The Country Club of Green Valley: Review from Arizona Golf Guides

Don't let the scarcity of sand and water fool you: the Country Club of Green Valley golf course is prepared to challenge you. Stay on your toes, and a rewarding round of golf will be yours.

520-625-8806 77 Paseo de Golf Green Valley, AZ 85614 www.countryclubofgreenvalley.com private holes: 18 course par: 72 rating/slope: - black 71.3/126 - green 69.4/121 - bronze 67.7/118 range of yardages: 6,628–4,809 head pro/director of golf: Joel Jaress, PGA membership: contact Jessica Rojas course designer(s): Red Lawrence shoe policy: alternative cleats required

Meandering through the old-growth trees that line the fairways at the Country Club of Green Valley may lull you into a feeling of calm or complacency. Don't be fooled. While the course's relatively flat, traditional layout may not rattle your brain, this Red Lawrence design is deceptively challenging.

Opened in 1971 as the centerpiece of this private country club, the Green Valley course was renovated in 2004, when a new irrigation system was installed. The investment has paid off handsomely as the course is uniformly green.

While the fairways normally provide ample landing room for your tee-shot, the course features several doglegs. A few of these dogs are pretty tight, specifically on the par-5 Number 4 hole. Number 12 features a sharp turn to the right, which is made even more interesting with the specter of a large lake lining the right side on your approach shot.

The Country Club's PGA golf professional, Joel Jaress, considers the water and the bunkering the course's key challenges. However, the three fairly sizable lakes seem more decorative than hazardous. The lone exception is a creek that crosses your second shot on the par-5 Number 9 hole. However, it's only a few yards wide and should be easy enough to carry.

Bunkers are plentiful, if not omnipresent, around the greens. There's always a path for those who like to bump-and-run their way in. The greens are fairly large for the most part, with several featuring a slight, upside-down dish effect. And it's hard, if not impossible, to find a bunker or some sand lining any fairway. Truth be told, these fairways don't need traps.

The club offers excellent practice facilities with a driving range, two large putting greens, and bunker areas to work on your game. All in all, The Country Club of Green Valley is a terrific, golf-serious venue that its members can be proud of.

RICK SCHWARTZ

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