Troon Privé, April/May 2017

TROON PRIVÉ CONNECT 41 40 TROON PRIVÉ CONNECT By Bill Huffman LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN Golf Club the spectacular layout located next door to the Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort just might be the most fun filled golf experience in Phoenix And with an 85 million renovation to 544 of the resorts suites completed in October 2016 this dynamic duo is once again at the top of its considerable game On the golf side credit all those good times to the clubs rolling terrain unique variety of holes and breathtaking views with its signature 10th hole the highlight of your day That incredible 10th nicknamed Picturesque Pointe boasts a tee box that drops more than 175 feet to the fairway below All that rarefied air can make a golfer dizzy especially with Piestewa Peak and the namesake Lookout Mountain looming in the distance Even though it begins from such a lofty perch most players wont be able to reach the green some 419 yards away on their drive unless of course theyre packing a PGA Tour card JC Wright the director of golf at Lookout Mountain said the mighty 10th is always a large part of the conversation when golfers discuss their rounds at the clubs 19th hole the Pointe In Tyme restaurant Were pretty sure its the highest tee box in the city of Phoenix Wright said with a laugh Then again maybe we dont have a lot of competition Wright is right Theres not a lot of elevation in Phoenixs city limits but this special place on the central north side up next to the Phoenix Mountain Preserve hikers rival the number of golfers on any given day does have lots of movement Lookout Mountain is a good hike not spoiled The first six holes help ease you into this lovely layout designed by the local architect Billy Johnson back in 1989 But from the seventh to the 10th its an uphill battle After that panoramic tee shot at No 10 the downhill drama is nonstop through the 14th hole Fortunately most can coast home on the final four relatively flat holes although thanks to a blind tee shot there is nothing easy about the 18th The final hole is also quite memorable for historic reasons In the mid 1990s NBCs made for television Skills Challenge was held on the palm laden 18th which back in those days included a water hazard front and back of the green Today the wet stuff has been removed some might say fortunately but the memories of the Skills Challenge remain in clubhouse photos There also are some old pictures from the Arizona Classic a Lookout Mountain Golf Club Phoenix Ariz 602 866 6356 www PointeGolf com AT A GLANCE Recent Renovations Lift Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort to New Heights THRILLS IN THE AZ HILLS then Senior PGA Tour event held in 1989 that evolved into the Tradition on the Champions Tour the very next year Its always been a very fun golf course to play and theres been some pretty famous people that have enjoyed it too said Wright noting that among those early contestants in the Skills Challenge were Arnold Palmer Chi Chi Rodriguez Hale Irwin John Daly and David Duval And as far as our 19th hole goes I always tell people that considering the Pointe In Tymes glorious past well if only these walls could talk Nowadays Lookout Mountain and Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort are talking quite convincingly about the upgraded charms of the destination With refreshed suites four dining outlets including Different Pointe of View Arizonas longest running AAA Four Diamond restaurant and amenities from golf and spa to hiking tennis courts and eight pools on property savvy travelers are hearing the message loud and clear