Four
Seasons at Troon North
The luxurious community of Troon North lies in the
foothills of North Scottsdale, Ariz. Opulent homes and golf communities have
been woven tastefully into the rocky, high Sonoran Desert, with Saguaro Cactus
and native brush spread throughout. The Four Seasons Resort at Troon North is
set high in these hills and at the foot of Pinnacle Peak, commanding great
views of the entire Phoenix area. The Troon North Golf Club is very close and
features two championship golf courses for guests.
The Resort
This Four Seasons Resort has been designed to give
residents the feel of living in an Indian adobe village. The look fits so well
into its surroundings that it almost blends entirely into the mountains just
behind. Of course, the Indians did not live quite this well. Each guest casita
features the finest in bedding and linens. The rooms also feature LCD TVs with
CD player and stereo systems that allow you to use your own iPOD. Each room has
a balcony with commanding views. The views of the city at night are equally
impressive.
The Talavera Restaurant is located on a large balcony
behind the main lobby. From there, diners are treated to spectacular views of
Pinnacle Peak and the Valley of the Sun. Talevera features indoor and outdoor
dining. The outdoor dining is quite comfortable, even in winter, with a
dramatic fire element and multiple heat lamps providing warmth. My entré was
duck breast, and it was expertly prepared. They have an extensive menu and wine
list, making this venue very popular with local residents as well.
The Four Seasons has a very large pool area as well as a
fitness center and spa. The entire resort has a calming feel to it with
waterscapes, flowers and grass areas mixed into the Desert landscape. A must do
for everyone is a hike up Pinnacle Peak. There is actually a path from the
Resort which will lead you to the park entrance. From there it is a moderate
climb up about a half a mile to where you can see for miles and miles in every
direction. To the north, the large mountain ranges that work their way into
northern Arizona are in view. To the south, all of Phoenix. To the west, more
of Scottsdale and Carefree. To the east the entire Troon North area. Make sure
you stop when looking at the views, as the path is somewhat narrow and requires
your full attention. For more information visit www.fourseasons.com/Scottsdale
or call (480) 515-5700.
The Golf
Troon North Golf Club features two 18-hole championship
golf courses by Tom Weiskopf. This is a very high-end golf facility,
and no expense has been spared in the golf experience. The Pinnacle Course is
the flatter of the two and winds its way through the desert on the North side
of the property. Dynamic feature
shaping and fairway moguling make this a very interesting course. Many of the
greens are set into the rocks, making for dramatic approach shots. The Pinnacle
Course has multiple sets of tees and can be played anywhere from 5000 to 7000
yards.
The Monument Course is on the Pinnacle Peak side of the
club and is the more mountainous of the two. Some of the holes feature dramatic
elevation changes as well as huge rocks guarding both fairways and greens, such
as Monument Rock on the third hole. Both courses feature rye grass fairways,
ensuring perfect lies. The greens were also in excellent shape. Both the
Monument and Pinnacle Courses are rated in the top 100 by Golfweek Magazine and
in the top 10 for Arizona.
Troon North has a large practice area and features a
Callaway Golf Performance Center. A player can be fitted for a set of clubs in
the morning and have the clubs ready for play that afternoon. The Golf Shop at
Troon North is also top rated making it into the top 100 of Golf Digest. Dining
is also available for breakfast , lunch or dinner at The Grille at Troon North.
For more information visit www.troonnorthgolf.com.
For those who like to venture out in the community for
fine dining, Mastro’s Steakhouse is an excellent choice. This is a must if you
enjoy a steak. I had the best rib-eye that I can ever remember. The service was
also as good as it gets. The interior is very elegant, with old golf photos and
a piano bar as well. I kept expecting Frank Sinatra or one of the Rat Pack to
walk in at any moment. Mastro’s is very close to the Troon North area —
just a couple of miles down the hill to Pinnacle Peak Parkway. For more
information on Mastro’s Steakhouse visit www.mastrosrestaurants.com or call
(480) 585-9500.