.: Course Reviews :.
NORTHERN AZ
Sedona Golf Resort
SEDONA
- 928-284-9355 or 877-733-9884
35 Ridge Trail Dr.
Sedona, AZ 86351
www.sedonagolfresort.com 
- public
holes: 18
course par: 71
rating/slope:
- championship 70.6/128
- 68.2/120
- forward 66.1/115
range of yardages: 5,059–6,646
director of golf: Ryan Stemsrud
course pro: Cliff Yohe
cart & green fees: phone for information
shoe policy: alternative cleats required
The looming red sandstone cliffs stand as the focal point of everything written about Sedona. In an environment so commandingly beautiful, golfers are naturally drawn to Sedona Golf Resort, another fine course in the family of SunCor Golf facilities. This Northern Arizona course offers as much a visual experience as it does a test of skill.
An early design by Gary Panks, one of Arizona's most prominent course architects, the course's challenging layout winds through a cedar-strewn valley between two mesas. Dramatic elevation shifts make this course a challenging thrill and offer spectacular vantage points.
The 1st hole, a short par 4, offers a gentle opener that allows guests to take in the surroundings before getting down to serious play. From the crest of the ridge on the 2nd hole, the remaining 17 holes come into full view as they wind west, up the slope of the distant mesa, and back to the clubhouse.
Making a turn on the far side of the property, the back nine begins on what is easily the most photographed golf hole in all of Arizona. Offering a sweeping view of Red Rock Country, the 10th hole is a 200- yard par 3, where a little local knowledge about the left-to-right slope and prevailing wind pays a big dividend off the tee.
The joy of playing Sedona Golf Resort lies in Panks' subtle treatments and visual solutions within this dramatic setting. On fairways framed by spectacular views, the design is simple and unhampered. On those that play away from the natural vista, Panks might incorporate a series of sandstone walls, water, or boulder arrangements to create greater visual interest. The use of red sand in the bunkers also adds special regional flavor.
With the exceptions of the thrilling launch to the green—50 feet below the tees— at Number 2 and the lengthy uphill grind at the par-5 Number 5, Panks ensured a gentle transition through the variations in elevation.
Approximately 90 minutes north of Phoenix off Interstate 17 in the Village of Oak Creek, this renowned golf facility also boasts an expansive clubhouse overlooking the course, with breathtaking views of the pervasive Red Rock panoramas. It's the complete Sedona golf experience right at hand.
DAVID HUBBARD
