Scottsdale Blog - Things to do in Scottsdale, Arizona » Golf

Local Luminaries: Stan Utley

Josh Kenzer — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:18:24 +0000

Each year, Experience Scottsdale profiles a selection of local celebrities, from restaurateurs and sports figures to artists and adventurers for our Destination Guide. We invite you to meet this year’s luminaries and find out what they have to say about living, working and enjoying life in Scottsdale.

Stan Utley is golf instructor at Scottsdale’s Grayhawk Golf Club.

Request your free destination guide for Scottsdale, Arizona today!

PGA PLAY GOLF AMERICA DAY COMING TO SCOTTSDALE ON MARCH 21

Josh Kenzer — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 18:15:06 +0000

Free golf activities will include on-site instruction from more than 20 area PGA Professionals

A fun-filled day of free golf activities will be held during PGA Play Golf America Day at the McCormick Ranch Golf Club in Scottsdale, on Sunday March 21, 2010. Created to showcase the game of golf in a fun and relaxed atmosphere,

The event will run from 8:00 am – 1:00 pm. It is designed to provide free expert instruction to golfers of all ages and skill levels, introduce new golfers to the game and provide equipment testing from the best brands in golf today.

Highlighting the day will include:

Free Instruction
Golf Clinics
First Swing Clinics for beginners
10-minute tune-ups
Demonstrations on all facets of the game regardless of skill level

Instruction will be provided by more than 20 PGA Professionals from throughout the Southwest Section of the PGA.

Several of the golf industry’s leading equipment manufacturers will be on-site, including:

Adams
Bridgestone
Cobra
Callaway
Nike
Ping
Taylor Made
Titleist and more

Additionally, attendees will have the opportunity to gather information on some of today’s most exciting golf participation programs that are part of the Play Golf America initiative, including Get Golf Ready, PGA Free Lesson Month, Women’s Golf Week, July is Family Golf Month, Take Your Daughter to the Course and Bring Your Kids to the Range.

“The PGA Play Golf America Day at McCormick Ranch Golf Club will be a terrific golf experience for players of all levels,” said Curt Hudek, Executive Director, Southwest Section PGA. “From avid golfers, to golf enthusiasts and newcomers to the game, this event will provide a fun-filled atmosphere that combines instruction, product testing, skills contests and some great golf giveaways.”

For more information on the PGA Play Golf America Day at McCormick Ranch Golf Club on March 21, log on to http://www.playgolfamerica.com/index.cfm?action=days_list or call the club at 480-948-0260.

Celebrate 75 Years of Golf

Kelly Tope — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 18:39:12 +0000

Make Plans to Attend the Newly Renamed Waste Management Open

The Waste Management Open, formerly named the FBR Open, celebrates its 75^th year of play next week at TPC Scottsdale. The tournament, annually sporting the largest crowds on the PGA TOUR, takes place February 22-28, 2010 and brings back defending champion Kenny Perry, who will compete for the $6,000,000 purse.

The tournament has grown immensely over its 75 year history here in the Valley of the Sun, bringing in a record 538,356 fans in 2008. The fun and festivities will continue this year and in addition to being known as the “The Greatest Show on Grass,” the tournament is also being dubbed the “The Greenest Show on Grass.” With Waste Management as the title sponsor, a variety of eco-friendly initiatives are being introduced to the tournament in 2010. These include: solar powered trash compactors, printing tickets on recycled paper with soy ink, recycling stations staffed during peak hours and serving soda and beer out of cans (rather than pouring into plastic cups). Look for more eco-friendly initiatives to be introduced in the coming years as well.

The Waste Management Open has gained legendary status on the PGA TOUR and is known for its loud crowds and party atmosphere that flow well into the night. Be sure to check out the celebrated 16^th Hole, where cheering (and sometimes booing) is common after a player finishes the round. Also, make plans to keep the energy flowing into the night with the Birds Nest Music Festival, which features bands like Collective Soul, Static and O.A.R.

Tickets for the Waste Management Open will be available right up until tournament time (you can even purchase tickets at the gate) and cost only $25 each for single day admission. However, if you want to watch the Tournament in style, you might consider purchasing tickets for the Phoenix Suns 16 Skybox Lounge (which includes a seat at the 16^th Hole, as well as food and drink).

Come and celebrate 75years of great golf in the Valley!

A weekend with Natalie Gulbis at Fairmont Scottsdale

Josh Kenzer — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:20:43 +0000

The sensational Fairmont Scottsdale and the TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course are the venues for an amazing weekend of golf with one of the best athletes on the LPGA Tour. Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Book today.

Package includes:

• Two nights in a luxuriously appointed Fairmont guest room
• Two full American breakfasts
• Golf demonstration with Natalie Gulbis
• One round of golf at TPC Stadium, where Natalie will play several holes with each foursome
• One welcome reception with Natalie Gulbis at Stone Rose Lounge
• One dinner at BOURBON STEAK with Natalie Gulbis
• Discounts on golf at the TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course
• Discounts on treatments at Willow Stream Spa
• Welcome amenity from adidas

Book Now

What is Overseeding?

Josh Kenzer — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 20:09:30 +0000

This time of year, many of Scottsdale’s quality golf courses are closed for a week or so for overseeding. So what exactly is overseeding?

When Scottsdale’s summer comes to an end, the bermudagrass that worked so hard in the hotter months starts to go dormant. In order to maintain attractive, well manicured courses, ryegrass seed is laid on top of the bermudagrass. The ryegrass starts to take hold and flourish as the bermuda goes completely dormant. This will happen again, in reverse, in the spring. This process is usually a six week process, but most courses will stay closed for only a week or two.

Tips for playing during overseeding:

Call ahead and make sure the course is not closed during your planned trip to Scottsdale
Due to the process of overseeding, expect the course to be well watered, and therefore play slower than normal
Expect greens to be well sanded and play slower as well

Many times, due to these conditions, courses will offer a discounted rate. Be sure to ask!

For more information on Scottsdale’s golf courses, check out our Golf section on ExperienceScottsdale.com.

Cactus on the Course

Josh Kenzer — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 20:42:40 +0000

A selection of flickr photos showcasing the beauty that desert cactus provide on Scottsdale golf courses. Just look out, they are a literal golf hazard.

Stan Utley Bends a Wedge in the Golf Shop

Josh Kenzer — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 16:32:41 +0000

You happen to be walking through the Golf Shop at Grayhawk and what do you see…Stan Utley bending a wedge for a customer!

Tee up at McCormick Ranch Golf Club

Mitchell Tay — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 18:03:01 +0000

McCormick Ranch Golf Club

If you’re looking for a challenging but enjoyable golf course consider the McCormick Ranch Golf Club conveniently located on Scottsdale Rd and McCormick Parkway. The Palm and Pine course each offer championship tees totaling more than 7,000 yards. But whether you’re a novice, amateur, or professional these courses are very playable for any skill level.

Josh, Josh (not a typo), Lauren, and myself made it out to the Pine course on a lovely but warm morning. You’ll notice the names of these courses are not random as the Pine course is filled with Pine trees and the Palm course has many Palm trees (go figure!). McCormick Ranch Golf Club has a large practice area for putting and pitching as well as a nice driving range which I unfortunately didn’t have time to check out since I arrived without any practice time. Basing my judgment off the score card the Pine course seemed to be slightly easier to play. Playing the Pine course’s many holes were relatively forgiving on the fairways if you had a bad tee shot and decent size greens. I did find the GPS distance reader from the hole on each of the golf carts to be helpful. Just drive the golf cart near where your ball is and the device will inform you how many yards away you are from the green. There were also five water holes which made the course more exciting and challenging. I would have to say my favorite hole on the Pine course is #15. This 470 yard hole has two areas in which you need to clear over the water. However, the green, though slightly padded by the rough, is almost completely surrounded by water so be cautious. Overall, this course definitely gave me a challenge but I’m definitely looking forward to playing the Palm course another day.

McCormick Ranch Golf Club also offers a restaurant and lounge in the clubhouse and a convenient hot dog stand for a mid- or post-game snack. Additionally the clubhouse can accommodate private parties of any size with a banquet room and large outdoor pavilion.

From now until Sept. 10, McCormick Ranch Golf Club is offering 18 holes for $34 before 11:00am and only $29 after 2:00pm. That’s a deal for such a great course.

Calling All Ladies! Need a “Girls” Golf Trip?

Josh Kenzer — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 14:46:30 +0000

Join OB Sports in Arizona for the OB Sports Women’s Scottsdale Shootout held at Eagle Mountain Golf Club and Longbow Golf Club on September 9 – 11th, 2009. Twenty two-person teams will have the opportunity to participate in the OB Sports Women’s Shootout! Packages include tournament fees, lodging and much more.

Download a PDF with all the Details or visit the Official Site.

Scottsdale’s Golf Celebrity Connections

Josh Kenzer — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 22:50:43 +0000

With nearly 200 area golf courses, 330 days of sunshine per year and an extensive list of award-winning clubs, Scottsdale draws golf lovers from around the world looking to play on the greens where their favorite pros have left their mark. Hit the links on courses designed by some of the biggest names in golf like We-Ko-Pa Golf Club’s Saguaro Course, created by golf legend Ben Crenshaw and architect Bill Coore and winner of numerous awards like Golfweek magazine’s “Top Public-Access Course in Arizona.” There’s also Troon North which was designed by Tom Weiskopf and helped the Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale garner the title of one of the “Top 10 Best Golf Resorts in the World” by Travel + Leisure Golf.

And the big names aren’t just building courses – they’re playing them, too. Celebrities of the Hollywood kind have graced the greens of several Scottsdale courses. Each year, you can find the likes of Justin Timberlake, Kevin Costner and Bill Murray working on their swings at TPC Scottsdale for the annual FBR Open Silver Pro-Am. Other stars that have taken their rounds on area courses include Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley and Wayne Gretzky. And then there are those who love Scottsdale so much that they decided to call the world’s finest golf destination home. PGA TOUR professional Gary McCord lives in the Valley and can be seen putting at Grayhawk Golf Club, where he and Peter Kostis teach golf skills at the learning center. Other golf pros that can be spotted around town include Andrew Magee, Gary McCord and Kirk Triplett.