LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN GOLF CLUB at Pointe Hilton Tapatio
Cliffs Resort (602) 866-6356
Arizona Golf Course Review 6/16/04
The Lookout Mountain Golf Club is the shining jewel of the Pointe Hilton Resort at Tapatio Cliffs in Phoenix. The course has been honored as one of one of the top 450 public courses in the country and
one of the top 25 in Arizona, and also has been awarded 4 stars by Golf Digest. It has hosted celebrity events such as the Harmon Killebrew Invitational, the Royce Clayton Charity Classic and the Phoenix
Suns Scramble. Large, high quality Bermuda greens are featured at the end of lush fairways along a
terrain that fluctuates from resort-like to dramatic. Throughout, one will encounter spectacular scenery - which often serves as postcard backdrops from the tees that elevate as much as 175 feet from the
valley floor.
The resort is one of two Hilton golf destinations in Arizona, with the other being the spectacular El Conquistador in Tucson. Swimming pools, tennis courts, fine dining and other amenities compliment the
variety of first class accommodations on property - and the course is just steps away from the guest rooms. Mountain views are a constant at any point on the property, and tropical landscaping around the
tee areas and near the gorgeous water hazards make the course aesthetically beautiful. Palm trees and mountain vistas - a great combination.
The clubhouse at Lookout Mountain features a pro shop that has been named as one of the top 100 in the country. Changing areas with showers for men and women are available. The Pointe in Time
restaurant and lounge serves as the 19th hole, with daily breakfast, lunch and dinner menus, plus a
complete array of bar libations. Practice facilities include a complimentary grass range, a huge putting
green and a short game area with sand bunker. On course golfers will find that the tee areas on all par threes are marked, and yardage blocks are visible on the fairways at 100, 150 and 200 yards. Small
flags indicate the day's pin placement of front, middle and back, which should be heeded as these true
rolling putting surfaces are quite large. There is little undulation, comparatively speaking, but many of the
putting surfaces are sloped - usually from back to front. Three sets of tee provide choices of distances measuring 6535/135 slope, 6002/128 slope and 4557/113 slope. For women, this layout is quite
friendly. Though not long, players from the two alternate tees will be challenged to score well from these
picturesque, rolling fairways that wind through a gorgeous resort community. The many elevated tees and greens certainly require thoughtful club selection.
The beginning section of the course resembles a typical resort layout, along a gently rolling terrain, but with wonderful
views. Number one plays along a fairway that slopes right to left, with a simple approach to a well bunkered green complex. Anywhere on the fairway is good off the tee on the par five 2nd, and the approach is downhill along
undulations and gentle mounding. The par 3 third is simple - making it three good scoring holes in a row to begin the
round. The fairway on four is wide, and plays to a back to front sloped putting surface protected by sand traps on
either side. A shot aimed at the directional stake (the barber poles are not yardage markers) will put golfers in a good position to negotiate the dogleg that bends to the right on the par five 5th.Long hitters can reach in two and played as a
three shot hole, some birdies can also be had. Hole number six is a challenging par three with bunkers protecting the front and back - and a huge sand waste area short right.
There is plenty of room to lay up to the left side. The fun begins on seven, as the middle holes traverse canyons with hillside tee boxes and elevated greens. The first shot on
seven should be directed over the directional stake, leaving a couple of choices for the second shot. A lay up short of
the 150 area will leave a mid iron shot to the extremely elevated green, and a shot to the 100 - 75 yard area is even
better. There is a lay up area immediately in front of the green for those trying to reach in two. Number 8 also plays
from an elevated tee - and features a menacing ridge in the center of the fairway near the 130 yard area. The tree shot
must breach the 125 area - and be prepared for an extremely uphill approach. Long is better than short on the beautiful par three 9th, which plays over a desert ravine. The putting surface slopes left to right on this hole.
Back up the mountain to an elevated tee on ten - for a view of one of the most spectacular holes of the
layout. (see 2nd photo in this review) There is a 175 foot drop from the tees to the fairway which slopes
left to right. The putting complex is slightly elevated and well bunkered. Eleven is a gorgeous three par
from a mountain perch, with about 15 yards of fairway between the desert and the putting surface. The
elevated tee on 12 invites a lay up to the 150 yard area on hole # 12. Be careful here as shots hit right of
the trees can easily run through the fairway into the desert brush. If too far left, the approach will be a
blind one over trees to an elevated green with no room long. The is plenty of fairway on the short par four
13th, tough it is choked by a bunker and desert barranca near the 100 yard marker. A lay up near the
110 yard area will leave a fairly simple uphill approach. A tee shot to either side of the desert arroyo - to
the right for the average player and to the left 60-40 yards away will leave the most advantageous approach on 14. The green complex slopes nearly straight down on all sides. Creating some difficult up
and down situations for those that miss on their second shot. Long is gone here! There is room off the
tee on 15, but water comes into play along the left side about 225 yards from the green. With a good tee
shot, it is very possible to reach in two. If lacking distance, it is best to lay up to the 100 yard area before
the water hazard, which creeps across the fairway about 90 yards in. The green on 16 is situated
immediately behind a daunting water hazard. This putting complex slopes down on all sides, practically
guaranteeing bogey for those that miss. If the wind is up, this number 16 handicap plays much tougher. The wide sloping fairway on 17 tightens as the approach is made - to a kidney shaped, sloping green
complex with bunkers on three sides. The extremely wide fairway on 18 is very flat, as the terrain on this
course finishes the way it began. There is plenty of room all the way to the peninsula green, which surrounded by water on three sides. (see third photo in this review)
Lookout Mountain is an extremely fun course to play. It starts out easily enough, increases the heart rate
on the canyon holes (Tapatio Cliffs is a great name), then finishes back on earth. The outstanding vistas
and challenging shot selections keep it interesting, and the conditioning from tee to green verifies the
course's standing as an upscale golf experience. Highly recommended! For more info, visit our page for Lookout Mountain, with a link to their website, by clicking here.
|
