Course Review - Legend Trail Golf Course

Great players and magnificent golf courses are declared legends only after they’ve withstood the test of time. However, Legend Trail achieved legendary status when it opened in 1995. Rees Jones, the youngest son of the legendary Robert Trent Jones, designed a somewhat traditional style course in a beautiful desert surrounding. "Most desert courses are so penal, but Legend Trail is not," says Rees. "The front nine is very gentle, and the back nine builds to a crescendo."

Yes, Legend Trail is a friendlier place to play desert golf, but you need your "A" game in place, especially when you get to the 16th and 17th holes, back-to-back par-5s that are far more demanding than the distance of 525 and 530 yards might indicate. Doglegs implore you to work the ball and the par 5 holes are tempting, if not always actually reachable. From the tips, Legend Trail plays 6800 yards with a lion’s share of shot-making options. The landing areas and hazards at several holes are not always visible. Precipices, washes, and existing contours create natural elevation. Legend Trail is a shot maker’s course that requires a full game and heads up course management.

The exquisitely manicured course, managed by Scottsdale Golf Group, meanders through the Sonoran Desert landscape and features breathtaking, panoramic vistas, including those of some of the areas well-known landmarks such as Pinnacle Peak, Troon Mountain, Goldie's Butte and the Tonto Foothills. The fairways are spacious in width. The greens are large, firm, undulating, and challenging to read. From four sets of tees, each hole adheres to the natural lay of the land, winding through washes and ravines, and playing along strands of indigenous saguaro cacti and Palo Verde. Holes are appropriately named to complement the environment, “Painted Desert, “Dancing Shadows,” and “Good Medicine.” Legend Trail offers an amiable challenge that seems to capture a bit of the Old West spirit and certainly the special essence of the Southwest style of golf.

The first hole aptly named “Natures Bounty” is your first challenge. It is a par 4 with fairway bunkers that seem to swallow any tee shot down the right side. If you avoid the bunkers, then par or birdie may seem likely, that is until you reach the green. Legend Trail's greens are lightning quick and deceptive. If you are good enough to read these undulating greens, then the next step is finding the right speed. A putt that you barely set in motion may end its journey twenty feet past the hole.

The fourth hole, "Arizona Sunset" is perfectly named. This hole faces due west and if you are playing in the late afternoon you may be greeted with an amazing Arizona sunset. Don't get caught up in the view, you have some work ahead. The green is unreachable in two for most golfers. Once you get there, it is severely sloped from back to front, and its two tiers are separated in elevation by 3 feet.

The picturesque 14th, par 4, named “Navajo Tapestry” is the most photographed hole on the course. The 11th hole, “Stones That Speak,” is a phenomenal risk to reward par 4 and arguably is the signature hole of the golf course. This beautiful 440 yard monstrous dogleg can be severely shortened by cutting the angle. However, to do this requires a pinpoint accurate powerful poke from the tee that must carry 250 yards of desert landscape filled with saguaros, Palo Verdes and other sharply pointed desert plant life. Even if you are slightly off, your drive will end up in the desert. The safe shot is hitting a low iron, or even a 3 wood straight ahead to the fairway. Unfortunately, a long approach shot will follow and par will still be a challenge.

The signature hole, “Water Chant,” is the deceptively difficult par 5, 490-yard uphill dog-leg, 7th hole. It is the only water hole on the course, and thank goodness it is or else this course would be too difficult for most golfers. From the tee box you do not see the danger lurking over the hill in the form of a large pond that guards the left side of the final 200 yards of this hole and is home to many balls that went astray. With a good rip from the tee you can reach the green on your second shot. The approach shot has only one delightful option, nail it. If your approach shot is even slightly off to the left a splash will be heard. Drop another ball and take another shot to the green. To make matters worse, the water angles around the front of the green guarding the approach shot. The safe play is to aim for the right edge of the green. However, a strategically placed sand trap seems to be the resting place for many good shots. The shot out of the trap is nerve racking because you can’t help but notice the water right in your line of vision behind the green. Any skull or miss-hit will end up wet. A par or birdie on this hole is very rewarding.

Other Information - Legend Trail Golf Course

Practice Facilities: Driving range, chipping range, sand traps, putting greens and range balls are included.

Instructional School: John Jacobs Golf Academy.

19th Hole:The cantina at Legend Trail offers full service dining for breakfast and lunch. There is also a snack bar in the clubhouse as well as beverage/snack cart. Southwestern style menu includes popular items like burritos and chicken quesadillas.

Clubhouse: From the clubhouse, there are spectacular views of Pinnacle Peak, the McDowell Mountains, Camelback, the Mummy Mountains, plus the nearby City of Phoenix. The clubhouse is highlighted by a top 100 Golf Shop (as selected by Golf Shop Operations), private dining area, lounge and full service banquet and catering event coordination. Private and group golf instruction is offered at the half million dollar state-of-the-art teaching facility that is home to Resort Golf Schools.

Awards:
Top 100 facilities –Golf Magazine

Arizona’s Best Overall Courses – Golf Digest Magazine
Arizona’s Best Public Courses, #7 – Golf Digest Magazine
Top 100 Golf shops – Golf Shop Operations

Tournaments: 1997 NCAA Division II Men's Golf Championship 1996 Arizona Amateur Championship Co-Site of the LPGA Mitsubishi Pro-Am

The Players:

• Designer: Rees Jones
• Director of Golf / General Manager: John Jackson
• Superintendent: Michael Molton

Golf Lessons: Home base for Golf Digest Schools with a half million dollar facility. Instructional programs include video analysis, a personalized videotape, and personal workbook. In depth study of the student’s complete golf game – short game, long game, course management, and mental game included. Golf school prices include lunch and golf.

Grass type: The greens are Tif-Eagle. The fairways are Tifway Hybrid Bermuda 419 with rye overseed during the winter months.

Recommended handicap: Legend Trail was designed as a new version of an old look – old wine in a new bottle. For instance, the traditional set of tees offers enough to challenge the better players with subtlety, while not presenting formidable problems for the higher handicapper. With four sets of tees spread out from 5000 to over 6800 yards, golfers of all levels can enjoy a challenging round of golf at Legend Trail. Even the highest level golfer will be challenged by the great layout and numerous sand traps and deceptive greens and yet the course is playable and should be lots of fun for the average golfer. Very high handicap players may find it to be a little too difficult.

1 -10 Course Rating by Meridian’s Golf Specialists: 9

Comments by Meridian Guests:

• “If the grass is always greener on the other side then this is the other side.” “Lots of desert, lots of sand, and yet lots of fairway.” “Good scenery, great conditions, fabulous layout, and phenomenal greens.”
• “A very fair test of golf.” “The greens were large, fast and deceptive.” “I found so many sand traps that I thought I was at the beach.”
• “Every bit as nice as Troon North and yet more playable.” “Seven Eleven. Two of the best holes I have ever played.”

The Drive: A nice 20 to 25 minute drive from Meridian. - it is off Pima Road, 3 miles north of Dynamite.