On a recent trip I made to the Scottsdale area I had the chance to play at the Camelback Inn. There are two golf course on this property, the Indian Bend and Padre golf courses. I chose to play the Padre course. This golf course was designed by Arthur Hills so I went in with high expectations.

I was not disappointed. Stretching out to over 6,900 yards from the back tee, this golf course was a great test of golf. This course is not the typical desert style golf course that you will often play in Arizona. Instead this golf course was more like the local country club you might play at home. I was impressed by the mature trees that lined many of the fairways and gave the course some character.

Driving is very important on this golf course. Many of the par-4's have bunkers that have been placed to catch even a slightly wayward shot. The front nine starts out with a very demanding hole. At 482 yards this is the longest par-4 on the course. You will need to hit a great drive in order to get home in two shots on this hole.

With the first hole out of the way you can sit back and enjoy the rest of the golf course. Be careful of the water hazards that surround some of the greens. Both of the par-5's on the front nine have water around the greens. The par-5 ninth hole is a great way to finish out the front nine. If you hit it far enough you will have to make a decision about going for the green. I would recommend being aggressive on this hole, there is ample room to miss the ball to the left. The water comes in to play only if you hit a slice into the hole. A birdie on this hole will be a great way to end the front nine.

The golf course was in fantastic condition. It was extremely green and had very defined cuts between the rough and fairways. The bunkers had lots of sand in them that made them very consistent. I was pleasantly surprised at how fast the greens were rolling. In addition to being fast they were also very smooth. Although there was not a lot of undulation on them, they did have some subtle breaks.

As you head to the back nine you are again faced with a very challenging starting hole. The 10th hole is a 432 yard par-4. There are bunkers down the right side of the fairway which need to be avoided. In order to get to the green in regulation you will need to place your ball in the fairway.

Eighteen is a great hole to finish on. This long par-5 has water that hugs the left side of the fairway near the green. Only the longest of hitters will have a chance at going for this green in two. When you are hitting your shot into the green be sure to take a little extra club to ensure you find the green. For some reason this approach shot seems to be slightly uphill.

I was very impressed by the staff and golf course at Camelback Golf Club. The amenities they offer make for a great day. The GPS system is very accurate and colorful. Although this course doesn't offer the typical Arizona Desert experience it is a great way to start a golfing trip in Arizona. Use this course as a warm up for some of the other challenging golf courses you will play.

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