par-5, a driveable par-4 and a watery par-3. As with the Peaks, though, the surrounding Tonto National Forest and the mountain panoramas are the real stars of the Tonto Verde show. Within the past year, Tonto Verde


embarked on a $1.5 million, two-phase bunker renovation project spearheaded by architect Mike Gogel. Phase one is complete, with 15 of the 36 holes affected. From the early returns, the project has been hugely successful, resulting in increased variety, playability, and maintainability. Phase two will take place this summer. While many of the original bunkers


were reduced in size and made shallower, Gogel chose to add and move bunkers where necessary. On the Peaks, Gogel added sand to affect the second shot at the 518-yard, par-5 11th


where


before there was none. “At the old hole, you’d automatically hit a 3-wood for your second shot,” says Gogel. “Now, there’s more strategy involved.” On the Ranch, he altered one of its best holes, the 317-yard, par-4 14th


, for the better. Gogel


shifted the tee 40 yards to the right, relocated and reduced the bunker on the other side of the lake and added a small bunker short of the green that asks for a 270-yard carry from the scratch player to clear its clutches. The end result of the bunker renovation work is more fun and more choices for more golfers. “I’m a huge believer in strategy


in the design, in creating options for all classes of players,” says Gogel. “I want you to think a little bit.” There are other things to like about


Tonto Verde. For instance, there are several other vital components to the golf package, such as the superb practice facilities that attracts players like Bradley and other former LPGA players like Jenny Lidback, and Jody Anschutz, who all play and work on their games at Tonto Verde. Another is the incomparable, 18-


hole, Panks-designed putting course. In fact, the putting course is among the Valley’s true hidden treasures and easily one of the top putting tracts in the nation. Amid lakes, flowers, trees and mountains, the putting course is a prize entity unto its own, much like the Himalayas at St. Andrews in


www.azgolf.org


Tonte Verde Golf Lub


is so successful is no surprise. Tonto Verde is legendary for its league participation, with no fewer than 34 weekly member groups available. It’s also renowned for the involvement of its women members, with 190 players in its Women’s Golf Association alone. For that participation rate, it’s captured three consecutive AWGA Gem awards. As rock-solid as the golf courses


For information: www.tontoverde.org


Scotland. The putting course at Tonto Verde is so good, in fact, that it recently hosted a regional qualifier for a new event called the Major Series of Putting, with the $10 million national finals scheduled for Las Vegas in March. Oh, yes, and did we mention that


Tonto Verde has a Lady Putters league that includes 157 participants? “They play every Wednesday, adorned in royal blue and have lunch afterwards. They keep weekly stats on scores and aces, too,” says Aubrie Gaugert, membership coordinator at Tonto Verde. That the Ladies Putters League


and competitions are, some folks feel the restaurant and facilities are every bit as strong. The Mesquite Grill won an Open Table Diners’ Choice Award in 2016 and has been ranked as one of the nation’s Top 100 al fresco dining spots. Cozying up to a cup of chicken corn chowder, followed by a prime rib beef dip with sweet potato fries would be fine in a basement — but when you do it on a spectacular patio that peers out over a lake, lush desert foliage and mountains beyond, we’re talking seriously memorable eats. Toss in new enhancements to the


swimming pool area, cart storage location, tournament scoring area and fitness programs and you have a superior private club — one that just happens to welcome others. n


Joe Passov writes, rates and reports on courses and travel for Golf Magazine under the pseudonym “Travelin’ Joe.” Passov lives in Scottsdale.


PREVIEW 2017 | AZ GOLF Insider | 21 Having a little fun still tops winning for Tonto Verde’s golf-centric membership.


COURTESY OF TONTO VERDE


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