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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