The Verrado Golf Club, long known to Valley golfers as the best course west of the 101 freeway, and among the top 10 in all the Phoenix area, is now known for two great courses.

The Victory course designed by Tom Lehman is the second 18-hole championship golf course to hit the Verrado Community. Verrado Golf Club’s Founders Course opened in January of 2004 and over the years has become one of the Arizona’s most well-known favorites. Lehman and then-design partner John Fought can take credit for the Founders, which has garnered accolades from many national golf magazines. Most recently, GolfWeek’s list of top 100 Courses You Can Play, included the Verrado’s Founders at No. 4 in Arizona. Both the new Victory and Founders courses are located in Buckeye, AZ, just a short drive from Downtown Phoenix, Sky Harbor Airport, and not far from the North Scottsdale area. 

The Founder’s Course and the Victory Course both sport desert-style layouts, with rugged terrain bordering the fairways. Hitting the ball straight down the middle is key for both experiences. Those familiar with the wide fairways on the Founder’s Course will be equally satisfied with the exceptionally forgiving landing areas on the Victory Course. Golfers who have played both describe the Founder’s Course as the more challenging of the two with longer more difficult approach shots to greens that, although receptive, can repel errant shots. Victory just “feels easier and looks much more open than Founder’s,” they say.

Lehman describes the Victory course as “giving you something unique and different, with a theme of being a surreally beautiful, rugged rock environment with immaculately maintained fairways and greens running throughout.” 

“Victory was built upon the land that was given to us, if that’s a cliff or a nob or a boulder or a drop-off or a sudden rise up the mountain,” Lehman said. “The terrain is all-natural, so it looks like it’s been built right into the land. In fact, there’s no other golf course in Arizona that is quite like it.

Some of the most unique holes at Victory include the drivable par 4 14th hole. The hole is reachable from virtually all tee boxes and must be played strategically as there is little room for error on a layup shot, with a large rock wall traversing the middle of the fairway, creating a menace to poorly executed layups. The green is long and receptive, so take this opportunity to pull driver or 3-wood and let one go! 

The toughest hole on the course, the long par-4 ninth hole will be etched in your mind for a long, long time.  Playing as long as 489 yards, No. 9 will challenge the best tee shots with a fairway that slopes from left to right and beckons balls to the desert. Regardless of handicap, most golfers will have a long iron or even a hybrid to the well-protected green. Short left is the miss on this hole as the entire right side, from the front of the green all the way around the right side is protected by a huge bunker.  

Out on the Founder’s Course the challenges come often on both nines. The No. 2 hole is a mid-length par 4 with a generous landing area off the tee. The trouble comes into play on the second shot with a carry over a deep desert ravine to a green that slopes left to right and has a dramatic drop-off if shots go long.  Hole No. 4 is a real challenge, but No 8 is a long, 488-yard par 4 up the hill and usually into the wind! Play this one safe and try to salvage par. The back nine presents its toughest challenge on the 18th, but a few holes will require all you’ve got if you’re going to make par. The uphill, par-4 12th proves to be a great test both off the tee – look out for the bunker dead center of the fairway – and the approach shot. This green flows sharply from back to front, so make sure you’re putting below the cup.  Enjoy the view from the 18th tee box, which looks out over the entire Valley, then dig deep with your best tee shot and well stuck iron shot.  Avoid the lake on the right and the two bunkers left of the green.   

Both courses end with a crescendo, meaning it’s now time to kick back and enjoy a cold beverage and some great food. The Cliff House at the Victory Course with its amazing view across the Valley is the perfect place for such a capper. The Cliff House offers open air dining with a classic menu of burgers, pastas and salads. The Verrado Grille offers a beautiful patio to enjoy sunsets and indoor dining in a rustic clubhouse. The menu offers something for every palate.

For more information about Arizona’s best combo out west, visit www.verradogolfclub.com where you can book tee times out as far as 60 days!