Resort Suites of Scottsdale is North Valley's golf headquarters

By Shane Sharp, Contributor

SCOTTSDALE, AZ - The sun sets on another perfect Arizona afternoon. Eighteen holes are in the books, the temperature drops into the low 60's and the smell of mesquite charcoals fills the air.

At Resort Suites in the trendy environs of North Scottsdale, patrons start to file into JimE's Grill for two-for-one cocktails and half price appetizers.

Most of those in attendance have made the short walk over from their cozy golf suites and are ready to sample JimE's juicy burgers, tasty pizzas and Southwestern specialties. Others saunter over from the nearby Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Resort and the surrounding neighborhood for some good conversation and company.

The guests range from 30-year-old young professionals to 60-year-old retirees. The hometowns span the U.S. and the globe, but the conversations are remarkably similar and as you might guess, they all involve golf.

Scottsdale is full of upscale resorts and all of them have something to offer the discerning, traveling golfer. But no property in the entire Valley of the Sun is as focused on the game and its nuances as Resort Suites.

It starts with Resort Suites' Personal Vacation Planners (PVPs) - golf specialists who work with you to meticulously mold your golf vacation to your budget and skill level. Since the inception of the program, the PVP's have booked over 500,000 rounds of golf at area courses.

In addition to the PVP's, Resort Suites is rolling out the "Golf Bank" for this winter golf season. Guests will have access to preferred tee times with no fee for advanced bookings, the ability to change tee times with one phone call and without additional costs, an itemized list of tee time confirmations prior to arrival, express check-in at the golf course, customized billing, and breakfast.

"One of the reasons The Golf Bank is possible is because of our great relationships with our golf partners," says Resort Suites Chairman Gordon Zuckerman. "They have worked closely with us to provide the best value and experience for a Scottsdale golf vacation."

Those relationships have enabled Resort Suites to procure regular tee times at courses like Tonto Verde, which accepts only a limited amount of outside play. Other preferred sponsors include Grayhawk, the Tournament Players Club of Scottsdale (home of the Phoenix Open), SunRidge Canyon, We-Ko-Pa, The Sanctuary, Las Sendas, Dove Valley Ranch and the Raven at South Mountain.

But it's not all about the golf. For every hour spent on the course the average guest spends two hours on the premises either sleeping, eating or just relaxing. Resort Suites condo style rooms provide guests with kitchenettes, coffee makers, pots and pans and full size refrigerators that foster a home-away-from-home atmosphere.

Each casita unit has its own swimming pool, whirlpool and cabana bar, all surrounded by lush Sonoran desert landscape and carpet-soft rye grass. A fitness center, complete with exercise bikes, treadmills, free weights and Nautilus machines is located just off the main lobby.

There are more dining options than you can shake a putter at in Scottsdale, but Resort Suites takes great pride in the Mexican/American cuisine served at JimE's Grill. Also popular with guests is JimE's locally famous happy hour. Stop by and belly up for two-for-one drinks and half priced appetizers and soak up the late afternoon sun on the outdoor patio.

"When you add up our extensive golf knowledge and combine it with our unique rooms, resort hotel setting and service, you've got unbeatable value," says PVP Tim McGuire. "There's no other property in the area that compares."

November 1, 2002