 SEDONA GOLF RESORT (928-284-9355)
Arizona Golf Course Review
Ok - you want beauty? You can't handle beauty - on a golf course...if ever a golfer had a reason to be distracted from the task at hand, which is to put the little white ball in the hole
while using as few strokes as possible - the Sedona Golf Resort certainly provides a built-in excuse. This is one outrageously beautiful golfing environment. If you have never been
to Sedona, our recommendation is to go... plan a trip around it, take the family, take some friends, go it alone - but do it. It is without a doubt one of the most beautiful places on the
planet - and for golfers it is just a special treat. Mis-read a putt, blow a chip, slice a drive... oh well - you could not have picked a better place to do it. Elevation changes, rolling
terrain, top notch conditioning, SPECTACULAR red rock mountain vistas - and to top it all off - a beautiful upscale clubhouse with some outstanding features. Stay and play
packages are available at the adjacent Hilton Sedona Resort - for an informational page on this outstanding resort, click here!
Back in the early nineties I had visited Sedona on a golf trip and had the pleasure of playing the course. There was just a simple clubhouse - more of a house actually, with little
amenities available - and the golf course was provided great panoramic views, but as a pure golfing experience was a bit rough around the edges. Not any more - this facility is
first class all the way. The indoor restaurant/lounge is beautifully and comfortably appointed with outstanding golf course views out of expansive picture windows, and can seat
100 people. There is an outdoor patio, plus locker areas for men and women, with showers. The pro shop is quite large and features a nice variety of golf accessories and attire.
On property is a complimentary driving range with grass and mat tee stations, a short game area with practice bunker, and 2 putting greens.
Everything from the course conditions to the quality of the cart paths is impeccable - helping the Sedona Golf Resort to receive a well deserved 4 star rating from Golf Digest
Places to Play. And the price to play, including cart during prime time is under $105. Keep in mind that while the courses in Phoenix and Scottsdale drop rates drastically during
the summer, the courses in Sedona are experiencing peak season, with temperatures 10 to 20 degrees cooler than those in the valley.
We found the layout to be very player friendly, with mostly wide landing areas. Stray too far left or right however, and recoveries can be tremendously difficult. The course is not
overly long nor highly sloped, with the tips measuring 6646 yards with a 128 slope. The blues play to 6127/120 slope and are recommended for the average golfer. The golds at
5652/115 slope for men and 137 for women, plus the reds at 5059/126 slope comprise the remaining sets of tees. In 1999, Sedona was recognized as one of the Top 100 Golf
Courses for Women in the US by Women Golfer Magazine. The trick to scoring well here is in reading the greens successfully. Keep in mind that in this mountain terrain, putts will
generally slope away from the elevated areas and towards the clubhouse. The Pro Link GPS on all carts will help in providing accurate info from tee to green, but it will be up to the
golfer to make adjustments allowing for uphill and downhill shots. On the fairway, 100,150 and 200 yardage blocks also provide info to the front and back sections (ie- the 100 yard
marker will also list 90 to the front, 110 to the back, etc). The tall 150 yard poles (also 250 on par fives) make great targets off the tee as well.
The opening hole plays uphill and invites a tee shot placed to the right of the 150 stake, while missing the bunkers that rest behind the tree line. An approach shot to the right
portion of the green will take the deep right greenside trap out of play. Number two plays from an extremely elevated tee to a beautiful par three with bunkers on 3 sides. The third
also begins from an elevated tee area with the zone between the 250 and 150 section providing a good landing area. From here you have the choice of going for the well bunkered
green in two or of laying up and playing this dogleg right par five as a three shot hole. A lay up to the right center past the 150 stake will set up to a green complex that features a
tough-to-negotiate deep right bunker, and a double tiered putting surface. Number five is extremely long (623, 586,537,486) but at least it plays uphill all the way. The beautiful
homes on either side are buffered by desert areas, on a hole that leaves no choice but to grip it and rip it. Three good shots can reach the green, but if short, a shot to the right side
of the pitching area near the green complex with take the left greenside bunker out of play. The rolling fairway on six ends near the 115 yard area, with a desert arroyo cutting
across. This undulating green complex features a right to left sloped putting surface. Seven plays downhill with a gorgeous mountain backdrop providing a postcard quality view.
The right to left sloped green is well protected by sand traps. Out of bounds right and desert left defines the fairway on 8, which also plays into the red rocks in the distance.
Anything hit right may also land out of bounds on nine, which finishes with a narrow approach between trees to an elevated outing complex.
If you have seen photos of the Sedona Golf resort, the picture likely was of the tenth hole - which is a drop dead gorgeous par three that plays towards the reddest of the Red
Mountains. This is a good scoring hole, although the left to right, back to front sloped green can cause some problems for shots landing on the wrong portion. Eleven plays
downhill with the stake just left of the tree providing a good target. If too far, the tee shot will catch the down slope and leave an uneven lie for the approach. This shot needs to carry
the creek that rests directly in front of the putting surface. From an elevated tee on 12 golfers will have to find the narrow fairway situated between trees and the desert, which turns
to the left near the 300 yard zone. Avoid the bunkers and this is a score-able par five. There is plenty of room on the 13th fairway before a pond that rests on the left from about 100
yards in. It is difficult top see the fairway from the slightly elevated tee area, but we guarantee you it is there. The right side of the green presents safe entry, as the water hazard
comes into play immediately to the left. The beautiful par three 14th is protected by bunkers front and back, and is followed by a tough four par that looks as though it doglegs to the
right. This hole actually plays straight away, to a fairway that bottlenecks past the 150, with desert brush and trees on both sides. Lay up near the 150, and trust you best club to
carry the approach to the green, which provides considerably more room for error than it appears. Sixteen doglegs right with a water hazard in play immediately to that side. The
last par three of the round on 17 is also the shortest, and most score-able. Bunkers horseshoe around the green on three sides and a water hazard is situated far right, but plenty
of bail out room is provided for short left. The closing hole plays from an elevated tee and invites a tee shot hit over the 150 stake. The beautiful uphill approach features a green
complex that fronts the gorgeous clubhouse, with a water hazard short and left - a memorable way to finish a great round.
There is not much left to say. As you can see the course is extremely photogenic. Of course Sedona is a destination not to be missed - even if you are not playing golf. But with 3
beautiful courses within an hours drive (two right in town) of Sedona, this place should be put on the map as a "must play" golf destination. For more info on the Sedona Golf
Resort - visit our informational page for the course, with a link to their website by clicking here.
For a great YouTube video click here.
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