Golf - Joan Levinson Luxury Real Estate Expert

Attractions Golf

Where Golf is as Good as it Gets

In their September 2017 report, Golf.com listed Paradise Valley as #2 on the list of “Absolute Best Places for Golfers to Live”. While we would argue we should be #1, there’s no doubt that Paradise Valley, Phoenix and Scottsdale are all perpetually ranked as among the top golf destinations in the world. The area has achieved this distinction for good reason. Scottsdale, Phoenix and Paradise Valley offers golfers more than 200 public and private courses to choose from and ideal weather with sunshine more than 329 days a year. But numbers alone don’t begin to tell the story.

Golf great Tom Weiskopf states “With our weather, courses and mindset, the area has no rival in the world when it comes to golf.” Weiskopf points out that, besides quantity and quality Scottsdale and the surrounding area also offers golf variety.

The area’s courses give people something different than what they have at home. They see the Tournament Players Club course on TV and become aware of what can be done with natural topography. Every part of the country has its natural beauty. Scottsdale, Paradise Valley and Phoenix courses have their own distinctive look.

Unique golf course architecture clearly has contributed to its stellar reputation as a dream golf destination. Golf architect Tom Weiskopf designed courses at DC Ranch, Troon North Golf Club and the Tournament Players Club (TPC). Other well-known golf architects, including Robert Trent Jones Sr. and Jr. , Tom Fazio, Jack Nicklaus, Jay Morrish, Robert Cupp. Arnold Palmer, Ed Seay, Billy Casper, Ben Crenshaw and Bill Grove, have also left their distinctive imprints on this area’s golf scene.

This abundance of outstanding design has created plenty of “must play” holes as well as a number of “don’t miss” golf courses. The most written about hole is number 14, 604 yard par 5 at Troon’s Monument course. It was voted one of “The Best 18 Holes You Can Play” by Golf Digest. But the entire Monument Course was ranked number one in the state by GOLFWEEK magazine, and the number one “Best Public Course” in Arizona by Golf Digest. Its sister, the Pinnacle Course, was named one of the best upscale courses in the state, as well as one of the top 10 courses in Arizona. Other Favorites are Grayhawk’s Raptor and Talon Courses, which were ranked by Golf Magazine as are the “Top 10 Course You Can Play in U.S.” This year, on their 2017-2018 list, the Estancia Club in Scottsdale took the honor for Golf Digest’s “Best Course in Arizona”, though the list rotates frequently among so many top courses.

All year around, sunrise to sunset, the Phoenix area boasts some of the best weather in the country. During the winter months, the mild, sunny days lure golfers from snowbound states to focus on their games. In summer, golfers can get outside and enjoy and dry desert climate by hitting the links early in the morning and finishing before the sun is high in the sky. Early birds are rewarded with cooler temperatures and greatly reduced summer rates at the area’s fine resident and public courses.

Superbly groomed and challenging courses, top instruction, and ideal climate and standard of service second to none have sealed Scottsdale and the surrounding area’s reputation as good as it gets. To get any better, they’d have to invent a whole new game.