Maricopa county is a golfer’s paradise, with the second highest number of courses per capita than any other county in the country. Increasingly, more golfers are seeking out experiences that veer from the norm, but keep their shots right on par. The picturesque Golf Club at Estrella fills that niche and is seeing a healthy increase in rounds as it maintains its reputation as a must-play course in the Valley. With the Waste Management Phoenix Open on the horizon, the greens are mowed, course management is ready, and the stage is set for business.
Every golf course has unique features and according to Estrella Golf Club’s General Manager Trevor Finton, the views are what really sets this course apart. “We have what I would call a true Arizona golf hole on 17, it’s our signature hole named Grand Consequence,” he said. “It’s a beautiful island green over the desert with the Estrella Mountains off in the distance. It’s breathtaking.”
Finton says the finishing holes of 16, 17 and 18 are the best on the course. “The 16 is a long par 5, you’re hitting into the hill, over the ravine. The last hole, 18, is just a great finishing hole. It’s on an elevated tee box hitting down to a split fairway, right into the Estrellas.”
For those heading out for the first time Finton says you can expect a true desert golf course with a lot of course carries and a surprising amount of turf. “The fairways and the amount of turf is more than what it looks like. The bunkers are well placed and focused down the fairways. There is a lot of grass to hit toward. The green complexes are subtle with some break in them, but they aren’t the typical Nicklaus style greens. There are very fair but subtle breaks.”
The Nicklaus Design, Troon-managed course is seeing a surge of interest from golfers looking for a championship course nestled within the High Sonoran Desert that plays challenging but fair, and at a great price. With the majority of golf attention in Scottsdale, Finton said Estrella feels like one of those great little secrets golfers like to know about. “For us, once we get people out here, they return year after year. It becomes one of their must-plays. I have a group from the UK who come over once a year,” Finton said.
When the putts have all been sunk, golfers officially finish the round with some food and drinks at the Estrella Golf Club Grill. “The food is really good, but it’s the patio that really draws people,” said Finton. “When you’re done with your round, you sit on the patio late in the evening with the Estrellas in the background, the firepit is going. It’s got great ambiance to hang out and relax.” The restaurant also hosts live music once a week during the busy season.
The Phoenix Open draws golf enthusiasts from around the world and, as a result, Finton says you can expect to see peak pricing at courses across the Valley. But, for him, value is key. He said fees will range from $125-$225 during Super Bowl week when several other courses will be as much as four times that.
If you plan on hitting the links and you value value, Finton said this course and the people who work it will welcome you like family. “When you come here, it’s like coming over to someone’s house. It’s welcoming and comfortable, but it’s quality and friendly and a great high-end golf course with more affordable prices. Once people find us, they always return.”
Learn more or book a tee time at https://estrellagolf.com/
Find your new home at Estrella.com and discover why more than 7,400 families already call this diverse, welcoming West Valley master-planned community home. Located in Goodyear, Arizona amongst pristine mountains and a dramatic desert landscape, Estrella offers new homes from seven builders, with 18 model homes to tour, and 36 distinct floor plans. Estrella amenities include multiple Residents’ Clubs, resort-style pools, and a waterpark, 72 acres of lakes, 50-plus miles of paths and trails, the Yacht Club of Estrella, the award-winning Nicklaus Design course at the Golf Club of Estrella, community welcome center Casa Lucero, and more than 40 signature and neighborhood parks.
