state nickname: grand canyon state
state flower: saguaro cactus blossom
state gem: turquoise
state tree: palo verde
state bird: cactus wren
state reptile:
arizona ridge-nosed rattlesnake
official neckwear: bola tie
JaNUar Y 2011 n trooNGoLfaNdtraveL.Com 21
Southern Dunes Golf Club
the first time I visited Southern dunes Golf Club in maricopa, ariz., I asked my host, tongue in
cheek, “where are the koala bears and kangaroos?”
after all, the surrounding property is rife with towering stands of eucalyptus, pine and conifer trees,
and the golf course itself is a dead-ringer for australian dunes design. did legendary architect alister
mackenzie mold the course to mimic his compelling
Kingston heath and royal melbourne layouts?
In truth, this stunning, landscape of heaving dunes,
shoulder-high native grasses,
flash-up bunkering and links-style golf holes is the singular
work of architects Brian Curley
and Lee Schmidt. It was their
intent, with an assist from fred
Couples, to pattern the layout
after some of the world’s finest links courses, and they succeeded brilliantly. Southern
dunes is now ranked by GoLf
magazine among america’s
top 100 Courses You Can play
(No. 87), is on the magazine’s
2010 list of Best Courses in arizona (No. 5), and is
so highly regarded that it is a regular venue for U.S.
open qualifiers.
Located approximately 30 minutes from downtown phoenix, the 350-acre property was purchased
earlier this year by the ak-Chin Indian Community
and is a featured amenity of harrah’s ak-Chin Casino
& resort. Count your lucky tees, however, because
Southern dunes—originally crafted as a high-dollar,
men-only private club—is now open to daily fee play.
a high-season greens fee is $140 (Jan. 28-april 3),
but rates drop as low as $25 in summer.
few argue that’s a great value for playing one of
america’s better courses. the 7,517-yard, par-72
track is much the same as it was when local pGa
tour luminaries mark Calcavecchia and Steve Jones
purchased memberships. the beast-is-a-beauty
layout punishes careless swings with 140 strate-
gically placed bunkers (most located greenside);
long forced carries that must skirt tall and gnarly
grasses; crowned, undulating
greens that cruise at zippy 12-
plus Stimpmeter speeds; tight
and rarely level landing zones;
and selfish bail-outs that
often leave miscues in dire
straits. however, steel-nerve
players relish the challenge,
while lesser mortals prize the
course’s impeccable turf con-
ditioning and incomparable
splendor.
the casino, also owned by
the ak-Chin tribe, is an easy
five-mile drive away. harrah’s ak-Chin offers 148
luxury appointed rooms, three restaurants, live en-
tertainment and 40,000-square-feet of Las vegas-
style gaming. early next year, the property will de-
but a five-story, $20 million tower that will add 152
guest rooms.
as for the koalas and kangaroos, you probably
won’t find any at the course…unless you discover
a few in the pro shop adorning the fairway woods.
Good on ya, mate! —CD
It was their intent,
with an assist from Fred
Couples, to pattern the
layout after some of the
world’s finest links courses,
and they succeeded
brilliantly.
