We departed our flight at approximately 11:30 a.m. After a speedy check in for our Hertz Rent A Car and a stop at Islands Restaurant (on Alma School Road just south of Hwy. 60) for a great lunch, we completed the 35 minute drive to the renowned GOLD CANYON GOLF RESORT.
 Our accommodations featured a double king casita with a fireplace patio, adjacent to the first fairway of the Dinosaur Mountain golf course. Nestled in the Superstition and Dinosaur Mountains, Gold
Canyon Resort affords magnificent views at every turn. Golf, horseback riding, tennis and hiking are just some of the activities offered at the resort.  Relaxing in the heated pool and spa is a much appreciated respite after a tough day of
play and practice. Though chilly at night and early morning, temperatures reached a comfortable 60 -70 degrees each day. It is a pleasant walk to their pool area and clubhouse, or you can be chauffeured around in their golf  cart taxis. Greenwood's Bar and Grill is a great place to enjoy a quick lunch or breakfast buffet, and Kokopelli's offers delicious upscale dining with breathtaking views of the mountains and desert. Both are connected to the clubhouse. Gold Canyon's service was top notch at the resort desk, restaurants, and golf courses.
The two golf courses at GOLD CANYON compliment each other well - providing a nice variety and contrast in course design and playability. Both courses are enjoyable to play and well worth the price that is charged. We suggest you save Dinosaur Mountain for last, as not many courses (anywhere) will provide as much excitement... Range balls are complimentary to all players, and rangers will escort you to the separate Dinosaur Mountain putting green fifteen minutes prior to your tee time.  The SIDEWINDER is a 6400-yard championship course that meanders its way through beautiful desert scenery with the magnificent Superstition Mountain as a backdrop.  Excellent playing conditions and reasonable prices make
this one of the best deals in Arizona. Hit the ball reasonably straight and you will be rewarded with fairly flat and generous landing areas. The putting surfaces, bunkers and fairways are all well taken care of. This was a wonderful course to play for our first round on this trip, preparing us for the challenges that lie ahead.
After a short frost delay the next morning (a slight inconvenience
considering what we left behind in Michigan and Ontario), we were ready to take on the #1 public golf course in Arizona - DINOSAUR MOUNTAIN.  What a golfing experience! Hole after hole of signature quality justified their rating by the Arizona Business Association. Dramatic tee to green elevation changes and views of
the high Sonaran desert environment provided an experience stunning to the senses. This is an immaculately manicured championship course that will challenge your shot making ability. The par 3's are especially memorable, and the par 5's  - though not overly long - will challenge you with uphill approaches to well guarded greens.
Choose the correct tee boxes for your level of skill, and the par 4's will be very playable. Though many of these holes will stand out in your memory, take your camera and plenty of film.  The par 4 15th, with split fairways, offers you a chance to cut the distance to the green by risking a shot over a mountain ridge, & also offers the opportunity for a
postcard picture. This course is a tough challenge with some considerable carries over ravines and desert and uneven lies on the fairways. It is a joy to play however - no matter how you score. We can't wait to play it again on return visits.  There are, of course, an incredible amount of high quality golf courses in the
Scottsdale/Phoenix area - many with immaculate conditions (and some even better conditioned than Dinosaur Mountain). For shear beauty, magnificent views, course design with elevation changes, and challenge - it is difficult to imagine a course however, more enjoyable than Dinosaur Mountain. THIS IS A MUST PLAY! Obviously, our stay at Gold Canyon was a treat. The aesthetics of the resort design, with white stucco casitas planted into the hillside,
and the high quality of golf available, made our experience there an unforgettable one. Rates (especially golf packages for 2 or more people) are very reasonable - you pay for what you get, which in this case is quality. For more information on GOLD CANYON RESORT click here to view their web page. | 
