AZ Golf Guides

GREATER PHOENIX/SCOTTSDALE & CENTRAL AZ

Sunridge Canyon Golf Club

FOUNTAIN HILLS

Dropping into SunRidge Canyon Golf Club from Fountain Hills, the secluded urban desert setting foretells the extraordinary golf experience about to unfold. In a remarkable routing by golf course architect Keith Foster, with a vision shared by both the architect and the developers (SunCor Golf), the SunRidge Canyon layout descends through one canyon and ascends through another. Thrilling shifts in elevation, natural outcroppings, and expertly devised challenges mark the 6,823- yard, 18-hole loop out and back.

Foster described his design process as "allowing the golf course to emerge from the land." And emerge it did--as the golf course rolls its way through canyons, tumbles off sheer rock faces, and meanders across desert washes. Foster preserved the natural ebb and flow of the land and created a world-class golf course.

Taking care to allow each hole to play favorably from nearly every area of the fairway, Foster’s overall strategy challenges the chance for birdie without becoming unreasonably punitive. At par 71, this risk/reward track is heroic, especially as it makes the turn and heads uphill toward the clubhouse. In fact, the last six holes easily make up one of Arizona’s more challenging finishing stretches. The par-5 Number 16 summons a tremendous uphill approach to an elevated green, there’s a double tee and green situation at the 17th hole, and the par-4 Number 18, without question, requires the best drive any player can muster.

SunRidge Canyon encourages the strong player to balance length with finesse and patience. Its rewards make for a brilliant test of golf in a pure Southwestern desert setting.

DAVID HUBBARD