After 2 nights (12/28 & 29) at Gold Canyon, The Two Guys and their business manager headed to Scottsdale for a 3 night stay at luxurious RESORT SUITES. This is perhaps the prime facility for golf vacation packages in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area. The resort features: - 279 1,2 or 4 bedroom condominiums with up to 1,800 sq. ft. of
 living space - 36 standard hotel rooms,
- four sparkling pools, two whirlpools and a fitness center
- a spacious business & conference center,
- David's Grocery (a shopping service that lets you enjoy a fully stocked kitchen upon arrival),
- Personal Vacation Planners and preferred tee times at over 40 world class golf courses.
A complimentary breakfast buffet each morning at JimE'sGrill (delicious variety) is an added bonus. Dinners ranging from the simple to gourmet variety are equally delicious. Our accommodations (a 4 bedroom suite) included a washer/ dryer, ironing board & iron, full
kitchen with all the appliances and utensils you need, living room, patio, televisions in the living room and each bedroom as well an ensuite bathrooms in each bedroom. Hook-ups for business lines and computer-related work were top notch and operated flawlessly with our computer equipment. The elaborate Fiesta swimming pool and Jacuzzi were directly  outside our door. This is the lap of luxury. Service, from a free shuttle to and from some area courses, to delivery of late night New Years Eve desserts from JimE's Grill was impeccable. Attention to detail in the
 rooms of our condo was
remarkable. Though this resort has been around since 1986, everything seemed new & fresh. Our three nights there, even with our hectic schedule, were truly relaxing. The itinerary of the five courses we were to play  during our stay was laid out efficiently, with tee times, addresses, phone numbers, and directions included. In fact, a booklet with info and directions to over 3 dozen-area courses is provided at check in. Resort Suites has the experience of booking over 45,000 rounds of golf each year! RESORT SUITES has a wonderful web site, full of information
and contact numbers to help you plan an excellent vacation or meeting. Click on their name to view their web pages. Following are the reviews of the 5 courses we played which were booked by Resort Suites. Our itinerary was laid out to meet our schedule (i.e. - our last round on 1/02 was booked at a course nearest to the airport, so that we could make our flight without hassle). Each course has a web
site. Please click on each courses' name to view their web page. Watch for our Arizona Resort and golf course detailed listing pages that will introduce our golf vacation destination pages (online by the end of January). *** Complimentary range balls are included with green fees at all of these courses...  LAS SENDAS
755 Eagle Crest Drive
Mesa AZ 85207
(480) 396-4000
Las Sendas is a Robert Trent Jones design, with a deserved 4 star rating (Golf Digest Places To Play). The course is conditioned immaculately from tee to green and the panoramic vistas of the surrounding desert with the White Tank Mountains to the west and Superstition Mountains to the east are awesome. You will need to steady your nerves and play
 cautiously to negotiate this layout, which deserves its 149-slope rating (from the tips). Precision is necessary to read the subtle breaks of the greens, which are well guarded by mounding and bunkers. The par threes are gorgeous but the real aesthetic beauty lies in the final
10 holes. Number 9 is an intimidating and beautiful par 5, requiring 2 shots over water and #13 is a memorable par 3. Many of the greens on the backside are framed with mountain backdrops and the par 3 16th is especially beautiful - set against a stunning view of Red Mountain. The par 4 18th is a great finishing hole, affording a nice view of their beautiful clubhouse nestled in the mountains. This course definitely grows on you and makes you want to return to renew the challenge. Check out their web site for more information.  SUNRIDGE CANYON
13100 North Sunridge Dr.
Fountain Hills Az. 85268
(480) 837-5100
Sunridge Canyon is another 4 star course, located about 30 minutes from
Resort Suites. After a quick warm up on their complimentary range and short game practice facilities, we were prepared for the treat of playing this course. Many of the holes are away from housing developments, affording solitude in a natural desert environment. This is especially true on back nine which boasts an impressive group of signature holes. The elevated green on # 13 combined with the adjacent par 3 14th, share a beautiful water hazard which will challenge your
shot making ability (if you can keep your eyes off the Blue Heron that hang out by the man made waterfall). Number 17 is a par three over a ravine, and gives you the option of choosing from 2 sets of tee boxes which will change the shape  and length of your tee shot. # 18 finishes alongside
their gorgeous clubhouse which boasts one of the top golf shops in the country. Sunridge Canyon is prototypical Sonoran desert golf course, with elevation changes, arroyos, boulders and a variety of cacti - carved in a natural setting with impressive mountain backdrops. It is very challenging, yet playable, especially if you have a knack for reading greens. Click on SUNRIDGE CANYON to view their web site.  WILDFIRE GOLF CLUB
5255 East Pathfinder
Phoenix AZ 85024
(480) 473-0205
Wildfire is an Arnold Palmer design, located just minutes (and a Resort Suites shuttle) away. With a slope of 135, it is very playable, especially if you can survive the challenge of the front nine. The par 3's require
precision, while the longer holes afford a bit more room for error. Water and extensive bunkering come into play frequently on the front side. While the course is fairly flat, mounding and the surrounding desert hazards are constant threats on your ability to score par. Negotiate the well conditioned fairways and you will have a good chance of sinking putts on the consistently quick, manicured greens.  The back nine plays a bit more easily - with fewer hazards to deal with. Put the ball in the fairway on your tee shots and you will be rewarded with good lies and a fair approach to the generally large putting surfaces that are a Palmer trademark. The 415-yard par 4 15th is Wildfire's signature hole, with the beautiful Camelback Mountain as the backdrop. Number 16 is a par 4 that is
intimidating in length, but more playable than it appears. This is true desert golf with a great staff and excellent conditioning. Check their web site for more information.  ESTRELLA MOUNTAIN RANCH
11800 South Golf Club Drive
Goodyear AZ 85338
(623) 386-2600
We played the (younger) Nicklaus designed Estrella Mountain Ranch (not to be confused with nearby Estrella Mountain Golf Club) on a great day - January 1st at noon. Everyone was preparing for the football games (especially the Fiesta Bowl in Tempe) so the course was not overly busy. This turned out to be one of our favorite golf experiences on this trip. Housing development has
not yet begun and we played golf in the serenity and solitude of the surrounding Sonoran desert. This traditional desert design has generous landing areas and exquisite bunkering that make for some postcard holes. While challenging, the layout lets you enjoy your round without getting beaten up by the desert and hazards.  There are outstanding, picturesque holes throughout the
course which kept our cameras busy. Holes # 17 & 18 are postcard material and, in our opinion, the two best closing holes of all the courses on this Arizona tour. While much of the course meanders through the beautiful desert surrounded by mountains, holes 14 through 18 play up into the high foothills making for some spectacular and challenging shots. Whether it was the mood we were in, the peaceful surroundings, superb conditioning or the friendliness of the
great staff - this round was special. Estrella Mountain Ranch is well worth the 50-minute drive from Resort Suites. Click here to view the Estrella Mountain Ranch web page.  THE RAVEN AT SOUTH MOUNTAIN
3636 East Baseline
Phoenix AZ 85040
(480) 243-3636
The Raven Golf Club At South Mountain is a spectacular golf club. Besides a gorgeous clubhouse, the Raven features a natural grass range, huge practice green, and short game practice area for chipping and sand practice. The Learning and Performance Center has received top honors in Arizona. The course itself is unique. 7000 pine trees line the fairways, providing a stunning contrast with the palm trees and natural desert fauna.  The lakes, ponds and rolling fairways provide challenge, but this course is fun to play and fair to score on. The greens are consistent and easy to read and the bunkering will get your attention. Residential development is visible on only four holes, with no immediate plans for expansion. Golf Digest has once again bestowed upon The Raven the ranking of # 1 in service of all
public courses in the entire country. From our experience, we would have to agree! The entire staff goes the extra mile to make your round enjoyable and to tend to your needs. This is a 45-minute drive from Resort Suites, and worth every minute of it. Click here to view the Raven web site. Fees at all the above courses (and resorts) vary by season, with mid-January to April being the
high end. Considering the financial investment for the upkeep of these properties in their desert settings, the prices are justified. As previously mentioned, you will not be "nickel and dimed" to death. Range balls, practice areas, green repair tools and tees are all complimentary. Some courses provide yardage books and have ball and club washers and even drinking water dispensers (The Raven) on their carts. All provide coolers with ice. | 
