Pinnacle Peak Country Club is one of those golf courses that looks completely out of place in the area it is located. Arizona is known for desert golf courses that have forced carries and lots of barren land surrounding them. Pinnacle Peak is an old-school golf course that caters to its members. They realize that sometimes grass is better to hit from than desert.

From the road it is very difficult to see the golf course. The entrance to the golf course is well hidden and promotes an air of privacy as you enter the parking lot. The practice grounds at the golf course are large and equipped to handle any type of shot a player would need to practice.

Heading out to the first tee, the first thing that comes to mind is the size of the teeing grounds. The first hole is a par-5 of medium length, but the tees are located right near the pond that guards the 9th hole. Most golf courses around the country have huge, expansive tees, but this first hole had one of the smallest tees I have ever seen.

Looking down the first fairway, the player is confronted with large, mature trees that force the player to shape the ball. This is different than many of the golf courses found in the area. The lack of water usually dictates the type of plants that will grow, but Pinnacle Peak has done a great job of keeping trees on the course.

There is a bunker on the front of the first green that must be carried in order to find the green. Only the longest of hitters will be able to reach this green in two shots. The best play is to lay-up to about 90 yards from the green and attack the pin from this location.

The greens are very receptive to a well-hit shot. The most difficult part of missing a green is the thick rough that surrounds them. Bermuda grass is used everywhere on the golf course and the ball has a tendency to find the bottom of this punishing grass. The player is better-off missing the green in areas that get less water where the grass is thinner.

Although Pinnacle Peak is not a very long golf course, measuring in at only slightly over 6,800 yards, it's no push-over. The mature trees can cause havoc with a shot hit off-line. Many of the holes also have out-of-bounds areas that come into play in the most unusual spots. Keep your guard up and plan your shots accordingly.

The 11th hole is one of the longest par-3's on the golf course. Over 200 yards from the back tee, hitting a long iron into this green is a crap shoot at best. There is a massive bunker on the front of the green and par will be made difficult from this trap.

Even with all the hot weather in Scottsdale, this golf course was in great condition. Keeping golf courses healthy is a daunting task for superintendents. The greens were very quick and the fairways had very few of the brown spots that are typically found in this area during the summer.

Pinnacle Peak Country Club has grass from wall to wall and has a definite country club feel. This is a great golf course for the family and a great way to hone your game.

Great Golf in Arizona
When it comes to PGA Tour caliber golf Arizona plays host to events early and late in the year. One of the reasons is the great weather that this part of the country enjoys. While most people are busy shoveling snow off their cars and deciding which

TPC Scottsdale improves the Stadium Course
The TPC Scottsdale Stadium golf course was specifically designed to host the FBR Open on the PGA Tour. Each year more than 500,000 fans line the fairways to watch the best golfers in the world compete in the desert. This golf tournament is the

The Boulders Golf Resort is no Pile of Rocks
The Boulders Golf Resort is located in an area of Carefree, Arizona that is littered with boulders of all shapes and sizes. Many of them form massive piles that appear as if they could tumble down upon any unsuspecting golfer. The South Course at