Located in the heart of the desert, Phoenix Country Club boasts an extraordinary 18-hole golf course. It is one of the jewels of the City of Phoenix and definitely not to be missed.
This magnificent course, which opened in the year 1916, sits on 400 acres of lush fairways and spectacular mountain views. It is considered to be one of the greatest golf courses in the United States. With its flat, well-maintained fairways and large greens, it is an ideal course for anyone to enjoy. There is also a nine-hole, par 3 course for the less-experienced golfer.
So what is the scorecard like at this exceptional golf course? Let’s take a look.
Table of Contents
The Overall Scoring System
The overall scoring system at Phoenix Country Club is based on the number of strokes a player uses. Each hole is worth one point in the leaderboard, and the amount of strokes used to complete the hole counts as that hole’s score. In order to keep things simple, all tee shots are worth the same, and the course is designed to be played to a par. The total score for the hole is calculated by adding up the scores from each of its components (i.e. number of strokes, lie, and pitch).
For example, a player who is playing with a partner might want to divide the credit for a hole’s score by two since they both contributed to the play. A typical round of golf at this magnificent course will consist of nine holes, although this varies based on the number of teams playing. If the player uses a driver for every shot, it is considered a full 18-hole round. In this case, the round will be over in six and a half hours, and the player will cover the entire course from the first tee to the last hole. The number of strokes will also depend on the number of shots per hole. For instance, a player who is playing an eight-hole round will use four balls per hole, resulting in a total of 32 strokes per hole. If the same player decided to make their ninth hole a par four, it would increase the number of strokes per hole to 36.
Course Record Holders
While most courses require at least an hour to play, and some can take multiple hours, Phoenix Country Club can be played in less than an hour. The record for the fastest round is just 34 minutes, and this was set in 1968 by none other than Charles B. Swartz. This is also the course where Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan, and Jack Nicklaus first met and played some memorable rounds. The course record for most strokes is also held by Charles B. Swartz, and he used a driver for every shot. Back in 1935, Swartz’s record-breaking round consisted of 7-under-par 27, and it stood for nearly 70 years until it was broken by Joe Turney in 1985.
Lowest Score
The lowest score at Phoenix Country Club is also held by Charles B. Swartz, and he needed just 12 strokes to achieve this feat. The course record for the lowest round of golf is currently held by Joe Turney. His score of 12 matched Swartz’s record, and it came in 1973. Like Swartz, Turney used a driver for every shot, and he also made his ninth hole an island green. His record round also featured an unusual double eagle-three-birdie closing hole score.
Most Consecutive Success
Five years ago, in 2010, the golf world was surprised to learn that Jack Nicklaus had not only returned to the game of golf, but had bettered his previous record for the most successful playing streak. Since then, he has gone on to play in 40 consecutive golf tournaments, and he continues to rack up the wins. This was previously held by George Steinmetz, who played in 39 consecutive tournaments from 1925 to 1933 and won 14 of them. What is truly amazing about this accomplishment is that Nicklaus, who was 80 years old at the time, had not only returned to golf, but had bettered his record by several months and continued to play well into his ninth decade.
Trendiest Golfers
Ever wonder who plays the best golf these days? It is no secret that Tiger Woods is one of the greatest ever to lace up the shoes, and people have taken notice. In fact, during one of his rare off-seasons, Woods was even referred to as the King of Latecomers due to his ability to sneak into many tournaments and play well even though he was not officially registered. While he may not always show it, Woods is clearly passionate about golf and continues to play well into his eighties.
The likes of Woods and Nicklaus have inspired numerous golfers to pick up the game, and they have not been afraid to show it on the course. In recent years, numerous tournaments have sprung up solely to identify the greatest golfers of the present day. For example, the CareerBuilder Challenge, founded by Billy Payne, features a prize that is currently worth over one million USD. This was inspired by the Tiger Woods PGA Tour, and it highlights the emerging trend of trying to outdo professional golfers on their home soil.
Most Popular Course
It is impossible to determine which courses are the most popular ones out there, but it is clear that a large number of people in the United States have heard of and/or played at Phoenix Country Club. This is most likely due to its prominent status in the golf world. The course has had an incredible effect on the sport, and it continues to this day to influence young golfers who have watched it on television or played it at one point or another in their lives.