Scottsdale Community Golf Courses

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desert highlands golfWhether you are an accomplished golfer or a beginner still learning the ropes, Scottsdale is truly a mecca for the sport of golf.  While Scottsdale is host to world-renowned designer courses, there are also several public or community courses, perfect for all levels of players from the novice to the expert.  Here are some public courses to check out in Scottsdale:

  1. Phoenician Resort Golf Course—Canyon, Desert and Oasis Courses.  With 3 different 9 hole courses, the combinations of these Homer Flint and Ted Robinson Sr designed courses are endless.
  2. Scottsdale Silverado Golf Club—This 18-hole, par 70 course was developed in 2000 by the Gilmore-Graves Architectural Design Company.
  3. Talking Stick Golf Club—North Course and South Course.  These two courses were designed by Bill Core & Ben Crenshaw.  The Golf Club also features a 17,000-square foot driving range.
  4. TPC of Scottsdale—Champions Course and Stadium Course.  Home to the Waste Management Phoenix Open, these courses are also open to the public.  The Champions Course was designed by Randy Heckenkemper, while the Stadium Course was designed by Jay Morrish and Tom Weiskopf; both are par 71 courses.
  5. Camelback Golf Club—Padre Course and Ambiente Course.  The Padre Course was designed by Arthur Hills, and its 6,903-yard, par 72 design features some challenging water holes.  The Ambiente Course is a Jason Straka design, with 4 par 5 holes.
  6. Coronado Golf Course—This affordable (cash only) community golf course features a 9-hole course, as well as lighted driving range, putting and chipping greens.  Opened in 1966, this charming 1,850-yard, par 31 course is perfect for beginners!
  7. Grayhawk Golf Club—Raptor Course and Talon Course.  The Raptor Course features 7,090-yards, and this par 72 course was designed by Tom Fazio.  The Talon Course was designed by Gary Panks and David Graham, and this 6,973-yard course is also a 72 par course.
  8. Kierland Golf Club—Ironwood, Acacia and Mesquite Courses form 27 holes of golfing fun.  The Ironwood is a Scott Miller design with 3,539-yards and is a par 36 course.  Acacia is also a Scott Miller design, with 3,435 yards.  The Mesquite is 3,478-yards and is also a par 36 course.
  9. McCormick Ranch Golf Club—Palm Course and Pine Course feature 36 yards of golf play, all with gorgeous mountain views.  Both courses were created in 1972 by Desmond Muirhead.
  10. The Orange Tree Golf Club—This beautiful, tree-shaded course near Camelback Mountain was developed in the 1950s and features 18 holes in a par 72 course.

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Holiday Excursions Perfect for Children

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christmas tree photoIt’s that time of year again, and what better way to get your kids in the mood for celebrating than an excursion up north?  One of the most popular holiday events is the North Pole Experience.  This interactive experience is set in the “North Pole” which is entered via a trolley ride through a magic portal in Flagstaff, Arizona.  Families will board the trolley from the Little America Hotel in Flagstaff, Arizona, and after a short ride to the portal, families will alight from the trolley at the North Pole.  Elves will whisk the trolley passengers away to Santa’s Workshop, where families will work side by side with elves making toys for Santa to take to children around the world.  Each room of the expansive workshop features a different activity, snack or story.  This experience lasts about 90 minutes and ends with the children sitting on Santa’s lap.

To continue this magical experience, consider staying at the Little America Hotel, which beginning in mid-November, decorates its hotel and grounds with millions of holiday lights, making for one of the largest light displays in Arizona.  The hotel also offers a special breakfast with Santa as part of its partnership with the North Pole Experience, so your little ones will get to spend additional time with the big guy.

Another popular holiday experience that’s perfect for families with younger children is the Polar Express.  Hosted by the Grand Canyon Railway, this highly interactive train ride is based on the Polar Express children’s book written by Chris Van Allsburg, and is an adorable hour-long adventure to the “North Pole”.  Families will board the train at the train depot in Williams, Arizona at 5:30 or 7:30 p.m. and will return back to the depot.  The depot is adjacent to the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel, which also offers special booking rates to Polar Express passengers.  Be sure to check out the adorable gift shop too!

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Popular Halloween Haunted House Attractions-2016

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happy-halloween clip artCan you believe it’s already October?  While the chill of fall may not quite be in the air, the time for ghosts, goblins and glittery princesses will be here before you know it.  To that end, here are some upcoming Halloween haunted houses that will be around the Valley of the Sun this year.

First up is AZ Field of Screams, a maze in a haunted corn field, which was planted over an old cemetery.  Children under the age of 15 must be accompanied by an adult, and this attraction is not recommended for children under 10 years old.

Next, is Fear Farm, which features 30 acres showcasing 5 different haunted experiences, including: Mouth of Madness, Legends: Goatman, Undead, Slaughterhouse and The Bunker.  This year there is also a Haunted Hayride attraction.  This is considered a PG-13 attraction, so is not recommended for small children.  (Located at 2209 N. 99th Avenue in Phoenix, beginning September 23.)

The Crypt offers a trio of haunted attractions: The Asylum, Chaos Maze and The Crypt.  These are not recommended for children under 10.  (Located at Fiesta Mall, 1445 W. Southern Avenue in Mesa, beginning September 23.)

Consider checking out 13th Floor Haunted House, with two attractions spread out over 60,000 square feet.  This haunted house is not recommended for small general, and sports a PG-13 general guideline.  (Located at 2814 W. Bell Road, beginning September 23).

Scarizona Scaregrounds is home to two different haunted houses: Epic Fear and Slayer’s Slaughter House.  An interactive paintball attraction, Operation Zombie Storm, features 16-passenger military trucks which are driven through a wave of zombies.  Scaregrounds also hosts live music on the weekends, as well as a beer garden and other entertainment.  (Located at 1901 N. Alma School Road in Mesa, beginning September 23.)

Jack and Jill’s Haunted Hill is an indoor, two-story live interactive experience, with parental discretion advised.  (Located at 3401 W. Greenway Road, beginning September 30).

The Gauntlet at Golfland Fright Nights features a terrifying maze, and a multi-level haunted house featuring animatronics and skilled actors, all mostly indoors.  This attraction isn’t recommended for children under 13 years old.  Children may enjoy  Spooktacular Golf, a miniature 18-hole golf course full of spooky and festive decorations.  (Located at Golfland, Mesa, beginning September 30).

Finally, Zombie WarZ is a zombie apocalypse where you fight off zombies in a Zombie Assault Vehicle using “flesh-eating” Zombie paint slugs   This attraction is recommended for adults and teens, but parents may choose to bring younger children (minimum age is 5).  (Located near Rawhide in Chandler.  GPS directions given on the website).

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