Gold Canyon Dinosaur Course in Phoenix, Arizona

This is a review of the Par 70 Dinosaur Mountain Course at Gold Canyon Golf Resort in Gold Canyon, Arizona.

What they say
The #1 rated public golf course in Arizona is ready to offer you a truly unique golfing experience in the high Sonoran desert. Every tee box here presents a panoramic vista and an exhilarating challenge to your game. The course will take you up, over and around Dinosaur Mountain with dramatic tee-to-green elevation changes and long, loping fairways. The views of the nearby Superstition Mountains are spectacular. Signature holes #4 and #5 are among the most memorable in the game!

What we say
The views are absolutely amazing. The course winds around Dinosaur Mountain providing breathtaking vistas that provide incredible views in all directions; providing some of the best views of the Superstition Mountains that you’ll ever see. The fairways, bunkers, and greens are well maintained and provide a wonderful golfing experience. Almost every hole includes a considerable amount of elevation change. At least one par three has 100 feet of vertical change, and another par four feels like it has the same. Most of the greens seem relatively small and have significant movement; better leave yourself with an uphill putt! As mentioned, hole #4 has an amazing view.

Course Vitals
Gold: 6,653 yards, 71.3/143
Black: 6,321 yards, 69.2/135
Blue: 5,925 yards, 66.7/122
White: 5,365 yards, 64.7, 117
Red: 4,668 yards, 67.1/118

Address:
6100 S. Kings Ranch Rd.
Gold Canyon, AZ 85218
Phone: 800-827-5281
URL: http://gcgr.com

Hole By Hole Analysis
Hole #1 is a short par 4 that stays straight and moves uphill.
From the tee, the fairway seems much wider than it really is. The fair fairway moves uphill off the tee narrowing dramatically to a sloping putting surface guarded by sand, and grass bunkers. The green has a false front and balls will want to roll right off. There is a little room to the right, but the left comes in hard and you’ll find your ball in the desert if you go too far.

Hole #2 is a medium length par 3 that goes straight downhill.
The tee box is highly elevated and will play at least one club less than yardage depending on the wind conditions. Off to the right are grass pot bunkers but will still provide decent access to the green if you should miss right.

Hole #3 is a medium length par 5 that doglegs left and moves uphill at the green.
While the landing zone looks tight from the tee, the GPS is quite deceptive. Aim just right of the bunker on the left and you will be setup well for a second shot, the landing zone is much wider than GPS shows. However if you try to make it in two, the second is extremely uphill to a small multi-level green. An approach below the hole is critical as the green slopes from back to front. The green is surrounded by small hills that will funnel towards the green.

Hole #4 is a long par 4 that stays straight and moves downhill from the tee.
This hole looks much shorter than it really is; it plays very much to the full length. No matter how far you think you can drive the ball, you won’t clear desert on the left, so stay right of that. It is one of the most picturesque holes at Gold Canyon and is nestled in a narrow valley adjacent to the massive rock formations of Dinosaur Mountain. Golfers must drive from an extremely elevated tee to steeply sloping fairway, which moves left and slightly uphill to a sloping green protected by bunkers in front. Don’t be afraid to aim at the right edge of the fairway off the tee as the slope will take the ball to the center

Hole #5 is a long par 3 that fades right and drops downhill significantly.
You’ll want one to two clubs less than the distance and depending on the wind direction and speed. Land anywhere but left in the massive bunker. The green is large so be prepared for a tremendous putt if you miss your mark. The grass bunkers off to the right could pose a problem if you get a poor lie. Before you make your shot, take a minute and look at the spectacular view of the Superstition Mountains.

Hole #6 is a medium to long par #4 that doglegs right with an elevated tee box.
If you are feeling accurate with your tee shots, you can play the risk and reward game and keep it tight near the homes on the left. If you have the distance and the accuracy you can shave serious yards off the hole and be rewarded with a short iron into the green. There is a lake deep and straight off the tee, and in general you won’t find your ball is you go too far left. A large collection area in the left center of this green will catch many shots.

Hole #7 is a medium to long par #4 that fades left with an uphill approach.
There is plenty of room off the tee as long as you stay away from the bunker on the right. The second shot must carry a large transition area to a large rolling green protected by a gaping bunker in front. Your bailout area is to the ride of the green in the collection area. With a good lie, it shouldn’t be too difficult to get up and down from there.

Hole #8 is a medium length par 4 that is straight with little elevation change.
An accurate shot here is required to make par on the large multi-level green guarded on the left by a bunker twice as large as the putting surface. Distance control is a must or golfers could find themselves faced with a difficult putt featuring some wild breaks. Typically this hole plays into a prevailing wind and requires an extra club.

Hole #9 is a medium to long par 5 that bends left around a lake and stays flat.
There is plenty of room off the tee so give your shot a healthy swing. A shot that favors the left side will effectively take the water out of play on the approach. Two good shots should find a player with a short pitch of the long green. There is a generous amount of fairway on the right side so don’t gamble unless you can put the ball on in two shots. The green is much more sloped from front to back than it first appears. Stay right when attacking the green to avoid both water and bunkers.

Hole #10 is a medium length par 3 that is straight and slightly uphill.
A fairly straight forward hole; to the left is moderate sand and to the right is deep grass pot bunker. Pick your poison and aim accordingly. Choose the right club, as the green is 53 yards from front to back.

Hole #11 is a long par 5 that moves slightly left and is slightly uphill.
This par five moves along the side of a ridge and uphill to another long green guarded by bunkers on both sides. A long carry of the tee is essential in order to reach the fairway. However, length does not insure safety as a large bunker lingers just right of the landing area. At the green if you miss right there is a large bunker you will have to contend with. Missing left will yield desert after a couple grass bunkers.

Hole #12 is a long par 4 that doglegs right and drops dramatically off the tee box downhill.
The tee box sets your tee shot up left, just ensure you aren’t pointed too far left. Houses and desert come into play if you go too far that way. The farther right you leave your tee shot, the better approach you will have towards the green. This massive green is guarded by sand and grass bunkers on either side.

Hole #13 is a long par 4 that slightly doglegs left and is relatively flat.
Don’t be too far left on this one. The fairway trickles into down into OB/Homes. If you can fly the right side of the bunker you will be in great shape. The green is well guarded by deep sand bunkers to the right, missing left will result in an easier chip.

Hole #14 is a long par 3 that plays straight downhill.
This hold plays about 1 club less depending on conditions. The relatively narrow green will be tough to hit and there is trouble all around. Make sure you choose the right club, however if you are a little left and deep the pot bunker will catch you, that is about the only safe place to go. Make sure you carry the wash in the front, or you will never find your ball.

Hole #15 is a short par 4 that doglegs left and drops downhill.
For big hitters off the tee, you can go for this one. Although you can’t see it there is a good size landing zone. You’ll have to cut some of the desert off, but you’ll be rewarded with a short pitch to the green. Otherwise you are presented with a split fairway. Go left if you can be accurate and have the distance with an iron off the tee. The green is protected on every side as it slopes sharply from front to back making the short iron approach shot more difficult, especially if the hole is located in the front portion.

Hole #16 is a medium length par 5 that is dogleg right with an elevated green.
This hole is fairly open however you must be precise if you are thinking of making it in two. Bunkers are short and just under the hole. If you are unsure about your ball placement but want to be close, aim just short and right and you will have an easy chip to the putting surface. For the shorter hitting golfer, it is a three shot hole, with a premium placed on a correct lay up to the right in order to avoid the cavernous bunkers in front.

Hole #17 is a short par 3 that is straight and slopes uphill.
Make sure you have the right club on this hole. The green slopes severely from back to front. There is trouble left and short, leave it just under the hole.

Hole #18 is a short par 4 that has a slight dogleg left with little elevation change.
Big hitters can carry the bunker on the left and will be rewarded with a short pitch. For shorter tee shots, the right side of the fairway will leave you a much better approach to the green. The second shot will be a short one, however players are unable to see their ball land on the green as this final approach is slightly uphill to small rolling green, which is guarded by bunkers. Any long shot will trickle to the back bunker.