5692 W. North Loop Rd,
Chandler, Arizona 85226
Office
+1 (480) 940 1500Pro shop
+1 (480) 940 1500Fax
+1 (520) 796 8260Website
Visit websiteGolf pro
Brandon Gordon (Head Golf Professional)The Course:
18 holes. Desert-style. Relatively flat terrain - easy to walk.
Surroundings:
Desert environment.
Designer:
Gary Panks
Above distances are for the Devil's Claw course. Also at Whirlwind GC is the 18-hole Cattail course (par-72; 7334 yards from back tees).
33.278129
-111.988171
16 miles S of Phoenix
From I-10 in the south-east of Phoenix (below Tempe, Chandler and the intersection with the south-western end of the 202-Loop) take exit 162 and head west on Wild Horse Pass Blvd. After 3 miles turn left into Whirlwind Golf Club.
Whirlwind (Devil's Claw)
Whirlwind Golf Club at Wild Horse Pass boasts two top-quality championship layouts, almost identical twins, with only subtle differences between them. The Devil's Claw is the shorter of the two courses, but still a wonderful challenge at a fraction over 7000 yards from the tips.
Like its sibling, the Cattail, the surrounding terrain is essentially flat Sonoran desert, however course designer Gary Panks has ensured the Devil's Claw is full of pleasantly rolling fairways and many golfing challenges. The "Claw" may at times be more forgiving than the slightly tighter Cattail, but its stylish fairway and greenside bunkering pose many sandy threats, while stony desert terrain awaits anything hit too far offline.
Water puts in only two appearances, at the par-3 7th and again at the par-3 12th. The 7th is flanked by an attractive cascading water feature, giving the hole its name - Dragonfly Falls. The long par-4 11th, although bunkerless, is another fabulous hole. Called Rattlesnake ("Avehan") and first viewed from a slightly elevated tee, its the toughest hole on the back-nine, with the entire roller-coaster fairway sloping into the deepest dry canyon on the course.
Although marginally less scenic beyond the course than the Cattail, the Devil's Claw, with its impressive bunkering, open desert terrain and top-quality maintenance has all the ingredients for a thoroughly enjoyable and testing round. Real estate is conspicuous by its absence on or around the course.
Stay&Play at Whirlwind: luxury onsite accommodation available, see Where2Stay section below.
Visitors welcome on weekdays and weekends.
Must book in advance.
Walking permitted.
Excellent
Whirlwind is located on part of the Gila River Indian Reservation, whose inhabitants were originally desert farmers, called Akimel O’othom. The Spanish gave them a name which is still used today, Pima.
These American Indian desert farmers were very skilled at creating irrigation systems for their crops, diverting the waters of the Gila River into canals. They were joined on this land by the Pee Posh (Maricopa) tribe.
The Gila River rises in western New Mexico and flows across Arizona, skirting the south of Phoenix, before joining into the Colorado River near Yuma. The Gila is one of the largest desert rivers in the world. In the past it, and its main tributary the Salt River, would both carry large volumes of water; however, irrigation and municipal water diversions have turned both into largely dry rivers.
5594 West Wild Horse Pass Boulevard, Chandler, AZ 85226
+1 (602) 225 0100
Visit websiteLocated just 11 miles from Phoenix Sky Harbor International airport on the ancient Gila River Indian Community, this 500-room Sheraton resort was designed to be an authentic representation of the Gila River Indian Community's heritage and culture.
The architecture, design, art and legends of the Pima (Akimel O'othom) and Maricopa (Pee Posh) tribes are celebrated in every detail imaginable, indoors and out, at this Sheraton resort. In addition to the hotel and Whirlwind golf courses, Wild Horse Pass also offers the Native American Aji Spa, Koli Equestrian Center and the Wild Horse Pass Casino.
Whirlwind (Cattail and Devil's Claw courses)
No
Ocotillo; Legacy Resort; Raven at South Mountain; ASU Karsten; Papago; The Phoenician.
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