A striking floral entrance against the Camelback Mountain is a knock out vision, setting the stage for a day of beauty at the Phoenician’s courses. On the right side turning past the guard gate into the club, is hole number 9 of the Canyon Course. Pay close attention to the layout as it looks a lot safer from the tee box. Lock the perils in memory here and strategy will pay off later on.

Three great nine-hole courses traverse the sides of Camelback Mountain at The Phoenician, a Luxury Collection Resort.  The Desert Course intersects with the point of ascension by eager day hikers for dual spectating between golfers and climbers. The Oasis nine has more water as the name connotes, covertly meandering through a residential community, yet never obstructing the desert serenity. The Canyon nine carries on with the essence of more dramatic city and mountain views. Managed by Troon Golf, each of the 27 holes exhibits a character worthy of repeated play.

Desert Course Hole #3, par 4, 303 yards from the tips: This is the first of many true risk/reward holes on the Desert Course. A downhill fairway ends abruptly at the edge of a lake with a hidden desert wash and bunkers on the right. Layups should add yardage for the uphill approach over water. Big hitters are tempted to drive to the green, blocked from view by native trees. They better be extremely accurate to stand a chance of reaching in one.

Desert Course Hole #8, par3, 120 yards from the tips: Climb to the elevated tee boxes in awe of the mountain proximity. Adjust yardage for the steep drop but also gear the drive to the right side of the green to avoid slipping off the slanted left slope into the desert. 

Oasis Course Hole #9, par 4, 321 yards from the tips: A terrific finishing hole on the Oasis is this short par 4, designed with an island green surrounded by sand, not water. Three bunkers protect the inside edge of this slight dogleg right about 200 yards from the back tee. The 360-degree bunker surrounding the green is one of a kind. Study closely the pin placement on the map provided to avoid three putting on this multi tiered bowl which feeds to the right side.

Canyon Course Hole #9, par 5, 525 yards from the tips: This is the one you should have noted on the way in and one of the most demanding par 5’s, not because of length, but of the risk involved with little chance of reward. A severe 90-degree dogleg right, the best landing zone for your drive is in the elbow since a lake that is hidden from most tee boxes sneaks along the entire right side of the fairway to green.   Besides that risk, there are bunkers and tall palms on the left. Favor the left side with a shorter club to position the second shot down the narrow fairway. To risk the long drive cutting over the water will have unknown results until your cart reaches the corner.  It is a very difficult par 5 to reach in two. Only the strong of heart need to attempt.

Along the way enjoy the astounding scenic views – mountains, city, floral and fauna. After the round, relish the balcony view and food upstairs at the Relish Burger Bistro. The expansive greens and driving range with music makes practice fun and the pro shop is equipped with all your golf needs. Colorful blooms enhance the complex.

For the best available rates book your tee times at www.golfthephoenician.com. Summer specials kickoff June 2nd and run through Aug 27th starting at $25 per player to $80 (depending on time of day) and Summer Membership is $5000 for one person or $3750 for two or more people. There are no dues or food and beverage minimums and entire amount is due up front. Call the pro shop for more details. Only 20 spots are left at this time.

Most special is the Mother’s Day “Run Fore Mom” benefiting HEAL -Happily Ever After League, which provides support to moms during cancer treatment. Sponsored by Troon Golf, TroonFIT, The Phoenician and StartLine Racing and created by the ASU Sports Management program, the 5K will wind through the beautiful cart paths along and around the scenic Canyon nine. The race starts promptly at 7:00 AM with check-in and registration at 6:00am Sunday, May 11. For full details and event pricing, visit www.starlineracing.com.