You can’t talk golf in Scottsdale without a mention of Grayhawk Golf Club. Nestled on prime real estate located in North Scottsdale, Grayhawk is frequented by PGA Tour players, Valley residents and tourists in search of the perfect desert golf experience.
Grayhawk offers two dynamic 18-hole courses – the Talon, which originally opened in 1994, and the Raptor, which opened the following year. Since opening, they have been widely considered as two of the finest golf courses in the Valley.
Not only do the glitz and glam of Scottsdale come to play golf at Grayhawk, a lot of them actually live in the community. The upscale residential community formed around the property is aptly named “Serenity” and is spread among 1,600 acres. The community includes several of the Valley’s finest homebuilders, single-family homes, patio homes, town homes, plus a special collection of 33 custom homesites.
Grayhawk has hosted a number of high-profile golf events and activities including the PGA Tour’s Frys.com Open from 2007 to 2009, the Accenture Match Play Championship (formerly the Andersen Consulting Match Play Championship), Tommy Bahama Challenge, Target World Challenge (formerly the Williams World Challenge), FBR Open Pro-Ams, Tommy Bahama’s Desert Marlin, AJGA Thunderbird International Junior, The Detour and Heather Farr Trophy Matches.
The Raptor Course is where the Frys.com Open was played, and while many golfers prefer Raptor, equally as many chime in that Talon is as good of caliber, if not better.
The Talon Course features elevated greens that are extremely large and undulating with only a few water hazards. This course offers a myriad of panoramic views encompassing the McDowell Mountains and the Phoenix Valley.
Behind the tee box of the first hole you’ll notice a Heather Farr statue, a memorial of the local LPGA standout’s pristine follow-through. Appropriately named the “Farrview” hole, this par-4 stretches to 428 yards. The medium-sized fairway will require you to get your round started off in the right direction – straight down the middle – or you could encounter desert trouble on either side. The green is a large two-tiered surface requiring precision on your approach. If you come up short or right, you’ll find yourself in the lone bunker that guards the hole.
The third hole is one of my favorites. Named the “Three Sisters,” this 505-yard par-5 is a dogleg-left that offers risk/reward options. Choose either to cut the dogleg and have a mid- to long-iron shot into the green, or play it safe off the tee and make it a three-shot hole. The approach is guarded by the hole’s namesake – three bunkers located short right; you want to avoid these steep bunkers at all costs because they are not easy to escape. Trust me, the approach shot needs to get close to the pin on this multi-tiered green or pray that your lag-putting is on that day.
The eighth hole is a 206-yard par-3 named “Desert Burn”. Women will hit a wood or hybrid and men a long iron into this rather large green. You must carry a desert wash, and with a long iron or wood in your hand it is difficult to stop many balls on this green. The green slopes back to front and has multiple tiers – if you can’t get your ball to stop an up-and-down is no guarantee here.
Once you’ve made the turn, the next noteworthy par-3 you’ll stumble upon is the 11th. At 175 yards the “Swinging Bridge” will challenge the talents of the most skilled golfers. Voted one of “The Best 18 Holes You Can Play” by Golf Digest, this hole requires a carry over a desert hollow and a deep front bunker to a wide and deep two-tiered green that slopes back to front. The bailout area here is long right, but if you leave yourself a chip from that angle, good luck getting it to stop on the top tier.
The 15th hole is another one of my favorites, maybe because it reminds me of being on the mountain slopes snowboarding down a half-pipe. “North Rim” is a 450-yard par-4 that funnels to the center of the fairway on either side. Be careful not to leave yourself too far left because a mesquite tree sits in the middle of the fairway at the prime location where golf balls will end up. Get behind it even the slightest and you’ve blocked yourself out of a desirable second shot. The green has several distinct levels, making the pin sheet a must-read. A bunker also sits front right of this green.
Yet another refreshing hole, the 17th, nicknamed “Devil’s Drink”, is a near replica of the infamous par-3, 17th at TPC Sawgrass. Not stretching nearly as far, the 17th on Talon is 126 yards but ever as daunting, especially if you’re coming down the stretch looking to post a low total. Shots chunked or skulled will be donated to the course, but even if you hit the green, a two-putt is still a feat to be achieved. Remember to keep your cool.
When your round is complete don’t forget to visit Phil’s Grill – a casual eating and drinking establishment in the clubhouse that provides an upscale sports pub ambiance. Named after Grayhawk’s PGA Tour ambassador Phil Mickelson, you’ll likely run into a familiar or friendly face with the same idea as you – a nice cold beer and some lunch after the round.
Grayhawk undoubtedly provides a wholly pleasurable experience – from the extraordinary service and friendly staff to the dynamic golf and impeccable conditions. Grayhawk’s kind of like a bag of Lay’s potato chips… betcha can’t play it just once.
Tee it up here and see why.
A Round on the Talon Course at Grayhawk Golf Club
Address: 8620 E. Thompson Peak Parkway, Scottsdale, AZ 85255
Phone number: 480-502-1800
Web site: www.grayhawkgolf.com
Designers: David Graham and Gary Panks
Opened: 1994
Par/Yardage: 72/6,973 (Gold); 6,391 (Black); 5,867 (White); 5,143 (Red)
Fairways: TifDwarf
Greens: Overseed Rye
Rates: $90 Peak Season; $50 Summer
Toughest hole: The 449-yard 12th, nicknamed “Double Cross”, requires you to carry two desert washes – one off the tee and a second one laid across the front of the green. Even with a good drive here, you’ll likely have a long iron or hybrid left into the two-tiered green. Even still, you won’t have a clear shot because of the wispy grass and vegetation in the desert wash that sits 60 yards short of the green. With anything less than a good drive, golfers may consider laying up to avoid disaster in the desert.
Best chance at birdie: The par-3 fifth features a large and undulating green. If you’ve been practicing your wedge game a close shot in here should be a walk in the park. While this par-3 is not the shortest on the course, it has no real threats lurking so your nerves should stay intact.
Most scenic hole: The par-3 17th is one of the only holes on the course with water. Call it nostalgia or call it heat exhaustion, something about the water and the likeness to TPC Sawgrass’ 17th puts any golfer in a special place standing on this tee.
Could use work: Honestly can’t think of anything. The Talon Course combines risk/reward, precision, fairness and playability. Golfers of all skill level would enjoy this course.
Ammo needed: Lots of water and sunscreen … especially in the summer! It’s hot out there! Oh, and a lot of balls because this is desert golf at its purest.
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