot is played to a shallow two-tiered green sloping hard from left to right.

Par 4

413 yards

HOLE #15

The final par 3, though average in length, can provide a lot of fireworks as players enter the final stretch of the course. The hole requires a short to mid iron played across the lake to a green protected by bunkers on all sides with water short and right. This small green slopes hard from the back left to the front right, making par a difficult proposition if the player misses the green.

Par 3

178 yards

HOLE #16

The final short par 4 on the course gives players a good opportunity to pick up a shot. The tee shot must be played right to left in order hit the fairway as the hole doglegs slightly to the left. This small fairway is framed by a small bunker on the right and trees to the left. The second shot is played to a long narrow green protected on the left and right by the deepest bunkers on the course. The green slopes steeply from back to front making it imperative to keep your ball below the hole. This is a great birdie opportunity as long as the player finds the fairway.

Par 4

354 yards

HOLE #17

The penultimate hole is a dogleg left par 4 that requires two quality shots to reach the green. The tee shot must be struck well and down the right center of the fairway. The landing area is protected by a large overhanging pine tree on the left and a fairway bunker on the right. Poorly struck tee shots up the left hand side will be blocked out by the large pine and more trees to the left. The second shot is played with a short to mid iron to a green protected by bunkers on the left and water on the right. It is imperative to hit this green in regulation as players that miss left of the green will be faced with playing their third shot to a green sloping away from the player toward the water. Par a welcome score on this hole.

Par 4

411 yards

HOLE #18

The only par 5 on the inward nine is a welcome site. Players will be faced with decision to go for the green in two or lay up and make birdie the hard way. The tee shot requires a small left to right shape to keep your ball in the fairway. The landing area is protected by a large bunker on the right and trees on the left. If the player manages to hit the fairway they must make a decision on how to attack the hole. Most players will be left with 225 yards to 250 yards to the hole. This slightly elevated green is relatively small and is protected by two greenside bunkers on the left and water on the right. Most players will lay up as a fairway wood or long iron must be struck perfect to hold the green, but players may be forced to attack if they are in need of a birdie or eagle. The 18th hole is a definite risk/reward situation and will certainly make for an exciting finish.

Par 5

527 yards