Wickenburg Ranch Golf Club is located in Wickenburg, AZ. It is about an 80-minute drive from downtown Phoenix. It is located in the northwest section, probably another 30 minutes from Quintero, for the people who know where that is at. Wendell Pickett and Bill Brownlee designed the golf course and community. It is interesting in the fact that this is their first golf course design for the both of them. Wendell Pickett is a very well established landscape architect who has designed many communities. Bill Brownlee is the owner of M3 companies. They have worked together by being part of projects in Arizona and the Western US, and have developed a relationship to form a great golf course. The golf course was built in 2008 and finished in 2009. It sat fully grassed and maintained for 7 years till it officially opened, the developing company wanted to wait out the economic downturn before opening. During this time, minor changes were made to make it the best golf course it possibly could be. In 2014, Shea homes with Trilogy wanted to build their homes on the property and the golf course opened up for everyone to play. It will be a private club in 2018, but till then it is a semi private club to spread the word and let people enjoy the golf course.
Now the course- it is a Par 71, just over 7,000-yard golf course. The back tees are pretty difficult with long carries off the tee, but it has fairly wide fairways and very big greens with multiple undulations. The golf course is built on rolling topography; almost every golf hole has something going on, either uphill or downhill. There are many long views throughout the golf course, that provide looks onto future or previous golf holes that will enhance your experience. I will admit I have worked at many first class properties and the conditions at Wickenburg Ranch are about as good as it gets. The bent grass greens are some of the best you will ever putt on, so true and smooth while being the perfect speed to provide fun putts. I love working here and enjoy every single day of work being on a beautiful piece of property.
Now onto the course
Hole 1 (Par 4) 447yards
Slight dogleg right off the tee, quite an intimidating tee shot right off the bat. The approach to the green is to a slight angled green going from right to left with an upper tier in the back right section
Hole 2 (Par 3) 205 yards
Very fun par 3, it has the kicker slope to be a great redan, but there is a high upper tier on the back left of the green that is only accessible by flying it on there.
Hole 3 (Par 4) 437yards
A tee shot with a centerline bunker that makes the tee shot interesting, it looks more daunting than it is. Should be an easy carry, but to have a good look into the green, one needs to hit their tee shot more right. The more you hug the left, the better chance you have of being blocked out by the ridge. Approach shot into the green is over a wash downhill; if you are a long driver playing from a tee up the hole becomes driveable by taking it over the ridge of desert.
Hole 4 (Par 3) 178yards
The bunkers on the left scare you away from trying to bail out, because the green runs towards the water. Trying to hit a bunker shot or chip shot from the left side of the green is quite a daunting task to just hold the green. Just man up and try to hit the green.
Hole 5 (Par 5) 618 yards
Very tough Par 5, the tee shot plays downhill to the widest fairway on the golf course, but that is about the only easy part. The second shot which will always be a lay up is to a fairway that you want to be to the left as much as possible to set up your third. The third shot is over a wash to a steeply uphill green, you can’t see the pin position or how to play the shot, which makes it very difficult.
Hole 6 (Par 4) 334 yards
One of my favorite golf holes on the course. IMO a very well done short par 4, that provides many options off the tee. If one wants to take a rip at the green they better have enough distance or it will hit the false front and roll back into the beach bunker leaving a very difficult 50 yard uphill bunker shot. The layup IMO is even harder, it needs a perfect straight shot preferably closer to the water to have a straight on look into the green. The more you bail out left, you have to then go over the greenside bunker leaving a tough wedge shot.
Hole 7 (Par 5) 545 yards
My favorite par 5 on the golf course. The view from the tee box is incredible, you not only scan the whole property but the way the hole bends the green reveals itself on the tee shot to the right of the saguaro cactuses. It is definitely a birdie hole, usually downwind and if you cut the corner on the tee shot you will be left with a mid iron in. The shot into the green is over the same wash that cuts in front of 5 green. The green is surrounded by 4 bunkers and has three distinct tiers on it. I love how the fairway tightens up and goes through a shoot.
Hole 8 (Par 3) 192 yards
A raised green that is almost a upside down triangle shape. With the two bunkers on each side of the green, it makes up and downs very hard. Pin positions can get very fun with this hole.
Hole 9 (Par 5) 574 yards
This is by far the most controversial hole on the golf course, people either love it or they hate it. You wont see a golf hole like this anywhere else. The tee shot is downhill to a wide fairway, with a bunker to aim it in the distance. Then the hole climbs straight uphill the rest of the way, when the fairways are cut tight like they are right now, you have the potential you have your ball roll all the way back down if not struck solidly. Most people are blind on their third shots into the green.
