Golf in Gilbert

Described by Peoria Pines’ golf pros as a “power executive” course, Peoria Pines’ 18-hole course presents a scaled-down, 4,412-yard, par 63 layout. The truncated course challenges golfers’ iron play with 11 par 3s, while two lengthy par 5s—which measure 510 and 527 yards—give players an excuse to send golf balls flying with their driver or covert water-balloon launchers. The player-friendly course rests alongside a practice facility with a grass-tee driving range and areas for chipping, putting, and bunker shots.

Views of the course abound from The Palm Room, where executive chef Matt D’Arnese crafts a menu of gourmet pasta, chicken, beef, and fish. The banquet hall provides a postround respite for golfers to unwind with a drink from the full-service bar or a chance to assess white tablecloths’ utility as a putting surface.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 63 layout
• Length of 4,412 yards from the farthest tees
• Course rating of 61.1 from the farthest tees
• Slope rating of 100 from the farthest tees
• Three tee options

A 6,641-yard layout sculpted into pond-speckled parkland terrain draws in golfers at Villa de Paz Golf Club's 18-hole course. Throughout the round, golfers will have to prove that their swing is impervious to water hazards, which come into play on 10 holes. Players and husky groundhogs encounter the most difficult hole at the fourth tee box, where a tree-lined fairway dog-legs sharply to the right on its way to a green guarded by a pond in front. Before their round, clubbers can warm up their swings at Villa de Paz's driving range, which has two tiers to accommodate heavy swing-honing traffic and separate territorial head covers.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 72 course

• Length of 6,641 yards from the farthest tees

• Course rating of 70.1 from the farthest tees

• Slope rating of 123 from the farthest tees

• Three tee options

Designed by golf course architect Red Lawrence, Tres Rios Golf Course plots a 6,846-yard path through the lush foliage of Estrella Mountain Park. The 18-hole course is populated with budding eucalyptus trees and relatively sparse groves of mesquite and pine trees. The 471-yard, par-4 13th hole presents a lengthy dogleg left where sentient tree branches gobble up tee shots that drift into the rough on the right. Golfers can prepare for the round by warming up swings at Tres Rios's grass driving range or putting and chipping balls at the practice green.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par-71 course
• Length of 6,846 yards from the farthest tees
• Course rating of 71.4 from the farthest tees
• Slope rating of 121 from the farthest tees
• Four tee options
• Scorecard

Over the course of a professional golf career dating back to 1990, PGA Teaching Professional Ken Carpenter has developed a talent for helping students of all stripes, from beginners to tour players on both the Nationwide and LPGA Tours. Today, Ken applies his teaching skills at Westin Kierland Golf Club, tweaking swings to address unnecessary backswing hitches and under-rotating hip turns that might be sacrificing distance off the tee or Olympic pommel-horse dismounts. Ken can incorporate video technology into the lessons to break down swing mechanics in order to play back in slow motion or pause to illustrate how much a divot resembles a silhouette of Rory McIlroy.

Recipient of a 4.5-star rating and distinction as having the best guest service in North America as judged by Golf Digest, Raven Golf Club immerses enthusiasts in an oasis of golf amid the rolling hills and desert just north of South Mountain State Park. Georgia pine trees line many of the fairways on the 18-hole course, forming an evergreen buffer between the emerald turf within bounds and the unforgiving desert sands beyond. Though the tree boughs may prevent mishits from getting swallowed by a rattlesnake that thinks the ball is an Easter egg, players must still negotiate with numerous fairway bunkers strewn about the Gary Panks and David Graham design. On the resort's signature hole, hole 5, players are often forced to lay up short of the six fairway bunkers, leaving a tricky iron shot into a slippery two-tiered green.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 72 course
• Total length of 7,078 yards from the back tees
• Course rating of 72.8 from the back tees
• Course slope of 130 from the back tees
• Four sets of tees per hole
• Designed by Gary Panks and David Graham