Many superlatives have been spent lauding Scottsdale's status as what many consider the world's consummate golf destination. Little wonder. At last count, sunny Scottsdale was home to nearly 200 fine public, resort and private courses designed by some of the best golf architects in the business. From classic, traditional courses with immaculate greens to target golf, which pits golfers against natural desert challenges such as boulders and cactus, the choices seem endless.

Quite naturally, then, this land of links also has managed to attract the very best of what is associated with the sport, from schools to perfect one's putt to the home base of numerous golf equipment manufacturers. And speaking of home, Scottsdale is the perennial paradise for legendary tournaments such as the Professional Golf Association Tour�s FBR Open (formerly called the Phoenix Open) and is the permanent address for almost 20 nationally known golf pros. While other golf destinations would consider it a major coup to flaunt just one of these facets, for Scottsdale, being on top of the game is just par for the course.

Following are just a few of the golf-themed possibilities that make Scottsdale the king of swing.

Location, Location, Location The diversity of courses in Scottsdale is staggering. From challenging courses that contour to the desert's natural features to traditional links with rolling greens, golfers are treated to seemingly endless options that provide only one problem � where to start. Not only will enthusiasts be treated to the unblemished greens and challenging holes for which Scottsdale is famous, but many of the courses are paired with accommodations and amenities such as professional golf schools and world-class spas that are second to none.

These efforts to provide the best golf experience possible have not gone unnoticed. Upscale lifestyle magazine, The Robb Report, recently ranked Scottsdale as a top golf destination, while tapping The Phoenician as a premier golf resort.

Following is just a peek at the scorecard of a few more of our unparalleled courses:

Named for the majestic boulders that tower over its pristine Sonoran Desert location, The Boulders� Resort course ranks as one of the finest in the world. Accolades such as Golf Magazine's �Gold Medal� and Golf Digest's �Top 25 United States Resorts� only serve to confirm what many aficionados already know � when it comes to breathtaking desert panoramas paired with a signature target golf design, The Boulders reputation is rock solid. The resort's vaunted reputation, combined with the recent addition of The Golden Door Spa, only add to this coveted cachet.

Among the many �must-play� holes and courses in Scottsdale, there is one standout many golfers speak of with reverence � number 14 at Troon North�s Monument course. Voted by Golf Digest one of the �Best 18 Holes You Can Play,� it is the jewel in the course crown. Its equally famous sibling, the Pinnacle course, also has been named one of the best upscale courses in the state, as well as one of the top 10 courses in Arizona.

The Grayhawk Golf Club is home to the Tom Fazio-designed Raptor course, one of the highest rated public courses in the country, and the artfully crafted Talon course by David Graham and Gary Panks. Even the most skilled players will find their shot-making pushed to the edge by holes such as the Raptor�s par-3 Number 8, respectfully known as �Aces & Eights.�

Nestled in the ravines of the McDowell Mountains, the Golf Club at Eagle Mountain is in harmony with nature as it winds through box canyons, rolling hills and lush desert valleys. The award-winning course not only provides a challenging but fair experience on the links, but also is paired with the luxurious Southwest Inn at Eagle Mountain.

Scottsdale's newest offering, the par-72 We-Ko-Pa course, opened in late 2001 to stellar reviews. Set like a green jewel amidst the natural desert setting within the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, the Scott Miller-designed course was named by Sports Illustrated magazine as one of the top 10 new courses in the world. Not bad for a rookie.

Tournament City Scottsdale's idyllic climate make it a natural to host some the country's most important golf tournaments. Home to five major professional golf tours and six of Golf Magazine's top 100 courses, Scottsdale is without peer when it comes to championship levels of the game for pros and spectators alike.

The grand-daddy of them all is the FBR Open (formerly the Phoenix Open), which since 1935 has drawn some of the biggest names in the sport, including Tiger Woods, Tom Watson, Rocco Mediate and Phil Mickelson. Traditionally played in January during Super Bowl weekend at the Tournament Players Club of Scottsdale, the FBR Open is one of the PGA's best known tourneys and its top draw, attracting more than 400,000 people for a week of pro-am events, pro-celebrity shoot-outs and of course nail-biting PGA action.

During March, it is the ladies turn as the LPGA's prestigious Ping Banner Health Tournament gets into swing at Moon Valley. In May, the newly minted Bon Appetit Celebrity Chef Golf Invitational pairs top talents of the culinary world with celebrities for a feast of fine food and competitive tournaments staged at some of Scottsdale�s finest resort courses. Past event hosts included Chefs Todd English, Daniel Boulud and Bobby Flay.

Desert Dreams Taking full advantage of Scottsdale's spectacular Sonoran Desert scenery, some of the world's best course designers have created desert target golf, one of the sport's most unique experiences. These courses, created by legends such as Tom Weiskopf, George Fazio, Pete Dye and Arnold Palmer, use the desert's natural elements to create challenging shots and hazards. Towering saguaro cactus, boulders and washes become part of an experience golf enthusiasts would be hard-pressed to duplicate anywhere else in the world.

Examples include the famed course at The Boulders Resort (two 18-hole courses of 7,044 and 7,047 yards respectively); the Jack Nicklaus-designed Desert Mountain courses (one traditional course and four desert courses, all more than 7,000 yards); and Eagle Mountain, the consummate target course created by Scott Miller (one 18-hole course, 6,755 yards).

Taking the concept even further, the aptly named Sanctuary Golf Course at WestWorld features an element found nowhere else in the state � a wildlife sanctuary regulated by the Audubon International Institute. Built with oversight by the prestigious organization and within the City of Scottsdale and Bureau of Reclamation storm water retention area, the course utilizes more than 6,900 yards of the land's natural terrain and vegetation. The 18-hole, par-71 course also features 80 acres of turf, 55 sand bunkers and multi-tiered waterfalls.

Relief Off the Course From golf massages and meditation techniques to digital swing analysis, Scottsdale provides myriad ways for a golfer to improve his or her game, or just feel like a champion.

The Phoenician�s Centre for Well-Being's Golf Power program helps golfers of all levels refine their game by giving them the advanced tools to improve their mental and physical skills through an effective combination of golf and spa. The two-part program includes the Automated Sports Training and Research (ASTAR) digital golf analysis to examine the golfer's technical form, and a training session with an exercise therapist to target postural misalignment and imbalances affecting swing and stance.

Golfers seeking a little TLC will not be disappointed either. As renowned for top-tier spas as it is for its legendary golf courses, Scottsdale tees-up treatments tailored to golfer's specific needs. Strained muscles and joints will find nirvana through treatments such as the Golf Specialty Massage at the Four Seasons Spa. Warm golf balls are rolled along the large muscles on either side of the spine and down the neck to help diminish tension in these areas. The Golfer's Massage at The Golden Door Spa at The Boulders Resort is designed to enhance performance on the course by targeting specific muscle groups relevant to the sport, the treatment is ideal for both pre-game conditioning and post-game soreness. Another option available here for golfers wanting to stretch their game to new limits is Yoga for Golfers, designed to enhance strength and flexibility.

Available at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort at Gainey Ranch, the Golfer's Massage is a therapeutic, full-body treatment that incorporates Swedish and Shiatsu techniques to access vital pressure points. Willow Stream � The Spa at Fairmont Scottsdale Princess checks in with the Golf Performance Massage, designed as a soothing finale to a round of one of the resort's championship courses. This treatment focuses on improving balance and swing rotation for greater distance and accuracy.

Lady's Choice An increasing number of women are taking up the sport, and Scottsdale's right in the swing with the trend. �Women to the Fore,� a program offered at The Boulders Resort, says it all. Designed for women golfers of all levels, the program offers a comprehensive overview designed to help novices learn the game and allows more advanced players a chance to refine technique.

Another golf program for women is available at The Phoenician. In addition to accommodations at the lavish resort, The Phoenician's �Ladies Links� package includes a full range of golf and spa-related activities. Included are two one-hour lessons, a nine-hole playing lesson with resident pros, a full round of golf, personal training sessions with the resort's fitness experts and a choice of treatments from the Centre for Well-Being. And for the finest in golf fashion, equipment and accessories, Fore Her Golf Store is a welcomed local resource recognized recently by Golf for Women magazine.

Tee Time With the game of golf such a part of the Scottsdale lifestyle, it stands to reason that a wealth of golf-related products and services would become available to enthusiasts. Locals and guests alike can benefit from having tee times reserved to acquiring the most unique golf-related necessities in the country.

To stay on the cutting edge of golf-related services, Scottsdale provides an unparalleled support system, including companies that arrange not only the most convenient tee time, but also entire golf-related travel packages. Many Scottsdale golf clubs and resorts have entire teams of staff dedicated to keeping golfers on their favorite greens at preferred times.

Scottsdale's acclaimed In Celebration of Golf mega golf specialty store offers everything from rare golf-related antiques and memorabilia to home furnishings, fine art, playing equipment, apparel and much more. In fact, the 13,000-square-foot Scottsdale store features an on-site indoor instructional studio, concierge services, and an artist in residence who creates beautiful original golf-themed paintings while our guests look on.

Romance on the links is now even part of the equation with "Tee Box" dinners, available at The Boulders and The Phoenician resort courses. Amidst the serene vistas these courses provide, elegant repasts are set out in private settings for couples celebrating a special moment in their lives. Tee time will never be the same.

And why not consider summertime for your next tee time in Scottsdale? Savings on green fees are substantial (The Boulders, for example, has discounts of up to 50 percent), which means some of the best courses in the world are available at superb values. Warmer temperatures simply mean earlier tee times, leaving the rest of the day free for spas, shopping and many other of Scottsdale's legendary list of activities.

In a League of Our Own The efforts outlined above and many others undertaken by Scottsdale to make the region a golfer's paradise have not gone unnoticed. The golfing community here gratefully acknowledges the many accolades the city has received for its innovations and exceptional facilities. A list of recent awards includes: � Golf Digest ranked Scottsdale eighth on its prestigious list of �50 Top Golf Destinations in the World.� � Golf Magazine named 11 Scottsdale instructors among the �Top 100 Teachers in America 2001-2002.� � Golf Magazine named six Scottsdale courses to their �Top 100 Courses You Can Play in the United States.� � Conde Nast Traveler ranked three Scottsdale resorts among the �Top 50 Golf Resorts.� � Meetings & Conventions honored five Scottsdale resorts with the Gold Tee Award, 2001. � Sports Illustrated named We-Ko-Pa Golf Club, which opened in December 2001, as one of the �Top 10 New Courses in the World.�

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Media Contact: Laura McMurchie +1 480-429-2253 LM@scottsdalecvb.com