Sedona Golf Resort: Camera
May Distract Your Golf Game

By David R. Holland,TravelGolf.com Senior Writer

SEDONA, AZ -- They say Zane Grey wrote here, amongst the inspiring red-rock formations, and after fishing trips through dazzling Oak Creek Canyon. Early settler Frank Pendley engineered an irrigation system and grew apples and pears he sold from Phoenix to Los Angeles.

And John Benzel envisioned a golf course -- Sedona Golf Resort.

Sedona draws 5 million visitors a year. It's a funky combination of nature worshippers, the holistic, writers, musicians, artists -- and tourist golfers. Camping, hiking, photography and 4-wheel-drive enthusiasts also visit the area for recreation. Geology and archaeology buffs can have a field day unmatched.

"The tourists seem to make a loop," said Director of Golf John Benzel, who was the instrumental force in Sedona Golf Resort's birth in 1988. "They travel to Phoenix, Sedona, the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas."

In the sizzling summer heat of Phoenix and Tucson, Sedona is 12 to 15 degrees cooler. And even though Flagstaff, with its higher elevation and mountain-cold winters is only 27 miles away, Sedona is at the right elevation to keep the snow away except for a few days a year.

"The first tee is at 4,050 feet and the highest point on the course is 4,350," said Benzel, who shares the course record of 65. "We are a high-desert golf course with those kind of undulations and topography. Each hole stands on its on -- you are never too close to other golfers and the vegetation and trees are beautiful."

So what about the growth of golf in Sedona? "We are in a non-growth area," Benzel said. "There aren't any parcels big enough for any more golf courses. We draw golfers from all over the world, but the working residents -- the merchants, artists and real estate sales people aren't golfers."

When Gary Panks designed this 6,640-yard, par-71 golf course it was immediately recognized by Golf Magazine and Golf Digest as one of the best new courses in the USA. It's blue rating is 70.3 and the slope is 129. There are five tee selections, with the shortest measuring 5,059 yards.

The No. 1 handicap hole is No. 5, a 623-yard par-5. Is that long enough for you big swingers? Oh, yeah, it's uphill, too. Out of bounds is left, so hit it down the right side and when you get within view of the green aim for the right flag -- the left flag is part of a double green, shared with No. 8.

You are at the highest point on the golf course at the par-3, 210-yard No. 10. It's one of the most photographed holes in Arizona. This is the signature hole and don't be surprised if you yank it left and up in the hills, to see your ball bounce back down by the green.

The 13th has a lake in play on the left side of this par-4, 394-yarder. The par-4, 417-yard No. 16 also has water on the right and a two-tiered green. No. 16 is 155 yards downhill to a green that is heavily bunkered with a lake on the right.

Finish up at the 18th with a gambling hole. It's only 336 yards downhill, a par-4, but if you go with the big dog, hoping to drive this hole, and you hit a turbo mallard as David Feherty says, you could be in the lake or a huge bunker. A safe play for big hitters would be a 3-iron off the tee.

"Any course would be beautiful in Sedona, and this one is no exception," said Jim Barnes. "It is in a convenient location on the main road coming into town and we were able to find it and check in after about the 2-hour drive from Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix. Nice facility, good course condition, and wide enough fairways to allow the driver to come into play."

Awards: Rated Top 10 New Public Golf Courses by Golf Magazine, 1990 Awarded continuous Four Star rating by Golf Digest

Rates: Green fees vary from $79 to $107 throughout the year. Twilight fees are available. All rates include cart and range balls.

Directions: Located on Highway 179, approximately 90 minutes or 125 miles north of metropolitan Phoenix off I-17. From Flagstaff and I-40, take the scenic Oak Creek Canyon route, 27 miles on Highway 89A. Or take I-17 south from Flagstaff to the Sedona exit, Highway 179.

Camera Clicks: Where else can you find red-rock beauty like Sedona? Here's a few: Go to Monument Valley, situated partly in Utah and Arizona. It's in the four corners area of Utah, Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico. You will recognize it from many car commercials and John Wayne westerns.

The music world loves performing at Red Rocks Amphitheater just minutes west of Denver. Roxborough State Park in Littleton, CO, has Arrowhead Golf Club. Read about it at: http://www.rockiesgolf.com/holland3.htm. The Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs is world famous. In all these places the photographer finds a contrast of red rocks and green vegetation -- piñon, juniper and cypress tress.