Tonto Verde Golf Club: Review from Arizona Golf Guides

480-471-2710 18401 El Circulo Dr. Rio Verde, AZ 85263 www.theverdes.com semiprivate holes: 36 course par: 72/72 rating/slope: Peaks: - blue (men's) 69.9/126 - red (women's) 70.1/119 Ranch: - blue (men's) 70.9/128 - red (women's) 72.4/131 range of yardages: Peaks: 4,791–6,737; Ranch: 5,287–6,988 head pro/director of golf: John Kieber cart & green fees: $60-$125. Please reference this article to receive a special discount. course designer: Peaks: Gary Panks & David Graham; Ranch: Gary Panks shoe policy: soft spikes

Tonto Verde, an idyllic golf community spread along the eastern slope of the McDowell Mountains, debuted in 1994 with the Peaks Course. The Peaks course, with it’s inviting layout from the design firm of Gary Panks and David Graham continues to lure golfers to the desert lifestyle and shares the limelight with the newer Ranch course, a solo effort by Panks.

Set high on the slope with a sweeping view of the Verde River Valley and familiar desert landmarks to the east, the Peaks melds with the terrain for a relaxed but hardly complacent test of golf.

At 6,737 yards from the Black tees, holes shift rhythmically back and forth across the slope with graceful fairway contouring. A few fairways angle downhill and give added boost to a well struck drive. The principle challenge from the Peaks is from the tees. Bunkering is minimal, but the fairways leave little room to spray a shot. Getting by the tall battle-scarred saguaros on No. 13 says it all.

At 6,988 yards, the Ranch dishes out challenges that are overall stiffer than its counterpart. The landing areas are forgiving, but the threat from a varietal mix of bunkers, water

hazards, fairway contours and desert transitions steadfastly protect the strategy, particularly for the A-player.

The beguiling bunkers on fourteen, a drivable par 4, are a perfect example. Greenside swales and bunkers guard the undulating putting surfaces, and call for accurate approaches and a deft short game from around the greens.

The sister property, Vista Verde, is a daunting design from Ken Kavanaugh, which guests may now preview before it opens as a separate full-service daily-fee facility. Tee times for Vista may be made through the Tonto Verde Golf Shop.

A complete renovation to the Tonto Verde clubhouse, to be complete January 2010, puts the semiprivate club in full swing.

DAVID HUBBARD

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