PALM VALLEY GOLF CLUB - Palm Course (623-935-2500)
Arizona Golf Course Review
The Palm Valley complex consists of a championship layout designed by Arthur Hills, an executive type design by Hale Irwin (playing to 4745 yards), a 9 hole par three that is lit for night play, plus a practice range and putting
greens. It is a wonderful facility for beginners and for avid golfers alike - and is perhaps the best bang for your
buck in the Phoenix area. Junior golfers receive special discount rates on the wedge course, as do
parents/adults playing along with them. It is difficult to beat their price structure here. The par three is only $6, and the beautiful executive course tops out at around $40.
The Palms Course is a true championship design with a top rate of around $65 with cart in season. There are 5
sets of tees, with the Championships playing to over 7000 yards and the mid tees (whites) at 6160. The slope
rating ranges from 133 to 112, so you can choose your own medicine. Though surrounded by desert and waste
areas, the Palms generally has sufficient room on the fairways and lots of dormant grass bordering both sides.
This is much easier to hit out of than the types of rough encountered on northern courses. The greens throughout
the layout are of medium size and in good shape. Rotating pin placement (info provided on score cards)
information will help you discern which clubs to use on your approaches. Stakes at 100, 150 and 200 are very visible on all the fairways.
The opening hole is a mid length par four with a narrow fairway sloping from left to right, playing to an elevated
green. The second demands a tee shot over the desert to a wide open fairway. A waste area comes into play on
the right side about 100 yards from the green. A narrow fairway with dormant grasses along rolling mounds on
both sides follows on the long par four third. An uphill par three is next (1 club extra) making 4 holes in a row
where distance is required off the tee. The fifth and sixth holes are beautiful mid length par fours that play uphill to
elevated greens. Avoid the fairway bunkers and you have a good shot at par or better here. Seven is quite long,
and your tee shot must carry a large waste area. The first of several easy par threes follows. This mid iron shot
must also carry a waste area, but is nonetheless a good birdie hole. The number 1 handicap of the Palms is the
finishing hole on the front. Tee up for a long drive over the desert to a fairway that narrows as you approach the
green. This par 5 will take three shots to reach for most golfers - with little room for error around the green.
The backside opens with a short par four, with a long carry over desert. The putting surface is elevated and is
fronted by a deep bunker. A good tee shot should present a great opportunity for birdie or par here. Eleven is a
par 5 that plays downhill off the tee with desert waiting for errant shots to the right. The green is elevated and
undulating. Twelve is a picture hole - a short par three that is followed by a mid length par four and five - making
this three hole sequence the easiest stretch on the course. The number two handicap fifteenth is a long and
narrow par four, where par is great and bogey is acceptable. It plays at 455 yards from the tips and 410 from the
mid tees. Sixteen is the last of the par threes. It is a beautiful hole with a deep bunker guarding the green to the
right. The two finishing holes are very reasonable par fours, affording you a chance to put up some good
numbers at the end of your round. There is a vast difference between the various tee boxes however. We are
talking 500 yards between the Whites and the Blues - and another 425 between the Blues and the Tournament
tees. For beginners and junior golfers, there are also the Palm Valley tees - playing at just 4200 yards.
Click here to visit the Two Guys Who Golf detailed listing page with a link (if available) to this course's website.
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