Spring Training Guide: Scottsdale

Presented by GolfTEC

Colorado AvidGolfer

Colorado Rockies/Arizona Diamondbacks
Salt River Fields at Talking Stick
7555 N Pima Rd, Scottsdale
saltriverfields.com; 480-270-5000

PLAY
You can’t beat the convenience of the superbly conditioned courses at Talking Stick Golf Club, the 36-hole Coore/ Crenshaw facility featuring the more open “links-style” North course and the tree-lined South. Adjacent to the Scottsdale Princess is TPC Scottsdale, whose Stadium Course annually hosts the PGA Tour’s Waste Management Open and costs $299 to play; a round on the TPC’s much-improved Champions course runs $146. Roll some stones on the Rock ‘N’ Roll Range at Grayhawk Golf Club. The home of the Tom Fazio-designed Talon and Raven courses, Grayhawk until 2009 hosted the PGA Tour’s Frys.com Open. Wildfire Golf Club, adjacent to the JW Marriott Desert Ridge, features a Faldo Signature and Palmer Signature courses that each March challenge the participants in the RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup.

If you can get north of town, don’t miss the photogenic pair of courses at The Boulders Club in Carefree and the highly playable beauty of Rancho Mañana Golf Club in Cave Creek.

Pictured Avove: TPC Scottsdale, #16 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open

STAY

Adjacent to the ballpark, The $440 million Talking Stick Resort includes 497 guest rooms, a 240,000 square foot casino, a large pool/garden area with 20-plus cabanas, eight restaurants, and a world-class, 13,000-square-foot, open-air spa.

Though no longer painted pink, the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess brims with local color. The majestic, sprawling compound comprises 830 stately guest rooms, suites and casitas, superb restaurants, five swimming pools and a spa with a rooftop oasis, waterfall and aerial yoga.

Located next door to the Fairmont, Zona Hotel & Suites works well for groups and families. Due west of the ballpark, ultra-luxurious Montelucia just joined the Omni resort family.

The 1,950-room JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa features an expansive spa, numerous pools and the Lazy River floating stream.

Tucked into the Pinnacle Peak foothills, Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North features 210 generously sized guest rooms.

EAT
The Scottsdale area overflows with dining options. The above resorts all feature top-tier restaurants worthy of a week’s worth of unique meals. Hands down, two of the best are at The Princess: La Hacienda, Richard Sandoval’s superb gourmet Mexican, turns out theatrical and delectable dishes; and at Bourbon Steak, Chef Chris Curtiss poaches the beef in butter before grilling it to perfection. Deseo, the at the Westin Kierland, serves inspired South American dishes like Millionaire Tacos (yucca tacos with lobster, ahi and Hamachi) and a savory bone-in Pork Chuleta. If you’re lucky, you’ll see artist-in-residence Nelson Garcia-Miranda painting near the entrance. Sports bars include Zipp’s, which is a short walk from the Salt River Fields, and Don & Charlie’s.

DO
Go shopping at Kierland Commons, or take the kids to CrackerJax Family Fun & Sports Park. If a dance DJ is more your style, kick it at Suede in Old Town.

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San Francisco Giants
Scottsdale Stadium
7408 E. Osborn Road, Scottsdale
scottsdaleaz.gov/stadium; 877-473-4849

PLAY
Golf-loving aficonados of the Giants can avail themselves of the same courses as Rockies and D-Backs fans. In addition, definitely don’t miss the acclaimed Cholla and Saguaro courses at We-Ko-Pa Golf Club just east of Scottsdale on the Fort McDowell Indian Community. Closer in are the 27 Scott Miller-designed holes at the Westin Kierland Resort & Spa, which you can play in a kilt before the bagpiper’s legato ends the day. There’s also the new Ambiente layout at Camelback Golf Club and the pair of renovated Desmond Muirhead layouts at McCormick Ranch Golf Club.

Pictured Above: We-Ko-Pa Golf Club

STAY
In addition to the hotels listed above for Rockies fans, check out the luxurious Westin Kierland Resort & Spa and the intimate Royal Palms Resort and Spa.

EAT
The same upscale North Scottsdale restaurants that attract Rockies rooters also welcome Giants fans, as well as players from those teams. For those looking for an eclectic, award-winning wine list, make a reservation at Cowboy Ciao.

DRINK
The Book on Scotch: The Scottish flavor of the Westin Kierland Resort & Spa does not confine itself to on-course kilts and bagpipes. A sumptuously appointed corner of the resort’s lobby now houses the Scotch Library, a staggering collection of more than 100 single malts and 25 blends imported from Scotland’s six whisky regions. The star, the Glenfiddich 50-year, costs $1,000 an ounce, and shares a glass case with other younger versions of distinctive brands as well as authentic claymores. A Bible-sized tome lists the qualities and prices of the myriad offerings. Blue-blazered, highly knowledgeable Scotch Ambassadors conduct a weekly “Evening of Scotches” for $45 per person (Friday nights, reservations required).

DO
Scottsdale Fashion Square is the largest mall in the Southwest, with a recent $130 million renovation adding an entire new wing.

RELATED LINKS

Spring Training Guide: The Southwest Valley – Peoria, Surprise and Goodyear

Spring Training Guide: Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa

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