We-Ko-Pa (Cholla)
Just played We-Ko-Pa Cholla in 2021. Back in 2010 or thereabouts I had played the Saguaro course here and really enjoyed it but didn’t have photos. This time I was able to bring the camera phone and the views don’t disappoint. I have Saguaro in my top 100 and rank Cholla somewhat below that. This is probably influenced by the golf magazine rankings and the architect’s reputation: Coore-Crenshaw vs. Scott Miller here. But this is definitely a great desert track no matter how you rank it.
What I remembered then and confirmed on this trip is that this is as pure a desert golf experience as you can get. No homes to sully the view. Sure it’s a little targety for a higher handicap and you’ll spend the day like Moses wandering the desert if you’re spraying the ball at all, but play the right tees and this won’t kick you in the nuts for 18 holes. We played the whites which are a little over 6,100. I shot an 89 and didn’t play particularly well (and that has been a common post-COVID theme).
Regardless of the tees you play, one is a great way to ease into the round. Take an aggressive line toward the green and don’t worry about carrying the desert – even a modest drive will put you in a safe spot and leave you a little flip wedge onto the green. Two is a long-ish par 5 that doglegs right. You can aim for the tree that’s straight out and that’ll leave you in a good spot to crank a second shot and leave yourself a wedge in.
I won’t go through the entire course but the third is a favorite short par three to what looks like from the tee a teeny, tiny target. Beautiful hole. Eighteen is a great finisher and really every hole is interesting here if not just for the beauty of it. Bring a camera if you go.
Played Arizona Country Club and Las Sendas this trip as well. AZCC is super close to Scottsdale or Phoenix, has one of the world’s best men’s grills, nice conditioning and some nice holes where Camelback mountain is the backdrop. If you’re here on a golf trip and can get on and are sick of the desert tracks, this is a nice option. A good public comp is the Biltmore. A private comp is Moon Valley. Played Moon Valley a lot in the past but the latest few times, the course really started deteriorating. It’s under new management from what I understand so hopefully they cleaned it up but for now if invited, pass.
Las Sendas was a surprisingly good course. It doesn’t get a lot of acclaim and rarely do I hear from guys going out there saying they’re playing it or have played it. That’s a shame, it’s a good desert track – pretty tough – and has a nice dining facility. I talk all about the Scottsdale area in other write-ups (Troon North and Desert Forest). I added a new restaurant in Old Scottsdale this trip: Barrio Queen. Highly recommended.
Golf Scrapbook 