Club West Is Right Up There With The Best

By Tommy Acosta, Contributor

Nestled in the Ahwatukee Foothills lies a gem of a golf course called Club West. Immaculate greens and fairways framed by breathtakingly beautiful mountains define a few of the qualities of this upscale golf course which draws both experienced and beginning golfers from across the state.

According to Club West Assistant Golf Professional, Joe Dollarhide, on any given day one could bump into such notables as Charles Barkley; Vince Coleman from the St. Louis Cardinals; Jake Plumber, Cardinal quarterback; and Albert Bell from the Baltimore Orioles, enjoying a friendly game of golf.

This 18 hole course winds itself through dips and turns and the Sonoran desert foothills with numerous elevation changes and spectacular views. Be prepared with your brake foot because the cart paths are convoluted and steep at times but it's a fun ride and the course is replete with opportunities to give all your clubs a major workout.

With four tees for every hole one can vary the level of challenge to match one's skills. Total yardage for the professional tees is 7057 with Par 72. The four tees each have different USGA Ratings/Slope Ratings: Black Tees 73.1/129; Blue Tees 70.0/118; White Tees 68.6/115; Yellow Tees 63.5/104.

Club West is located about 30 minutes from Sky Harbor Airport off Chandler Blvd and there are numerous quality hotels conveniently located less than 10 minutes away.

All the holes are distinctive with subtle elevation changes. There are no trees and the fairways are basically wide open and forgiving. Holes 15 and 17 offer great photo opportunities as well as terrific elevation changes, with tee shots that drop between 50 and 100 feet. Hole 17 has two greens to choose from and offers the most spectacular vista on the course with South Mountain looming majestically behind them.

Hole 18 is a 440 yard par four. It is an excellent finishing hole with water guarding the right side of the green.

In summary, Club West is well kept, has a very nice pro shop with a wide selection of products. It has an excellent restaurant over looking water. The course itself is in great shape. All the holes are basically open with few obstructions. The sand traps are well maintained. There are lots of undulations. It's a fun course to play, a perfect place to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon. The scenery is gorgeous. It has a nice driving range and several putting and chipping areas close to the club house.