THE RAVEN GOLF CLUB AT SOUTH MOUNTAIN
A Classic Golf Experience: Raven at South Mountain

Par: 72
Yardage: 5,544-7,056

For those who like desert fold without the desert, welcome to the Raven at South Mountain, where 600 pines line the fairways, and a bad lie is rarely found. In fact, some call The Raven the "Shadow Creek of Phoenix," an excellent compliment to its two architects, Gary Panks and David Graham.

The friendly confines of the Raven at South Mountain also offer a fabulous gold experience from the trees, fairways, and greens all the way to the service and comfy clubhouse. Big bold and always in tip-top shape, the Raven spreads its wings with testy front encounters on the back nine.

If there is a starting point, it's the signature seventh hole, a beautiful 200-yard par-3 surrounded by bunkers with water running down the entire left side. From that point on, there is not shortage of signatures, with the 13th, 15th, 16th, 17th,and 18th holes making for one of the best stretches of golf in Arizona. In fact, most people actually believe the 18th, another water-lined beast, is the best of them all.

Todd Massie's Tip: The hustle-bustle of airport traffic is just around the corner, (Sky Harbor is just 10 minutes away,) but here you are in a peaceful sanctuary playing a tremendous golf course. Houses seem to be nonexistent at the Raven at South Mountain, and the course is always in super shape. I like the way it builds to a climax. And the Raven folks are the standard service for the entire golf industry.