The Westin Kierland Golf Club has a knack for keeping golf cool in more than ways than one. With its motorized GolfBoards, golf bikes, Segways – and golf carts installed with misters to cool the air – there’s no better place in the Valley to enjoy a summer round of golf.

Nancy Dickens, Club Manager at The Westin Kierland Golf Club, says she believes many golfers are looking for fun, new ways to enjoy the game through innovative programs and products.

“We’re all about being unique, innovative and fun. These amenities are another opportunity for us to make golf even more enjoyable and can assist those who may want to trim the time it takes to play a round,” she said.  

That dedication to its guest experience has earned The Westin Kierland Golf Club a host of accolades including one that Dickens particularly enjoys: inclusion in Golf Digest’s list of “Nine Most Cheerful Courses in America,” and Golf Advisor’s Top 10 Public Golf Courses in Phoenix/Scottsdale.

Two of the options for getting around the course, the Club’s GolfBoards and golf bikes that were added to its existing fleet of Segways, not only help to create a unique golf experience but also can dramatically speed up pace of play, an extra benefit in the heat of summertime.  

“While they are fun to use all year round, they’re ideal for summer golf,” Dickens said. “You can cruise around the course in about half the time of a traditional round.” 

GolfBoards feature four-wheel-drive, posi-traction mobility that ensures traction on even steep hills and allows golfers to traverse the course more quickly and easily, reducing pace of play. The GolfBoard’s stability handle has storage space for clubs as well as controls for speed, but as with snowboarding or surfing, the rider uses body motion to guide the GolfBoard’s steering. Complementing the Resort’s Kierland FlowRider wave simulator, at which resort guests can “surf” in the desert, the easy-to-learn GolfBoards allow golfers to “surf the earth” in a manner similar to water surfing, snowboarding or skateboarding.

At a maximum 10 miles per hour, that swift movement also helps to keep golfers a bit cooler – at least on the motorized GolfBoards and Segways. While the specially designed golf bikes may not offer as much speed, they can provide a great workout, particularly on the Club’s hilly Acacia nine. Designed to create minimal impact on the course and maximum fun and fitness for the golfer, the bicycles feature small-diameter wheels and wide rubber tires and have two custom-designed golf bags mounted to the rear of the bike to carry a full set of clubs. 

With innovation in its DNA and guest experience top of mind, the Club first introduced cooling systems on its golf carts in 2006 and remains one of the few courses in the country to showcase climate-controlled golf. The patented system directs cool air onto the guests and reduces the all-around temperature inside the cart by as much as 15 to 20 degrees. 

“As you can imagine, our guests really appreciate the ability to use the misters when they are golfing in the summer. It just makes the experience more enjoyable when our temperatures begin to climb,” Dickens said.

Plus, the course is one of only a handful locally to feature a canopy system on its outdoor driving range that allows guests to practice in the shade.

Located in the heart of Scottsdale, The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa has brought together 27 holes of perfectly manicured Scott Miller - designed golf with a world-class resort boasting a variety of amenities including the full-service spa, Agave, The Arizona Spa and 10 unique dining venues. 

For those who may want to enjoy a round of golf with a cool dip in the pool to follow, The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa offers a variety of seasonal room and ‘staycation’ package options. The Big Chill package, available through September 4, includes a one-night stay and the choice of either two complimentary sessions on the Kierland FlowRider or a $50 per night dining credit. On Friday nights through Labor Day Weekend, the Resort will host a “Freezin’ Friday” glow party at the pool until 10 p.m. with open riding on the Kierland FlowRider, snow flurries, arctic-themed lighting and light displays at the pool, the waterslide and lazy river, and live music. What could be a better way to top off a summer round of golf?

The Westin Kierland Golf Club “At A Glance”
15636 N Clubgate Drive, Scottsdale, AZ 85254
Golf Reservations: www.kierlandgolf.com
480.922.9283

Club Manager: Nancy Dickens, CGCS
Head Golf Professional: Tyler Haynes, PGA

Golf Sales Manager: Jeremy Hornbeck
Managed by Troon Golf

Courses: 
Ironwood – 9 Holes, Par 36, 2552-3539 yards
Acacia – 9 Holes, Par 36, 2433-3435 yards
Mesquite – 9 Holes, Par 36, 2465-3478 yards

Architect: Scott Miller
Summer golf rates range from $33 to $74
Preferred rates offered to Troon Cardholders

Book online at www.kierlandgolf.com for the Best Available Rate

Brittlebush Bar & Grill
Open 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily