Wildfire Golf Club (Palmer course)

JW Marriott's Wildfire Golf Club is an excellent quality public-access facility, which boasts two, pleasantly contrasting and picturesque 18-hole layouts. Both the Faldo and Palmer courses lay down an excellent test of golf, each one handsomely crafted by the respective golfing legend whose name it bears.

The Palmer Signature Course plays up to 7,145 yards, providing a desert-style golf experience. The Palmer layout has a different feel than the adjoining Faldo course, but you'll spark plenty of debate if you ask the members which is the better of the two.

The Palmer is perhaps a little more challenging with some tighter drives to be made and "wash" areas cutting across several fairways. Errant drives often find the penal scrub which typically lines the fairways, not least on holes like the testing par-5 14th, never an easy proposition even if you know the course. In contrast the Faldo creates a slightly more forgiving feel, although it does possess the more prodigious bunkering.

The greens on the Palmer are notoriously large and undulating, playing as well and as true as any you'll find in the Scottsdale area. Housing typically only flanks one-side of the holes on the Palmer, and is generally set-well back out of harm's way. Gratifyingly, the "turn" on each of the nine-hole loops pushes out into the open desert, offering the best of the McDowell Mountain views.

Stay&Play at Wildfire: luxury onsite accommodation available, see Where2Stay section below.