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 Serenity awaits at the Four Seasons, where a rugged Troon North is conveniently nearby. The destination stop in Arizona’s Valley of the Sun is both hip and casual, and with nearly 200 golf courses and more than 70 hotels and resorts, the most difficult decision could be figuring out where to stay and play. Two options are the Four Seasons Resort at Troon North, with Troon North Golf Club a five-minute shuttle away; and the Westin Kierland Resort and Spa, which has 27 holes spread throughout the property. Troon North Golf Club recently completed a nifty renovation that dramatically altered the layouts of its Monument and Pinnacle courses without moving much dirt. Tom Weiskopf, who co-designed the Monument Course with Jay Morrish in 1990 and designed the Pinnacle Course in 1995, finished a blending of the courses in October 2007 that improved playability and offers frequent visitors a completely new experience. “In a way, we have the two newest golf courses in Scottsdale with just a few modifications to some green complexes and a few adjustments to some holes and bunker placements,” PGA Director of Golf Ryan Ott said about the rerouting project that gives both layouts distinct differences on the front and back nines. “The feedback has been fantastic.” Spectacular views of Pinnacle Peak, arroyos, rock outcroppings and cacti combine with elevation changes and colorful desert flora to give golfers plenty to see and think about. Two examples of diversity on the Monument Course are No. 10, a 396-yard par 4 called “Illusion” that has an undulating fairway leading to a green about 150 feet above the tee box, and the 244-yard, par-3 16th hole called “Lone Mountain” where players can gaze at quirky boulder stacks to the left and a putting surface about 120 feet below. While you can’t see the Four Seasons Resort from that lofty perch, the approach is nearby. But the way the resort’s layout blends into the environment, it’s difficult to tell you’re in the midst of a stunning and serene 210-room facility in the foothills of Pinnacle Peak even when you’re only a chip shot away. “We hear that from guests who say it could be easy to pass the resort without even knowing it’s there,” said Kim Cole, director of public relations. “They love the seclusion and relaxation.” The resort, which opened in late 1999, has 210 rooms and suites arranged mostly in one- and two-story casitas. The standard guest room is large in size, with a walk-in closet, gas-burning fireplace, spacious bathroom with a deep-soaking tub and a patio door that opens to a private terrace with desert views. Dining and beverage options include a blend of regional cuisine, steak, seafood and seasonal specialties, with Talavera, the main dining experience, offering outdoor seating with panoramic views of the area’s peaks and valleys. Tennis, swimming, fitness and spa facilities also are available, with a round or two always a handy option. “It’s a very, very good relationship that we have with them,” Troon North Golf Club’s Ott said about the Four Seasons. “We can work together to showcase the fantastic properties that we have here. You can get up here and not really need to go anywhere else.” But this is Scottsdale, where there are plenty of different strokes for plenty of different folks. Visitors who want a leisurely golf experience in the shadow of a multipurpose resort can stay at the Westin Kierland, which has 732 guest rooms, suites and casitas, in addition to upscale shops, galleries and restaurants on its 730-acre property about 10 miles from Scottsdale’s historic downtown. The resort, which opened in 2002, has three nine-hole layouts at Kierland Golf Club — Mesquite, Ironwood and Acacia — that can be mixed and matched to give players multiple experiences. Most of the fairways are wide and mounded to keep balls in play, and many of the possible trouble spots — such as lakes, dry desert washes and trees — are more scenic than penal. The course also has been recognized by Audubon International’s Cooperative Sanctuary for having more than 45 species of wildlife and at least 30 native plant types. “It’s very resort-friendly,” Director of Golf Kipp Bates said. “We often get comments from our guests that come off the golf course that they enjoyed themselves, had a good time and particularly liked the aspect that not all errant shots are lost balls.” One of the more dynamic views from the resort or a tee box is at the ninth hole of the Acacia course, a 531-yard par 5 that weaves its way downhill to a green bordered on the left by a lake that stretches about 200 yards up the fairway and is visible from rooms with north-facing windows and terraces. Some interesting golf touches at Kierland include a driving range with an air-conditioned canopy system and climate-controlled carts that direct cool air or heat to the back of the neck depending on weather conditions. The resort also has four Segways available for players who want a fun experience zipping around the course. In the same building as the Agave Spa is the FORE-MAX Training System headquarters of Steve Heller, the Westin’s fitness director who created the program to help golfers improve their distance and overall fitness. The program emphasizes flexibility, functional golf strength and aerobic conditioning through a variety of stretching and core exercises. Guests who stay for multiple days can combine the workout program with instruction from Mike and Sandy LaBauve and a visit to the resort’s ProFit facility, where golf equipment can be tried and fitted. “We’re putting everything together for our golfing guests that focuses on wellness, instruction, clubfitting and our unique strength and training exercises,” Heller said. “With our availability and background, we think nobody can touch that.” OTHER SITES AND ATTRACTIONS IN SCOTTSDALE A DIRECTORY OF TROON GOLF'S ARIZONA COURSES |
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