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Spring training offers golfing baseball fans the best of both worlds — an opportunity to get an early look at their team in a casual setting and the chance to play some really nice courses. That’s especially true for fans of the Angels and Padres, who train in Arizona along with eight other teams that comprise the Cactus League. All of the teams train and play their exhibition games in Phoenix or within a short drive of the metropolitan area, which has some of the best courses and resorts in the country. So if your idea of a good time is hitting some golf balls before watching your team’s young phenom throw some dazzling curve balls, here are some places to stay and play in March that will satisfy both desires. ANGELS The Angels train at Tempe Diablo Stadium, which is 5 miles from Sky Harbor Airport and 9 miles from Scottsdale. Thanks to a renovation last year, the stadium ranks among the finest facilities in the Cactus League. The centerpiece is the 9,385-capacity Gene Autry Field, where the Angels play their exhibition games. Tickets range from $5 to $24 and can be obtained by calling (480) 784-4444. The Angels also work with www.springtrainingtours.com to set up packages for fans that include accommodations, preferred game tickets, rental cars and other amenities. Another good source for spring training information in Arizona is www.cactus-league.com. Where to stay AND PLAY • The Legacy Golf Resort is about 3 miles from the stadium. The resort, comprised solely of suites, includes a golf course, spa, playground, pools and an on-site restaurant. Rates in March begin around $240 per night (www.legacygolfresort.com). • Two miles from the stadium is the Pointe South Mountain Resort, a 640-suite facility with six dining options and the Phantom Horse Golf Course, which includes an island green on the closing hole. The resort also features five tennis courts, hiking, biking and horseback riding, and a full-service spa. Golf packages in March begin at $399 (www.pointesouthmtn.com). • The Buttes, a Marriott Resort, is a mile from the stadium. The 345-room facility is ideal for everything from a family trip to a corporate outing, as it contains 40,000 square feet of meeting space. The Raven Golf Course is a few minutes away and the Narande Spa is on the property. Rates in March begin around $300 a night (www.marriott.com). • About 10 minutes from the stadium is the 500-room Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort and Spa, which has two golf courses on site. There’s also an equestrian center, spa, four pools and numerous dining options. Other options include a visit to Rawhide Western Town, the Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving and the on-site casino. Green fees are around $150 and room rates start around $400 (www.wildhorsepassresort.com). • The Phoenician is a 654-room oasis at the base of Camelback Mountain that offers nine pools, 27 holes of golf, the Center for Well Being and five-star cuisine. Golf rates in March are $200, with golf packages starting at $765 (www.thephoenician.com). • The Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North is 30 miles from the stadium, but the combination of elegance and two top-notch courses make this a golf lover’s dream spot. Golf packages for one night, double occupancy, begin at $1,130, with standard rates, not including golf, starting around $550 (www.fourseasons.com/scottsdale). • The Hotel Valley Ho in Scottsdale offers a spring training package starting at $289 per night. The deal includes a choice of a Valley Ho baseball hat or T-shirt upon arrival. It’s valid March 1-30 and needs to be booked by February 22. Ask for FanFest to receive the special offer. The Valley Ho is located about 15 minutes from the stadium, which makes it a popular place to stay through spring training (www.hotelvalleyho.com). PADRES The Padres train in Peoria, about 30 miles from Sky Harbor Airport, and play at the 12,882-capacity Peoria Sports Complex, which is also home to the Seattle Mariners, meaning there’s baseball just about every day. As the site for two teams, it’s the largest spring training facility in Arizona, with a 40,000-square-foot clubhouse and 13 practice fields. Tickets range from $6 to $21. WHERE TO STAY AND PLAY • The La Quinta Phoenix Inn and Suites is across the street from the stadium and a short walk from the Arrowhead Towne Center, where there are many restaurants to choose from. Rates at the three-star hotel start at $185 per night (www.lq.com). • Springhill Suites is a mile away in Glendale, with five public golf courses nearby. Rates in March at the Marriott-managed property begin around $190 per night (www.marriott.com). • The Wigwam Golf Resort, located 17 miles away in Litchfield Park, has nine tennis courts, a spa and three 18-hole courses, two of which were designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr. Golf packages in March begin at $399 single and $569 double per night (www.wigwamresort.com). • There are a slew of public courses in the Peoria-Glendale area, with two of the longest being the Arnold Palmer-Ed Seay-designed Legend at Arrrowhead Golf Resort, a 7,000-yard track in Glendale; and Trilogy Golf Club at Vistancia, a Gary Panks design in Peoria that stretches more than 7,200 yards from the tips. (www.arrowheadccaz.com and www.trilogygolfclub.com). SG |
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