We-Ko-Pa Saguaro Hole-by-Hole
In my first hole-by-hole post from Arizona Alison and I played the fantastic Raptor course at Gray Hawk. In this post we’ll take on the Saguaro course at We-Ko-Pa, rated the #1 public course in Arizona by many golf publications and theoretically a very different golf experience than the other 200 or so golf courses in the Phoenix area. Let’s find out if that’s the case. Please join us as we play the Saguaro course at We-Ko-Pa hole-by-hole.
History of the Saguaro Course at We-Ko-Pa
To begin to understand what sets We-Ko-Pa apart from other Phoenix area courses you have to know who owns it – the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation. The Yavapai are a tribe of less than 1,000 persons who after generations of a nomadic existence over a vast area of central Arizona were settled on a tiny 40 square mile reservation northeast of Phoenix by way of a 1903 Executive Order. Despite their small numbers the Yavapai have always been fiercely independent and protective of their sovereign rights, successfully resisting a plan by the Feds to build a dam in the 1970’s that would have flooded the reservation. Instead of selling out, the tribe decided to use their land in a manner that would bring in needed revenue without destroying the ecological fabric of the reservation lands.
The result was the We-Ko-Pa Golf Club and Resort which features two 18 hole golf courses, the Cholla, designed by Scott Miller opened in 2001 and the Saguaro, designed by Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore opened in 2007. Those familiar with golf architects would know that Scott Miller is the man behind the famous ‘floating green’ at the Couer D’Alene club in northern Idaho.
The Coore and Crenshaw design team need no introduction to me as they are the masterminds behind Cabot Cliffs, the #1 golf course in Canada and rated #42 in the world. It also happens to be in my backyard of Nova Scotia so I am fortunate enough to play it every year.
However, you could not get two environments more different than the Sonoran Desert and the highlands of Cape Breton. Perhaps better than any design team working today, Coore and Crenshaw have shown the ability to create magnificent golf courses from virtually any type of topography. One of their first projects was the Plantation Course at Kapalua which is one of my top 10 favourites, not the least of which is the reason that I get to see it every year at the Tournament of Champions that kicks off the PGA season each year. They are also responsible for other Top 100 in the World courses Te Arai South in New Zealand, Sand Hills in Nebraska, Friar’s Head in New York, Prairie Dunes in Kansas, Shanquin Bay in China, Bandon Trails at Bandon Dunes, Oregon and Lost Farm at Barndougle, Tasmania. So if you manage to land Coore and Crenshaw to build you a golf course you know you are going to get something special.
Driving to We-Ko-Pa from Scottsdale you pass one housing development after another, many with their own golf course meandering its way between the homes. Then suddenly the signs of development disappear and you are truly in the Sonoran Desert having crossed into the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation. Gone are the McDonald’s and KFCs, replaced by saguaro and cholla cacti. The entrance to the golf courses is on a private road that wends its way up the parking lot and clubhouse.
As you would expect at a facility of this kind there is a well stocked pro shop and an excellent practice facility with great views of the mountains that surround the course in all four directions.
But we’re not here to practice, but to play, so let’s head to the Saguaro course at We-Ko-Pa and find out what Coore and Crenshaw have done to make it another one of their unique golf experiences.
I shouldn’t neglect a comment on the golf carts at We-Ko-Pa. They are absolute state of the art with perhaps the most comfortable seats I’ve ever sat on in a golf cart. Alison agrees.
By modern standards the Saguaro course at We-Ko-Pa is not overly long, topping out at 6,966 from the tips. It was not built for professional tournament play, but rather as an experience not just for the scratch golfer, but the average golfer as well. I will be playing from the whites at 6,252 yards and Alison from the forward tees at 5,061 yards. I’ve said this time and again – don’t ruin your game by trying to play from tees that are too long for your game. I want to approach par fours with nothing longer than a five hybrid or less, not a friggin’ wood.
Ok, let’s head to the first tee.
Saguaro We-Ko-Pa #1 – 426 Yard Par Four
Well right off the bat I have to shelve any idea of reaching this green in two with anything less than a wood. However, given the elevation and the fact that it plays downhill, the length is not as daunting as the yardage suggests. But before teeing off, let’s just enjoy what we’re looking at – a golf hole and the Sonoran Desert and no other distractions. No houses, no phone towers, no nothing to take away from just enjoying a round of golf in an exceptional environment.
Also note that the fairways are immaculate surrounded by a generous very light rough and then sand.
It took me a while until I noticed this. It’s not on the first hole, but it’s a good illustration of another feature that Coore and Crenshaw have incorporated at the Saguaro course at We-Ko-Pa. You can walk the course if you want, unlike virtually ever other desert course where carts are necessary to traverse huge distances between holes.
Suffice it say that I did not reach the first green in two and had to settle for a bogey.
Saguaro #2 – 288 Yard Par
On #2 we go from Mutt to Jeff with this itty par four that requires precision off the tee with bunkers lining both sides of the fairway. No need for a driver here, just keep it in play with a wood or hybrid and you should have this left for the approach.
You can see that I landed it short of the farthest bunker on the left leaving a wedge into a small green with a dramatic drop off at the back. This is one of the view times you might consider a bump and run to control the distance. After #1, this hole comes as a nice respite and is a genuine birdie opportunity.
Saguaro We-Ko-Pa #3 – 362 Yard Par Four
At #3 you get the first medium length par four with a generous landing area allowing for a little extra zip on the drive. Don’t get distracted by the panoply of different desert plants to be found on this hole.
A good drive should reward one with this approach shot to what appears to be an elevated green due to the swail between the lie and the green. However, that’s a bit of an optical illusion so don’t be tempted to take too much club on the second shot.
The greens on the Saguaro course are TifDwarf Bermuda which is basically a very heat tolerant hybrid that is fairly standard on many of the Phoenix area courses. I have to admit to being remiss in not getting a good photo of any of the greens during my round. I blame that on the fact that they are not only in such good condition that you never notice any bad patches, but also that they are extremely fair. By that I mean that they are not tricked up either by being way too fast or by having undulations that border on the ridiculous. In my experience playing top courses around the world, the idea is not to punish you for reaching a green in regulation by making the putting so difficult that three putts are the norm. Instead, most of the challenge should come getting to the green. Don’t get me wrong, the greens on the Saguaro course are not pushovers, and there will probably be some three putts in the round, but you won’t be pulling your hair out like I have on some other modern courses.
Saguaro #4 – 595 Yard Par Five
This is the #1 stroke hole on the Saguaro course at We-Ko-Pa and by any standards it is a monster. The tee shot is effectively blind with a bunker in the right side of the fairway just about where most right handers would land. Fortunately I am a lefty and my ball flight goes right to left and cleared the ridge to leave this gorgeous view for the downhill second shot.
Still even with a very good drive and second shot I was left with this approach of over 150 yards, now uphill again.
This is a good hole to have in the rear view mirror and like #1, bogey is no disgrace here.
Saguaro We-Ko-Pa #5 – 146 Yard Par Three
The first par three plays uphill to one of the largest greens on the course that has a false front between the two traps. You will need to take more club than the distance suggests to avoid rolling back down. It’s a lovely golf hole framed by the Superstition Mountains in the background.
Saguaro #6 – 380 Yard Par Four
#6 starts off with this uphill blind tee shot that is a much more severe version of the tee shot on #4. The fairway slants sharply right to left pushing drives that are not aimed far enough to the right towards the bunkers on the left side.
Assuming you have avoided the bunkers and cleared the crest of this hole you get this look for the second shot. This is a seriously crowned green making for probably the toughest second shot on the front nine. On the other hand, there’s an exhilaration that comes in the challenge of taking this shot. If you succeed, high fives all around. If you don’t, well you tried.
Saguaro We-Ko-Pa #7 – 290 Yard Par Four
All I could say to myself when I came to this tee box was “Yikes!” Fortunately the GPS on the golf cart gave me a good idea of where to aim and knowing that it was very short I just used a five wood to keep the ball in play.
Getting over the ridge I realized that there was a ton of room on this hole and that maybe I should have hit driver. The extra distance would have made it easier to contend with the five traps that protect this smallish green. However, big hitters could easily find one of the bunkers off the tee and then this hole could quickly become a nightmare.
Saguaro #8 – 482 Yard Par 5
Coore and Crenshaw don’t let up on the blind tee shots with this fairly long carry to a hole that plays uphill all the way making it almost as difficult as #4 in terms of length. But, just standing on this tee box who cares? This hole is a simply beautiful thing to look at and might be the epitome of desert golf done properly.
This is a real tricky tee shot for me with my right to left ball flight potentially bringing the traps into play. Fortunately by taking my ball down the right edge of the fairway I did avoid them and once again found a much more doable second shot that left me with this approach. This is a severely sloped back-to-front green so you do not want to be above the hole here. If you can stay below the hole on your approach then this might even become a birdie hole.
No. 8 Approach
Saguaro We-Ko-Pa #9 – 121 Yard Par Three
Although only 121 yards this par three is no pushover. Once again you have a back-to-front slanted green so you want to be below the hole, but that requires avoiding the trap immediately in front of the flag. On other locations it would bring the other traps into play. Club selection is everything on the finishing hole on the front.
This hole is also a good place to admire the award winning architecture of the Saguaro Grille which incorporates traditional Yavapai themes in a harmonious way with the surrounding Sonoran Desert. Described as a ‘halfway house with attitude’ on the course website, I have to agree.
BTW those specks you see on the fairway are ground doves. Expect to see at least three different kinds of doves on the course along with Gambel’s quail and Gila woodpeckers. And of course those two famous Sonoran desert rivals, Wile E. Coyote and his never to be caught nemesis, Roadrunner.
Here’s Wile E. skulking around one of the greens.
And here’s Mr. Roadrunner wisely hanging out a few holes away.
Playing the Saguaro course at We-Ko-Pa is more than about just the golf. The flora and fauna that you will encounter along the way are a significant enhancement to the total experience. OK, let’s tackle the back nine.
Saguaro #10 – 306 Yard Par Four
The back nine starts with this gorgeous looking short downhill par four. There is trouble to the left and right, but without the need for a driver, you should be able to keep it in play. That seems simple enough which is what I did. Big mistake.
I got distracted by the roadrunner on this hole and forgot to take a photo of the approach shot. The front of the green has a huge bunker stretching almost the entire length of it, sometimes called a Lion’s Mouth feature that forces one to come in with a high approach shot. This will be a challenge if you don’t have enough length on you tee shot. Unfortunately for me, I found out this the hard way. So the best plan is to risk hitting a driver and not opt to chicken out.
This is a very subtle par four that plays more difficult than it’s #14 stroke rating.
Saguaro We-Ko-Pa #11 – 176 Par Three
This is rated the easiest hole on the Saguaro course at We-Ko-Pa and as long as you avoid the bunkers on the right it should be no problem. It does play a bit uphill, but again the green slants downward back-to-front which means don’t be tempted by the uphill nature to take too much club. Anything out to the left side, even if a bit short, should enable most golfers to get down in two.
Saguaro #12 – 423 Yard Par Four
This hole presents the longest challenge from tee to fairway on the Saguaro course at We-Ko-Pa, but the good news is that as you can see the fairway is very wide. This is definitely a grip it and rip it hole.
However, the length is still going to make it difficult to reach in two for most of those playing from the white tees. Even with my longest drive of the day I was not about to challenge that huge bunker in front of the green. So I just laid up and was content to accept a bogey rather than risk worse by going for it.
Saguaro We-Ko-Pa #13 – 417 Yard Par Four
#13 presents the second very challenging par four in a row. It too requires a good drive to even have a hope of getting home in two. There is one small bunker to be avoided on the drive which shouldn’t be a problem. Even so this is where I ended up in two. Not a particularly tough up and down, but I did come away with another bogey.
Saguaro #14 – 513 Yard Par Five
This is certainly the most unusual and I think challenging hole on the Saguaro course at We-Ko-Pa. There are actually two completely different fairways on this hole with mesquite trees and tumbleweeds in between them. You have a choice as to which to play and I picked the wrong one. I chose to go straight ahead because it looked easier than going down the left side. The only trouble off the tee would be to be unlucky enough to hit one of those saguaros, which judging from the balls embedded in them was not uncommon.
The only problem with going down the right side is that the fairway ends and you have a significant carry on the second shot to reach the left hand fairway. You also can’t see the green from this side either. The smart play would have been to take my lumps and just make sure I got to the left fairway, but I tried to cut off too much and for the first time of the day found myself in real trouble. My suggestion for anyone playing this hole for the first time is “Go left, young man”. Don’t be fooled by the seeming allure of the right hand side.
Saguaro We-Ko-Pa #15 – 209 Yard Par Three
At first glance this seems to be a long, tough par three, but with today’s pin placement and this right to left slanted green a well struck tee shot aimed at the right front of the green will feed right down to the pin. It would be a much tougher hole if the pin were at the left front, but after the disaster on #14 I’m not complaining. The final par three on the Saguaro course at We-Ko-Pa was probably my favourite as it has such a natural flow with more wonderful desert and mountain views behind it.
Saguaro #16 – 290 Yard Par Four
For some reason I almost always forget to photograph one hole during my round and on the Saguaro course at We–Ko-Pa it was the 16th. I have borrowed this photo with permission from the folks at GolfCourseGurus.com who have a really great website with an amazing collection of course photos from around the world.
This is another blind tee shot at Saguaro and I think breaks the record of blind shots I recall at Kapalua. Once over the crest you are have a difficult approach to a small green protected by bunkers on both sides. The first time you play this hole it’s probably wise to keep the driver in the bag, but I suspect on a repeat play the driver would come out and you might get pretty close to the green.
Saguaro We-Ko-Pa #17 – 358 Yard Par Four
This probably the most ‘normal’ of the par fours at the Saguaro course at We-Ko-Pa in that it’s medium length and relatively straightforward. You will get some good roll if you can clear that small ridge leaving an approach shot something like this. You also get a ‘holy shit’ moment when you crest that ridge and see that this is anything but just another hohum par four. Coore and Crenshaw don’t do those. This is a truly remarkable second shot and I can’t imagine how tough it would be if the pin was behind the bunker. It’s also another example of the immaculate conditioning of this course.
Saguaro #18 – 470 Yard Par Four
The Saguaro course at We-Ko-Pa starts of with a very difficult hole and ends with an even harder one. I wasn’t happy to see yet another blind tee shot and it’s a very long way to the top of that hill. Forget about getting home in two. I considered myself lucky to have this for my third shot. I used the old Greg Norman trick of putting off the green with wood and by some miracle almost holed it.
The Saguaro course at We-Ko-Pa simply begs to be played a second time. Not only because it’s a fantastic design, but because I think once you know what you can and cannot do on those blind tee shots it would improve your strategy and your score. You would also know to avoid the right fairway on #14.
While I’m heading to Starr Pass in Tucson for my next round I will definitely return to We-Ko-Pa given half a chance.