Golf

Aliante Golf Club Details

• Opened:
  2003.
• Course designed by:
  Gary Panks.
• Course Management:
  Troon Golf.
• General Manager / Director of Golf:
  Randy Weigman.
• Head golf professional:
  Mark Orlowski.
• Course Record:
  N/A.
• Tee Time Policy:
  Reservations are accepted up to 120 days in advance. Rates vary from $30-$130 depending on season. Dress code: Collared shirt required. Green fee includes golf cart. Range balls are available for $4 for a small bucket, $8 for a large bucket.
  
  Dress code: Golf course strictly enforces proper attire including collared shirts and shorts or slacks. Clothing that is not appropriate includes: denim shorts, denim jeans, t-shirts, swimming attire, gym shorts, halter-tops, tank tops or cut-offs. Shoes with spikes must have non-metal spikes while on the course. Any participant who does not comply with the dress code policy will need to change into the proper attire or not be able to participate in the day's play.
• Course Map:
  Click here.

Aliante Golf Club Review

Flight is the theme at Aliante (Italian for soaring), and the new layout near the National Wildlife Range takes wing courtesy of renowned Phoenix-based architect Gary Panks. Aliante offers pleasant panoramas of the 10,000-foot peaks of the Sheep Range and an outstanding variety of 18 tournament-caliber holes on this par-72, 7,022-yard layout.

The front nine meanders through hundreds of pear trees, while the back nine unrolls through numerous plantings of Mondale pines and bright splashes of purple locust trees. A groomed arroyo graces virtually every hole, often running along or across the Bermuda fairways, and sometimes cutting behind or in front of the tee boxes or Tiffeagle greens, which are small to medium -- in the 6,000-square-foot range -- with moderate to severe undulation.

Most of the holes look quite accessible from the tee, but a closer look reveals both subtle and clear challenges. Many fairways slope gently toward the arroyo running their length, and there's greenside trouble in the form of swales, hollows and huge bunkers with high flash faces.

No. 2 (the No. 1 handicap hole) is a 472-yard par 4 notable for its flowing contours and absence of bunkers. A short cut all around the green punishes poor approaches but also sets up pitching, chipping and putting options.

No. 4 is an excellent par 3 playing to 155-yards with three distinctly sculpted Panks' bunkers framing a strongly undulating green.

The 550-yard, par-5 11th is superb. The tee box lies near a waterfall splashing into a two-tiered pond. Drives must carry at least 175 yards of that pond, but two sets of forward tees mercifully take the water out of play. An arroyo runs down the right side opposite one fairway bunker left. There's another deep bunker 50 yards shy of the green, which also is fronted by bunkers and backed by an arroyo.

The 420-yard, par-4 17th doglegs left to a green surrounded by water and bunkers. Nearby waterfalls offer soothing sounds to lift the spirits. To literally lift the spirits, a fully appointed clubhouse with floor-to-ceiling windows and an outdoor verandah offer great spots to sit and admire the surrounding mountains and review the round.

Course statistics: