Grayhawk Golf Club

It’s time to grab your spikes, clubs and bag and head over to Grayhawk, Golf Digest’s number 7 and 11 on the Best Public Course list, for some of Scottsdale, Arizona’s finest golfing.

Grayhawk features two amazing course experiences: Talon and Raptor.

The Talon course, the first of the two, opened in 1994 and was designed by former PGA and U.S. Open champion David Graham and Gary Panks. It measures 6,973 yards at par 72. It offers large and undulating elevated greens, with several water hazards coming into play as well as one hole with an island green.

The Raptor course, which opened in 1995, was designed by Tom Fazio. It’s not only a little larger par 72 at 7,135 yards, but also a more challenging one. It includes extensive mounding and massive bunkering.

Regardless of which course you choose, both courses at Grayhawk Golf Club offer new meanings to the word ‘eye-candy,’ as they both boast absolutely stunning views of Pinnacle Peak, the McDowell Mountains as well as the Sonoran Desert.

"If you poll our guests, you will find a split -- 50 percent like Talon, 50 percent like Raptor," said Joe Shershenovich, the director of golf at Grayhawk. 

As for where Shershenovich’s allegiances lie, he said he prefers the Raptor's Horace Greeley hole -- a 345-yard, par-4 sixth. "I'm from Pennsylvania, so it reminds me that I came west like Greeley proclaimed."

Unlike many rival golf clubs in United States, remaining independently managed has been the status-quo for Grayhawk. "I think that's one thing folks like about Grayhawk. Whether it is your second or 10th visit, I hear golfers say they like that we have remained familiar,” said Shershenovich.

David Holland of WorldGolf.com calls the Grayhawk experience, “the closest you will come to a real country club atmosphere without forking over $50,000 just for the first payment,”  and we absolutely agree. 

Green Fees go from  $50 to $180 for 18 holes. Regardless of the time of day, or day of the week - that is some serious value.