THE ESSENTIAL FIVE

TROON NORTH – DESERT ICON

Championship Pedigree: Consistently ranked among America’s top public courses, Tom Weiskopf’s brilliant design balances strategic golf with the natural contours of the Sonoran Desert.

The Challenge: The island green par-3 3rd hole requires a precise 202-yard carry completely surrounded by unforgiving desert – a mental test where commitment to the selected club is essential, as any indecision is severely punished.

What You’ll Remember: The unforgettable 6th hole, where the massive boulder known as the “Monument” sits directly in the fairway, forcing a strategic decision beneath the gaze of Pinnacle Peak – pure Sonoran Desert golf poetry.

PINNACLE COURSE – MOUNTAIN GOLF

The Designer’s Vision: Tom Fazio’s masterful routing through the foothills of Pinnacle Peak creates a sequence of holes where desert terrain and mountain vistas combine to produce both spectacular aesthetics and strategic challenges.

The Signature Moment: The demanding par-4 15th presents a comprehensive examination at 476 yards with a forced carry off the tee, strategic fairway bunkering, and an uphill approach to a well-protected green – all framed by majestic mountain backdrops.

Why It’s Special: Elevation changes throughout the course create constantly shifting perspectives and add complexity to club selection, with immaculate conditioning and Four Seasons service completing the picture.

THE BOULDERS – PREHISTORIC DRAMA

Course Heritage: Jay Morrish’s inspired design works harmoniously with 12-million-year-old granite formations that define the property, creating a golf experience that feels almost spiritual as you navigate fairways amongst ancient monoliths.

The Signature: The par-5 5th hole culminates at the famous “Boulder Pile” – an enormous rock formation towering six stories above the green, creating one of desert golf’s most recognisable backdrops and a wonderful photo opportunity.

The 19th Hole: Playing in the shadow of “Rosie’s Rock” and other balancing boulders that appear to defy gravity – a rare communion between modern sport and ancient geology that becomes part of the round itself.

THE PHOENICIAN GOLF COURSE – RESORT LUXURY

Course Heritage: Homer Flint’s elegant design winds seamlessly through the grounds of one of Scottsdale’s most prestigious resorts, balancing resort playability with strategic shot-making.

The Signature: The strategic par-4 9th requires precision off the tee to avoid water along the right, followed by an approach to a peninsula green that tests nerve as much as technique.

The 19th Hole: Perhaps the finest 19th hole in Scottsdale – the resort’s expansive pool complex, dining venues and Camelback Mountain views create the quintessential desert afternoon as the sun sets over the Sonoran landscape.

TPC SCOTTSDALE – THE COLOSSEUM

Tournament Legacy: Annual host of the Waste Management Phoenix Open, where hundreds of thousands of spectators create golf’s most electric atmosphere, transforming a traditional game into a sporting spectacle unlike any other in the world.

Signature Test: The iconic par-3 16th – the original “stadium hole” completely enclosed by grandstands holding 20,000 fans who shower great shots with cheers and poor ones with playful boos: an environment that rattles everyone… even the tour professionals.

Lasting Memory: Standing on that 16th tee, imagining the thunderous roar when someone makes an ace, understanding why even the game’s greats feel their hands shake over what would otherwise be a routine 160-yard shot – golf performance art in its purest form.