The Namesake Boulders

The Boulders Golf Club:

A Luxury Scottsdale Desert Golf Stay and Play.

Posted by: Rick Parnham

The city of Scottsdale stretches from the urban streetscapes of Phoenix and Tempe in the south, to the majestic mountains of Tonto National Forest in the north. Over its sprawling 31 mile long span, dozens of highly acclaimed golf facilities have been built, casting the city as one of the premier golf destinations in North America. One of the more unique golf resorts found here is The Boulders, a 36-hole complex designed by Jay Morrish located in the northern reaches of the city, near the frontier-style community of Carefree.

Built as part of The Boulders, a stunning residential and resort community, and laid amongst the 12 billion year-old namesake boulders that dot the natural Sonora Desert landscape, the golf club is consistently mentioned in the discussion of the most highly regarded facilities in the state. Morrish, who worked under the tutelage of design legends Robert Trent  Jones, George Fazio and Jack Nicklaus, made a name for himself in designing dozens of highly regarded courses, both as the sole designer and in partnering with long time tour player, Tom Weiskopf, including their collaboration at nearby TPC Scottsdale.

Location: Scottsdale, Arizona

Stunning Backdrop

The North and South Courses are built atop a natural, rugged landscape. Framed by massive red-rock outcrops and a beautiful assortment of cacti and plants, the courses  gently traverse the terrain providing a superb desert-style experience.  The older of the courses is the North, surrounded by a beautiful mountain backdrop and featuring more elevation change than its sister course, the South.  Playing to a par of 72, the layout features a strong collection of holes filled with challenge and variety.

Editor's Shot Maker's Picks: North Course

The opening hole is a terrific risk / reward par 5. A solid drive must favor the left side of the fairway, providing the best opportunity to attack with your second shot.  A 50 yard-wide crossing wasteland must be negotiated to have a chance to reach the green.  The putting surface is tucked behind a series of three bunkers which are ready to swallow any shot hit short and right of the target. The shortest hole of the round is found at the sixth tee. Requiring no more than a mid-iron or wedge, the tee-shot must contend with deep bunkers pushed in closely to the front, back and left edges of this raised-plateau green site. The par 4 13th is a downhill beauty that is all about the second shot. The two-tiered green is perched behind a deep gulch framed with two large bunkers behind and a nasty false-front feeding shots into a fronting grass bunker. The 14th is a visual treat, playing across a large pond. This par 3 leaves little room for error for the mid-iron must carry the entire length of the pond and avoid the surrounding bunker on the right and another pair on the left.

Course Stats:

The South Course weaves throughout the gigantic boulders and charming resort casitas. Playing slightly shorter but with a higher slope rating, this par 71 layout is routed over  the spacious desert landscape. Featuring 5 short holes, the most memorable being the seventh with the its back tee sitting in the shadows of an  enormous  boulder only steps from the tee blocks.  The highlighted shot-making holes on this routing are the doglegs, placing a premium on the ability to move the ball with your tee shot.

Editor's Shot Maker's Picks: South Course

The third hole is a 90 degree dogleg right that is best attacked with a tee shot aimed off the distant bunker straight-away then drifting left to right. The raised green has multiple tiers and is well protected with a large tree and deep bunker on the right and with a nasty pot bunker behind that will swallow anything hit with a bit too much vigor. The par 4 fourth hole plays as a double dogleg twisting around a raised rock outcrop and pond on the left. The long narrow green needs careful attention as it can add 2-3 clubs of distance depending on the pin placement. The short par 4 sixth may not seem intimidating on the card, but standing on the elevated tee, you are presented with a force carry over the entrance driveway, OB on the left and large pond running along the majority of the right side of the hole. Long and left is the safest route, but a daring right side drive will leave you a wedge over the cacti to the green. The penultimate hole is a par 4 that might require less than a driver off the tee for most. Finding the short grass is critical to be able to attack the multi-level green surrounded by mounds, fall offs and a huge bunker back left.

Course Stats:

Luxury Resort / Terrific Golf

Guests at the luxurious Boulders Resort have access to a 36 hole facility that is hard to top. Desert golf at its finest, combined with beautiful scenery and a pampered stay, make this north Scottsdale resort an absolute must on any golf itinerary. With a wide range of après activities and great dining on-site, a visit to The Boulders will be memorable for more than just the top quality golf experience.

Drive Times: Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport 35 mins

Contact:

The Boulders Golf Club

34631 N Tom Darlington Dr,

Carefree, AZ

85377
(480) 488-9028

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