Seven golf courses at six golf facilities managed by Scottsdale-based OB Sports Golf Management made the list of 2012 Golfweek’s Best Course: State by State. Longbow Golf Club, The Oaks Golf Club, Sandia Golf Club, Tetherow, Three Crowns Golf Club and We-Ko-Pa Golf Club (Saguaro and Cholla) all earned rankings in their respective states. We-Ko-Pa’s Saguaro Course also was included in Golfweek’s “Modern” ranking which lists the top 100 courses designed after 1960.

The annual ranking lists the top public-access golf clubs in each state. Of the hundreds of eligible courses within each state, only a few clubs make the list. Course-ranking panelists apply the following criteria when considering each golf course: 1) ease and intimacy of routing, the extent to which the sequence of holes follows natural contours and unfolds in an unforced manner; 2) variety and memorability of par 3s, 4s and 5s, different clubs hit, extent to which the angles of play create interesting and varied playing options, and extent to which holes offer variety of options from the tee and on the second shot; 3) basic quality of conditioning, variety of playing textures, extent of turf coverage, consistency and quality of bunker sand; 4) walk-in-the-park test, degree to which the course ultimately is worth spending a half-day on.

Longbow Golf Club
Of the hundreds of public-access golf clubs in Arizona considered for the list, only 25 were chosen, and Longbow Golf Club placed 19th. This is the fourth consecutive year (and fifth time in the last six years) that Longbow made the list. Longbow Golf Club features a 7,032-yard Ken Kavanaugh-designed golf course that was also ranked as one of the “Top 100 Resort Courses in The Country” by Golfweek magazine for 2009.

For more information about Longbow Golf Club visit www.longbowgolf.com, call 480.807.5400.

The Oaks Golf Club
In Mississippi only 10 were chosen, and The Oaks Golf Club placed 7th. This is the third consecutive year that The Oaks made the list. Originally opened in 1998, The Oaks Golf Club is striking par-72 layout and has challenged some of the best players in the country as a former host of Nike Tour/Buy.com Tour events in 1999 and 2000 (now the PGA Tour’s Nationwide Series) and having hosted the first stage of the PGA Tour Qualifying School in 2003. 

For more information on The Oaks Golf Club call 228.452.0909 or visit www.theoaksgolfclub.com.

Sandia Golf Club
Only 10 were chosen in New Mexico, and Sandia Golf Club placed 4th. 2012 marks the sixth consecutive year that Sandia has made the list. Located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Sandia Resort & Casino features a strategic 18 hole golf course designed by Scott Miller. The golf club at Sandia is a key amenity to the Sandia Resort & Casino that is already a popular gaming and entertainment venue. Sandia offers a world class resort that features 228 luxurious, oversized guest rooms including over 30 suites.

For more information on Sandia Golf Club visit www.sandiagolf.com or call 505.798.3990.

Tetherow
In Oregon, only 10 made the ranking. Tetherow earned the 5th spot, ahead of notable names such as Pronghorn (Nicklaus), Crosswater in Sunriver, and Pumpkin Ridge to name a few. This marks the 4th consecutive year that Tetherow made the ranking. Located minutes from downtown Bend, Oregon, Tetherow boasts a striking 18-hole course designed by award-winning architect David McLay Kidd. Recognized by Golf Magazine as the “No. 1 Best New Course You Can Play in The Country” and honored with “Best-New” accolades from Golf Digest, Golfweek, Links and the Robb Report, the Club has quickly become one of the most sought-after tee times in the Central Oregon golf scene. Tetherow was also honored for environmental stewardship and became the first course in Oregon to become a Certified Audubon International Signature Sanctuary.

For more information on Tetherow, view their website at www.tetherow.com or call 541.388.CLUB (2582).

Three Crowns Golf Club
Only five golf clubs made the list for Wyoming, and Three Crowns Golf Club placed 2nd for the sixth year in a row. Located in Casper, Wyoming, Three Crowns Golf Club features a spectacular Robert Trent Jones Jr. design that plays to a par 72 and stretches to 7,065 yards from the back tees.

For additional information on Three Crowns Golf Club call 307.47.CROWN (472.7696) or visit www.threecrownsgolfclub.com

We-Ko-Pa Golf Club
Both golf courses – Cholla and Saguaro – at We-Ko-Pa Golf Club made the Arizona list. Of the hundreds of public-access golf clubs in Arizona considered for the list, only 25 were chosen, and Cholla placed 3rd and Saguaro placed 1st for the sixth year in a row. In fact, it has occupied this spot since it opened in December of 2006. Located on the Fort McDowell Indian Community, We-Ko-Pa Golf Club is a daily fee golf facility that consists of the original 18 holes, the Cholla course, designed by Scott Miller and a second 18 holes, the Saguaro course, designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. 

For more information on We-Ko-Pa Golf Club, call 480.836.9000 or visit www.wekopa.com.

Scottsdale-based, OB Sports Golf Management is a diversified, golf-oriented company with a long history of success managing premier golf courses and country clubs throughout the United States. Known for its comprehensive and personalized services since 1972, OB Sports has become widely acclaimed as the leader in boutique-style golf course management. For more information about OB Sports Golf Management, visit www.obsports.com or call 480.948.1300.