TROON NORTH GOLF COURSES

Many golf experts said the blueprint for desert golf was made when Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish designed the Monument course at Troon North back in 1989. The course has lush green fairways, some hidden behind boulders, along with high-lipped bunkers and mounds. Then there are the huge, tricky greens that befuddle and amaze first-timers. Many tees are set like pedestals perched above the fairways. The Monument is the original course at Troon North. Its par-5 “Monument” hole is one of the most memorable and intriguing holes on the golf course. The tee shot requires you to dodge a giant boulder placed in the middle of the landing zone on the drive. Construction crews tried to remove this “monument” many times but were never successful.

At Troon North’s Pinnacle course, rocky terrain and two demanding par 3s on the back-nine set you up for the grand finale, No. 18. It’s a 407-yard par 4 that aims right at Pinnacle Peak, and requires a 250-yard carry over a monstrous fairway-wide bunker. The Pinnacle, which opened in 1995, is 7,044 yards from the tips and has a 72 par. Just like its sister course, the Monument, it will challenge you with desert golf replete with arroyos, natural washes, huge saguaros, mesquite, ironweed. Fairways are large and lush, some of which are hidden behind boulders, high-lipped bunkers and mounds.