Phoenix Spring Training Golf Trip
GolfArizona.com, 2/11
Golf Magazine, 2/10, 3/09 & 2/07
ESPN.com, 3/11
TravelGolf.com, 2004
Hope springs eternal: Spring training baseball and golf around Arizona's Cactus League
By Mike Bailey, Senior Staff Writer, GolfArizona.com, February 16, 2011 [Notes from ESPN.com added by Fat Guy]
February isn't spring in most parts of the country, but the baseball and golf folks in Arizona sort have their own calendar. The middle to latter part of the month is when 15 Major League Baseball teams kick off spring training in the Arizona Cactus League, and it's also ideal weather for golf.
And now, with the Arizona Diamondbacks moving their training facilities from the Tucson area to Scottsdale, all the teams in the Cactus League are in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area, which means it's easy to spend a couple of weeks in the Valley of the Sun, see half the teams in the majors and take in plenty of golf as well.
Greg Ellis, general manager at The Trilogy Golf at Vistancia in Peoria, Ariz., says this time of year there's a real sense of optimism, players are friendly and accommodating, and nothing beats sitting on a hillside at a ballpark with a hot dog and an adult beverage. Combine the experience with golf, and you've got a real special day.
"There's nothing better than being able to play golf in the early morning and getting to the ballpark for a 1 p.m. game," Ellis said. "It's the perfect combination."
With that said, here is a quick rundown of the Cactus League teams, their ballparks (most venues host two teams) and a selection of golf courses that are within a few minutes of the parks.
Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies
Ballpark: Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, north Scottsdale. The biggest news in spring training is the new home for the Rockies and Diamondbacks. The theme for this innovative new complex, the design of which allows fans to see more of the action and relate to the players, is "Two Teams -- Two Tribes -- One Home," with the two tribes being the Pima and Maricopa tribes that comprise the local Indian community.
And as the newest entertainment venue to carry the "Talking Stick" brand, the closest and most logical choice when it comes to golf is Talking Stick Golf Club, which is also on Maricopa-Pima tribe land. Designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, Talking Stick offers two unique courses -- the links-style North Course and the traditional tree-lined South Course -- that are always in excellent shape. Of course, it's far from the only game in town. The two courses at the TPC Scottsdale, the Champions Course and the Stadium Course are also nearby. While the Stadium Course is renowned as the home of the PGA Tour's Waste Management Open, the Champions Course, with its more reasonable green fees and condition, has become a favorite among locals and visitors alike. Of course, we would be remiss without mentioning one of Scottsdale's most revered layouts -- Troon North Golf Club, which features the 36 holes of the Monument Course and Pinnacle Course, classic desert-style target golf and impeccable conditions.
Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians
Ballpark: Goodyear (Ariz.) Ballpark. Goodyear has several excellent golf venues, but the area's favorite is probably The Golf Club of Estrella. Designed by Jack Nicklaus Jr., the course is as fun as many of the better known layouts in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area, but at a fraction of the price. Set in the foothills of the Sierra Estrella Mountains, The Golf Club of Estrella is a great example of classic desert golf.
Another good option in Goodyear is the Tres Rios Golf Course at Estrella Mountain Park, a 1962 Red Lawrence design that was renovated in 1998.
Seattle Mariners, San Diego Padres
Ballpark: Peoria (Ariz.) Stadium. Trilogy Golf Club at Vistancia is not only located in Peoria, but is also one the best bets for golf in the area. Often half of what it costs to play golf in Scottsdale, Trilogy Golf Club is a Gary Panks design that has earned Golf Digest's highest rating (five stars). The golf course, which can play more than 7,200 yards, is one of the more unique designs in the area, with rolling terrain, native grasses and more than 70 bunkers.
Texas Rangers, Kansas City Royals
Ballpark: Surprise (Ariz.) Stadium. Surprise isn't too far from Peoria, so The Trilogy Golf Club at Vistancia is a good choice for Rangers and Royals fans as well. But baseball/golf lovers from both areas might also want to check out the Wigwam Resort just south of Surprise in Litchfield Park. The resort was established in the 1930s and now features three 18-hole championship length golf courses, including two designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. Throughout, you'll find anything but typical desert golf with wider fairways, streams and lakes.
Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago White Sox
Ballpark: Camelback Ranch, Phoenix. White Sox and Dodgers fans who play golf are sure to enjoy the Raven Golf Club at Verrado in Buckeye, just west of Phoenix. This upscale desert course, designed by John Fought and Tom Lehman, opened for play in 2004. Playing more than 7,200 yards, the course was laid out on the old Caterpillar Bulldozer company's proving grounds, and a boulder that survived demolition remains near the fourth hole.
In addition to the Raven Golf Club, golfers might also want to check out Wildfire Golf Club in Phoenix. The Marriott resort has two excellent golf courses -- the original (Arnold) Palmer Course and the newer (Nick) Faldo Course.
Milwaukee Brewers, Oakland Athletics
Ballparks: Maryvale Baseball Park and Phoenix Municipal Stadium, respectively. Fans of both the Brewers and the Athletics can choose between two classic Phoenix municipal layouts.
ESPN digs the unique press box at Maryvale Baseball Park, in Phoenix. As at many of the Arizona parks, the field is sunken below street level at Maryvale Baseball Park and seating options surround the entire field. But the thing that sets the spring home of the Milwaukee Brewers apart is its long and irregularly shaped "press-box-on-stilts," which serves three important purposes. First, it creates some of the best standing room in baseball, getting the press box out of the way so that those lingering on the concourse behind home plate can enjoy an unobstructed view of the game. Second, with the press box up above, a cooling breeze can flow more freely through the stadium at ground level. And third, the length and unusual pitch of the press box combine to create a larger than normal swath of shade for fans in the infield seats. And the extra shade sure makes a difference to Midwesterners still working to get their tans in regular-season shape. "It's just like cooking a Brat: Go moderate with the heat source and you'll fare well," said Brewers spokesperson Tyler Barnes. "You don't see too many Wisconsinites getting overcooked; they just work their way to a nice, golden tan."
ESPN also loves the rocks at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. Arguments over which Cactus League facility offers the best outfield view usually come down to Scottsdale Stadium, where the Camelback Mountains rise majestically down the left field line, and Phoenix Municipal Stadium, where red rock formations loom just beyond the left field fence. Because they rise so dramatically over the outfield, the stark rocks at "Phoenix Muni" earn it the nod here. These iron-rich sedimentary formations, which sit within the bounds of the abutting Papago Park recreation area, were formed between 6 million and 15 million years ago. One formation is known as "Hole in the Rock," owing – you guessed it – to an opening in its center caused by countless years of erosion.
Close to Maryvale Baseball Park is Maryvale Golf Course, a classic William Bell design that's been a favorite of the locals for years. Maryvale has plenty of mature trees, doglegs and is friendly for all levels of play. The course is renowned for its practice facilities and popular junior program. Meanwhile, Athletics fans are just a couple of minutes from another Bell classic, Papago Golf Course, which recently underwent a complete renovation that lengthened the old favorite to more than 7,300 yards. The course, which is set among the Papago Buttes, was restored by Billy Fuller, getting new bunkers, tees and grasses before it hosted an LPGA Tour event in 2009.
San Francisco Giants
Ballpark: Scottsdale Stadium. The 2010 world champions play right in the middle of Scottsdale, so the course choices are endless.
ESPN digs the cacti at Scottsdale Stadium, in Scottsdale. Aside from showcasing mountain views, Scottsdale Stadium also houses the Arizona Fall League Hall of Fame (where members like Derek Jeter and Todd Helton are celebrated) and the Scottsdale Sports Hall of Fame (where local athletes like Jim Palmer receive their due). But the best tribute the stadium offers comes in the form of a cactus garden down the right field line. The popularity of this prickly patch on the concourse as a pre-game point of interest among fans raises legitimate questions about why other Arizona parks don't do more to embrace the cactus as a ballpark accoutrement – and about why the Florida parks seem to prefer royal palms to grapefruit trees beyond their outfield walls.
Three nearby 36-hole layouts really stand out, although there are plenty more venues from which to choose. Camelback Golf Club and McCormick Ranch Golf Club are nearby and rank among the area's favorites.
We-Ko-Pa Golf Club, to the east in Fountain Hills, offers two of the region's very best layouts with the original Cholla Course, designed by Scott Miller, and the Ben Crenshaw-Bill Coore-crafted Saguaro Course. Both have incredible vistas off the tee of the natural desert landscape and mountains in the background.
And if that's not enough, be sure to check out the 27 holes of the Westin Kierland Resort, which even offers golfers an option to take a Segway instead of a golf cart.
Los Angeles Angels, Chicago Cubs
Ballparks: Tempe (Ariz.) Diablo Stadium and HoHoKam (Ariz.) Park, respectively. Both of these ballparks are fairly close to the Arizona State University campus and its golf course, the ASU Karsten Course. Designed by Pete Dye, the course was recently lengthened and shortened to a par 70 for top collegiate competition. Featuring plenty of pot bunkers, water hazards and challenging greens, the course provides a good test at a reasonable price. After a game or a round, ESPN says chill on Mill Avenue in Tempe, a great avenue of shopping, dining, and drinking right off the ASU campus.
And for those, perhaps, looking for a couple more good golf courses as well as accommodations, there's the Whirlwind Golf Club at the Sheraton Wildhorse Pass in Chandler. Both courses at Whirlwind were designed by Panks, with the Cattail Course serving as the home of a Nationwide Tour event for several years.
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Golf Magazine:
For fans of the: Angels, Cubs, Indians, Reds, White Sox, Royals, Dodgers, Mariners, Brewers, A's, Giants, Rangers, and Padres
Best Public Course: We-Ko-Pa Golf Club (480-836-9000, www.wekopa.com; $175-$195) runs neck and neck with Troon North for top dog in the valley, but with no homes or roads obstructing the views and a greens fee that can be $100 cheaper, We-Ko-Pa's 36 holes get the nod.
Best Bang For Your Buck: Longbow Golf Club (Mesa, 480-807-5400, www.longbowgolf.com; $135-$155) features Red Mountain as a backdrop, no homes on the course, and is just east of HoHoKam Stadium, where the Cubbies play.
Book online and you can score a prime tee time for $99.
Cubbies fans can drown their sorrows at Macayo's in Mesa (480-820-0237), which carries on the tradition of tasty, affordable Mexican eats that Woody Johnson started in Phoenix in 1946.
Best You Can Play That You've Never Heard Of: Southern Dunes Golf Club (480-367-8949, www.golfsoutherndunes.com; $129) Built in 2002 as a private men's club, this Schmidt-Curley/Fred Couples design is now public and affordable, and it sports fescue-framed fairways.
Fans of the San Fransico Giants: TPC Scottsdale Champions Course (Scottsdale, 7,115 yards, par 71, $91-$130, 480-585-4334, www.tpc.com/scottsdale). You could spend $272 to play the TPC Stadium Course (home of the raucous FBR Open), but why would you? For less than half the price you can tee it up at the sister Champions Course, which is better than ever after a 2007 redo by Randy Heckenkemper that added nearly 700 yards to the old Desert course and turned a back-tee slope of 119 into 140. You'll love a pair of risk/reward split-fairway beauties: the 477-yard, par-4 5th and the 359-yard, par-4 15th. The fun of playing Scottsdale's most compelling value track makes up for the joy you lose in no longer having a chance to jeer Barry Bonds during Giants games at nearby Scottsdale Stadium.
Finish your day at Don & Charlie's (480-990-0900) on the edge of Scottsdale's Old Town. The ribs are the best in town.
Fans of the Rangers, Royals, Padres, and Mariners: Trilogy Golf Club at Vistancia (Peoria, 7,259 yards, par 72; $99, 623-328-5100, www.trilogygolfclub.com). You can watch a cluster of teams clear out the winter cobwebs nearby--the Rangers, Royals, Padres and Mariners--but this Gary Panks layout with wavy native grasses and Bradshaw Mountain backdrops is the real star.
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TravelGolf.com:
Phoenix
Milwaukee Brewers
Tickets: $6-$17, call (800) 933-7890
Maryvale Baseball Park: Take I-10 west, exit 51 Ave. north. Enter stadium parking lot on 51st Ave between Thomas Rd. and Indian School Rd.
Oakland Athletics
Tickets: $7-$18, call (800) 225-2277
Phoenix Municipal Stadium: Take 202 Loop to Priest Exit. Go north on Priest one mile.
Best bet: The Raven at South Mountain is an upscale daily-fee course in downtown Phoenix. It is well-known for its service and quality course conditions. The Gary Panks-David Graham design is a playable track with five sets of tees that top off at 7,078 yards. With generous landing areas, golfers of every handicap should be able to keep their ball in play and score at or below their handicap. It's not much for scenery - patio homes line the edges of the property - but the gentle mounds and emerald fairways are pleasing to the eye. It's located near the Tempe border at 3636 E. Baseline Road in Phoenix.
Solid seconds: Quite close to the A's stadium is the city-owned Papago Golf Course, 5595 E. Moreland. This is the city's most popular municipal course, set among the picturesque red rocks of the Papago area. It's inexpensive, but the conditions aren't as solid as the high-end courses.
Near the Brewers stadium, Estrella Mountain Ranch Golf Club is a solid option on the west side of the Valley of the Sun. The high-end, daily fee course offers mountain scenery in the middle of new home developments. This course was designed by Jack Nicklaus II, eldest son of the Golden Bear. The course plays at 7,116 from the back tees with a rating of 73.6 and a slope of 136. It's located at 11800 S. Golf Club Drive in Goodyear.
For stay and play golf packages or tee times, call 800-767-3574.
Where to stay: To be frank, this part of Phoenix is not a tourist's paradise, so you might want to stay in nearby Glendale or out in Scottsdale. But the Maryvale area is close to the airport and to lots of chain motels and restaurants. One possibility for a motel: The Hampton Inn Phoenix at 5152 W. Latham St. Call (602) 484-7000 for reservations.
Scottsdale
San Francisco Giants
Tickets: $8-$24, call (800) 225-2277
Scottsdale Stadium: From downtown Phoenix, take Rural Road north. Rural Road becomes Scottsdale Road. Make a right on E. Osbourn Road, stadium is on the left.
Best bet: We could go on and on with recommendations, but be sure to try We-Ko-Pa, on the Fort McDowell Indian Reservation, just a few miles away. We-Ko-Pa, a desert-target course designed by renowned Scottsdale architect Scott Miller, is located at 18200 E. Toh Vee Circle in Fountain Hills. You want to strive for accurate tee shots here; this is not a forgiving course.
Solid Seconds: It's a bit of a drive, but SunRidge Canyon located at 13100 N. SunRidge Drive in Fountain Hills is true target-style course that will test your accuracy off the tee. The layout is a dramatic mix of twists and turns down the mountain for 10 holes, and back up for the last eight. The greens are quick and tough to hold with mid iron shots.
Perhaps the most underrated golf experience in Scottsdale can be found at Talking Stick Golf Club, located at 9998 E. Indian Bend Road. Its two 18-hole layouts are in top notch condition. The North Course is true links-style golf with brash bunkers and open fairways. The South Course is more of a traditional tree-lined design with strategic elements that will test your nerves. Both courses have unending views of the mountains. Since the property is on an Native American reservation, no houses impede the scenic surroundings.
For stay and play golf packages or tee times, call 800-767-3574.
Where to stay: Scottsdale is loaded with plush resorts like the Westin Kierland and The Phoenician, for example. But the real fun is to stay downtown near Old Town Scottsdale so you can walk to the ballpark, the galleries and Western stores, and the fantastic restaurants. We'd suggest Marriott Suites Scottsdale Old Town at 7325 E. Third Ave. as one possibility. Call (480) 945-1550 for reservations. To stay closer to the golf courses, try Resort Suites in North Scottsdale. Call (800) 903-3973 for reservations.
Surprise
Kansas City Royals
Tickets: $5-$16, call (800) 326-4000
Surprise Stadium:The stadium is located on Bullard Avenue, 1 1/2 miles west of the intersection of Bell Road and Grand Avenue (U.S. Route 60). Bullard Avenue is also 2 1/2 miles east of Loop 303.
Texas Rangers
Tickets: $5-$16, call (800) 326-4000.
Surprise Stadium: The stadium is located on Bullard Avenue, 1 1/2 miles west of the intersection of Bell Road and Grand Avenue (U.S. Route 60). Bullard Avenue is also 2 1/2 miles east of Loop 303.
Best bet: Cimarron Golf Club at Sun City Grand is a desert-style course designed by Greg Nash as part of a home development. The course plays at 6,800 yards with water in play on nine holes. The club is located at 17100 W. Clearview Blvd., Surprise.
Solid seconds: Any of the courses mentioned for Peoria are viable options for Surprise. Two other Nash courses are nearby: Desert Springs Golf Club is located at 19900 N. Remington Drive, and Granite Falls Golf Club at 15949 W. Clearview Blvd.
For stay and play golf packages or tee times, call 800-767-3574.
Where to stay: Try the Quality Inn and Suites at 16741 N. Greasewood St. in Surprise. Call (623) 583-3500. Also, check out the Best Inn and Suites at 12477 W. Bell Road; phone (623) 933-4000.
Tempe
Anaheim Angels
Tickets: $8-$15, call (480) 784-4444
Diablo Stadium: Take I-10 to exit 155, Mirage Drive west. Make a right on 48th Street and then a right on W. Alameda. Stadium is on the left.
Best bet: The Phantom Horse Golf Club at the Pointe at South Mountain has recently been renovated, including the addition of an island green on the par-4 No. 18. The first nine holes have a very traditional feeling - lots of green grass, palm trees and water hazards. The back nine takes you up South Mountain where it's more of a desert-target style course with a peaceful park-like setting. Phantom Horse is located at 7777 S. Pointe Parkway in Phoenix. The course is now a par 71 and measures just over 6,300 yards, about 100 yards longer than before.
Solid seconds: Any of the options listed under Mesa are good choices, as is The Raven at South Mountain, which was mentioned as the "Best bet" in Phoenix. The Legacy Golf Resort, located at 6806 S. 32nd St in Phoenix, offers lush modern conditions. The traditional Panks design was built on a giant ranch once owned by Arizona pioneer Dwight B. Heard.
For stay and play golf packages or tee times, call 800-767-3574.
Where to stay: Right next door to Diablo Stadium is the Wyndham Buttes Resort, located at 2000 Westcourt Way in Tempe. Call (602) 225-9000 for reservations.
Best Bar Nearby: Fat Guy Research- The Tilted Kilt Pub & Eatery (www.tiltedkilt.com, 660 W. Warner Rd, Tempe). Think 'Hooter's meets a great Irish pub.' They do a St. Paddy's Day celebration called St. Practice Day on the 17th of every month.
Mesa
Chicago Cubs
Tickets: $5-$16, call (800) 905-3315.
Ho-Ho-Kam Park: From Phoenix, take 202 Loop to Exit 12, McKellips Road. Turn right onto McKellips. Turn right onto North Center Street. Park is on the left.
Best bet: Longbow Golf Club, located at 5601 East Longbow Parkway in Mesa, re-opened in November after a major redesign and is considered one of the best values in the Phoenix area. The course has 13 new holes, tops out over 7,000 yards and is challenging but playable. Golfers are treated to flybys of old war planes before they land at Falcon Field just miles away and scenic views of Red Mountain. While most desert golf results in lost balls for the mid to high handicapper, Longbow has sculpted washes filled with crushed granite which catch wayward shots. Balls off the beaten path are easy to find.
Solid seconds: Las Sendas Golf Club, located at 7555 E. Eagle Crest Drive in the desert uplands at the east end of town, was designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. Lots of mountain scenery here plus a tough course - 6,874 yards from the back tees with a slope of 142 and a rating of 73.5. Beware of the greens, which are fast and undulating.
Only a short drive from Mesa, Ocotillo Golf Club is a 27-hole design with a wild collection of waterscapes concocted by golf architect Ted Robinson. The Chandler course located at 3751 S. Clubhouse Drive has so many canals and lakes that you could pick Ocotillo up and move it to Florida and it would fit right in.
For stay and play golf packages or tee times, call 800-767-3574.
Where to stay: To soak up more baseball atmosphere, the Best Western Dobson Ranch Inn, is a great choice. It serves as headquarters for the coaches, executives and some Cubs players. The inn is a 10-acre resort with about 200 rooms and has a Western flavor. It's located at 1666 S. Dobson Road in Mesa. Call (800) 528-1356. Another possibility is Country Inn and Suites at 6650 E. Superstition Springs Blvd., Mesa. Call (800) 456-4000 for reservations.
Peoria
San Diego Padres
Tickets: $5-23, call (619) 220-TIXS
Peoria Sports Complex: 101 From Phoenix, take 202 Loop west to 100 Loop North. Take the Bell Road exit. Go east on Bell and make a right on 83rd Avenue.
Seattle Mariners
Tickets: $5-$23, call (480) 784-4444
Peoria Sports Complex: From Phoenix, take 202 Loop west to 100 Loop North. Take the Bell Road exit. Go east on Bell and make a right on 83rd Avenue.
Best bet: The Raven at Verrado in Buckeye located at exit 120 off of I-10 is a 20 mile drive from Peoria, but the new John Fought-Tom Lehman design is well worth the trip. The course just opened in January and it's in perfect condition. The green fee includes two meals, free (non-alcoholic) drinks and snacks off of the beverage cart and all the service The Raven golf clubs have been known for. The design is a memorable collaboration of short par-4s and tough par-5s with enough fairway to keep mid-to-high handicappers in the game.
Solid seconds: Think about playing a little farther southwest at the Wigwam Resort which has three older courses, two designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr., and one done by Robert "Red" Lawrence. They offer traditional style golf with fairly long and wide fairways. Avoid the Blue Course, which was overseeded during the heat of late September and the greens suffered a great deal. The Gold Course is the most challenging and in the best shape. Wigwam is located at 451 N. Litchfield Road in Litchfield Park.
Another club near Wigwam is Palm Valley at 2211 N. Litchfield Road in Goodyear. Palm Valley has a short course (4,764 yards from the back tees) that was designed by Hale Irwin and a regulation length course (7,015 yards from the back) designed by Arthur Hills.
For stay and play golf packages or tee times, call 800-767-3574.
Where to stay: There are lots of motel choices in Peoria, some of which are within walking distance of the stadium. For example: Comfort Suites, 8473 W. Paradise Lane, (800) 228-5150; Hampton Inn, 8408 W. Paradise Lane, (800) HAMPTON; La Quinta Inn & Suites, 16321 N. 83rd Ave., (623) 487-1900.