Scottsdale Resort and Athletic Club

 

The Scottsdale area has really grown up since my last visit: elegant shopping malls, great restaurants, and over 200 golf courses within a short drive.

Half a dozen major league baseball teams now call this their winter home. A great way to experience this area is the Scottsdale Resort and Athletic Club.

The Scottsdale Resort Club is a private boutique hotel in the heart of Scottsdale. The rooms are designed with an eye to longer stays. Kitchens and work stations are found in most rooms, as are fireplaces and private balconies.

Larger rooms also feature wet bars, large TV’s, washer-dryers, Jacuzzi bathtubs, showers and just about anything you need for a luxurious stay. The Resort Club also has its own large pool and spa area in the center of the property.

 

Guests at the Resort Club have full privileges at the adjoining Scottsdale Athletic Club.

The Athletic Club boasts 11 championship tennis courts, two pools, multiple levels of workout rooms, and the finest fitness equipment. It also offers unlimited  fitness classes, including Pilates and spinning studios.

The Scottsdale Resort Club is home to the OC Seven Restaurant and Bar. The OC Seven features a traditional Asian and continental cuisine. For more information visit www.scottsdaleresortandathleticclub.com or call (877) 343-0033.

 

 

The Golf

Great golf is within a short drive of the Scottsdale Resort Club. Talking Stick Golf Club, one of the best facilities in the area, is just 10 minutes away. Talking Stick is a 36-hole complex designed by the famed Coore and Crenshaw team. They are specialists in the popular “minimalist”  design theme. They try to work with the land and only rarely move dirt to make their courses. They are perhaps the best golf architecture team going these days, with many of their courses rated in the top 100 of Golfweek and Golf Digest.

On this visit, I played the North Course at Talking Stick. Of the two courses, this one is more the links style with deeper bunkers. I really enjoyed the course, and it offers great vistas of the surrounding mountains. Holes 11 and 12 were the most memorable for me. Hole number 11 can play 261 yards and a par-3 from the championship tees, which I chose. Although a bit daunting in length, it is a fair hole for the big hitters who choose the “tips.” The shot is played over cross bunkers, which should be avoided by coming in left to right. There is plenty of room on the left from which to chip in case you miss the green. Par is a great score here, but you should need no more than bogey to complete play. The 12th hole is one of the best par-4s in the area. While only 398 yards, it is quite a challenge. The tee shot must carry a waste area that runs the length of the hole and splits the fairway into two parts.

 

Long and accurate hitters may opt for the left side, which would be the shorter route on this dogleg to the left. The approach must clear the waste area as well as bunkers front and right. Slightly long and left will be out of play, as the green sides directly to the perimeter of the course.

Talking Stick has a great driving range with multiple chipping and putting areas. For more information visit www.talkingstickgolfclub.com. There are countless other golf options in the area, including Silverado Golf Club, the 11th hole of which borders the Scottsdale Resort Club.

 

 

Roy’s

Just a mile or so away, in the McCormick Ranch area, sits the elegant Roy’s Restaurant. Hawai’ian Fusion Cusine is served at Roy’s in a very upscale setting. Roy Yamaguchi gained fame in the late 70’s and early 80’s as the head chef at the famed La Serčne and Michael’s restaurants in the Los Angeles area.

Roy’s Restaurants recently celebrated their 20th anniversary and are found only in the most elegant locations.

The Scottsdale location was no exception, and we really enjoyed our meal. The Sushi, Shrimp and Ahi-Ahi were as great as was the service.

This is a fun and festive atmosphere enhanced by the exhibition kitchen. For more information on Roy’s Restaurant Scottsdale visit www.roysrestaurant.com or call (480) 905-1155.