Arizona Golfers Guide Featured Course Stories

With a dramatic setting in the foothills on the edge of Phoenix’s West Valley, first-class amenities and stark visual appeal, Trilogy Golf Club at Vistancia offers a unique and engaging golf challenge that is hard to equal even in Arizona’s hotbed of desert golf.

Now rolling into its fifth full season, Trilogy at Vistancia has matured to become one of architect Gary Panks’ best designs; an impressive achievement considering his list of courses includes such celebrated layouts as Chaparral Pines, Grayhawk’s Talon Course and Raven South Mountain.

When guests arrive at Trilogy Golf Club at Vistancia, the first thing they notice is the striking way in which the green fairways contrast with the tall, blonde desert grass waiving along the borders of the playing areas. 

The award-winning, 36-hole Superstition Mountain Golf & Country Club recently announced a new membership plan that allows for one golf course to be available for daily-fee play each day. Until now the prestigious 11-year-old private club, located east of Phoenix at the base of the Superstition Mountains, has been exclusively available to members and their guests.

Superstition Mountain Golf & Country Club features two Nicklaus Design golf courses, The Prospector and Lost Gold. Prospector, created by Jack and Gary Nicklaus, was the first course to open in this 870-arce master planned community in 1998.

This classic 18-hole layout is surrounded by extraordinary views of the Superstition Mountains. One of the most striking features of the 7,185-yard Prospector course is an oasis-like water feature that extends the length of the 18th hole.

Mike Malaska of Mesa, Arizona has been named the 2009 Southwest Section PGA Teacher of the Year. In addition to being the Nicklaus Academies World-wide Director of Instruction, Mike is also a lead golf ambassador for TaylorMade-adidas Golf and Director of Instruction at Superstition Mountain Golf & Country Club and Las Sendas Golf Club outside of Phoenix, Arizona. 

The Teacher of the Year award is designed to recognize a PGA Professional who is an outstanding teacher of golf among the ranks of the PGA membership and is based on the professional’s overall performance in teaching; unique and special teaching programs initiated or implemented; articles published; as well as outstanding golfers the professional has instructed.

Now entering its seventh peak season, Buckeye’s Raven Golf Club at Verrado has a unique perspective of the Arizona golf landscape. Located due west of Phoenix and Scotts-dale, locations long considered as the only viable options for golfers looking for tried and true, championship-caliber layouts, The Raven Golf Club at Verrado offers an unobstructed one-of-a-kind view looking east into the valley. It’s a spectacular scene unique to the property, especially from the 18th hole.