Troon, November/December 2017

22 TROON GOLF TRAVEL eMAGAZINE TROON GOLF TRAVEL eMAGAZINE 23 History will be made this December 7 10 at Whirlwind Golf Club when it becomes the first Arizona course to host the final stage of Web com Tour Qualifying School The televised event will feature 300 professional golfers trying to earn playing status for the 2018 season Although located just 11 miles south of downtown Phoenix Whirlwind Golf Club feels as though its in another world entirely The solitude creates a special ambiance at the two Gary Panks designed courses Devils Claw and Cattail that both opened in 2000 They are similar in how they flow said Louie Unga director of club operations The Cattail course is a little bit longer and has a few more water features But the main difference between the courses is the greens Devils Claw has two tiers on every single green so thats challenging on approach shots The greens on Cattail take quite a long time to learn Ive been here at Whirlwind for 13 years and they still fool me Nothing breaks as much as you think it does nor is there a specific break in any particular direction Off the courses the facilities are more impressive than ever thanks to a recently completed 12 million clubhouse renovation Brand new When it comes to the Golf Club of Estrella nestled discreetly into the Estrella Mountains just west of Phoenix opinions seem to differ widely Some say Estrella is a high end property open to the public Others say it is a hidden gem As it turns out both opinions are center cut We are kind of a hidden gem in that were up there in the mountains and kind of away from it all said Estrellas general manager Trevor Finton At the same time when the Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Reds are just down the road at Goodyear Ballpark for Spring Training or when theres a weekend race at nearby PIR Phoenix International Raceway were definitely a very WHIRLWIND GOLF CLUB at WILD HORSE PASS GOLF CLUB of ESTRELLA mens and womens locker rooms were expanded by 2500 feet including spacious showers a new patio dining area that seats up to 48 check out the sail like umbrellas providing shade and a tech bar for recharging devices and checking email in the rejuvenated golf shop A players lounge with multiple flat screen televisions and leather couches was also created as a perfect pre or post round stop A new gallery walkway connecting the front entrance with Whirlwinds Top 100 Golf Shop is adorned with original pieces of artwork from Native American artists from the Gila River Indian Community Other original pieces of art can also be seen throughout the clubhouse The Sivlik Grill is open seven days a week for breakfast and lunch a sunset menu with pizzas and shared plates is available from 4 to 7 p m from January through May Located on the Gila River Indian Community in Chandler the courses are just a short drive from the Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass home to Kai one of the regions best fine dining restaurants Stay Play packages are available Tom Mackin 480 940 1500 www WhirlwindGolf com busy high end facility The 34 year old Finton knows only too well why golfers refer to his club as the best in the west He has worked at Estrella for 13 years starting in outside service and working his way up the ladder before recently being named general manager Estrellas other major claim to fame Finton added is that its one of the more friendly Nicklaus layouts that golfers will encounter because well Its a Jack Nicklaus Jr designed golf course not a Jack Nicklausdesigned course Finton pointed out When people think of Nicklaus courses designed by Jack Sr they think of severity We dont have that severity because Jackie didnt build in all that difficulty that his father is known for Finton again is on target Jackies free flowing design work helps rather than hinders players For instance slightly errant shots tend to feed back into the fairways via gentle mounding and slopes Greens are fast and fair and much easier to access than the often shallow shaped renditions that his father is known for Plus our putting surfaces dont have those big Jack Nicklaus undulations theyre subtle Finton added Our guests like the fact that Estrella is playable and generous yet its still a big challenge for anyone who tees it up here The signature offering is No 17 a 194 yard one shotter appropriately named Grand Consequence that is among the most stunning par 3s in Arizona Nestled into a rock strewn saddle with the namesake mountains as a backdrop there is purple majesty written all over this lovely hole Golf Club Estrella opened in 1999 and boasts panoramic views in every direction It is consistently ranked among Arizonas top 20 Best Golf Courses You Can Play by Golfweek Bill Huffman 623 386 2600 www EstrellaGolf com 1 2