WILDFIRE
Two Courses Worlds Apart: Wildfire Golf Course

Faldo Course: Par: 71; Yardage: 5,245-6,844
Palmer Course: Par: 72; Yardage: 4,915-7,145

Arnold Palmer's people built the first golf course at Wildfire in 1997 on the Phoenix-Scottsdale, Arizona border, and Nick Faldo's folks assembled the second course five years later. They are a perfect compliment to each other, as nothing about the Palmer course resembles the Faldo. Palmer is a desert style course of champion length, with generous fairways and large, bent grass greens. It also features between four and six tee boxes on every hole, challenging all levels of golfing skill. The golf course winds through the rugged Sonoran desert and offers stunning views of the McDowell Mountains, Camelback Mountains and Piestewa Peak.

The Faldo Course sits on a 174-acre site and offers a slight variation from typical desert layouts. It features generous fairways, large bent greens and generous tee boxes. The surrounding mountains and century- saguaro cacti, as well as the 106 sand bunkers make the Faldo Course reminiscent of the great Australian sand belt courses. This course provides a memorable experience that golfers will not soon forget.

Todd Massie's Tip: Wildfire golf is spreading like its name in popularity. Both courses are spectacular, but if you have bunker-phobia, stick with Arnie. For upscale golf, the course is priced right although you might be misled by its opulent clubhouse and 19th hole, The Meritage Steakhouse.