Golf Club of Estrella: Tucked away in the south-western outskirts of Phoenix, and formerly known as Estrella Mountain Ranch, the quality of this Nicklaus design and its majestic closing stretch makes it one of the region's "must play" courses. Occupying pristine, nicely undulating, open desert terrain, and starting from the par-4 15th, the final four are as good as you will find anywhere in the Phoenix/ Scottsdale area. The 17th is an exquisite par-3, longer than, but perhaps influenced by Royal Troon's 8th, the famous Postage Stamp hole. From the wonderfully elevated back-tee of the testing par-4 18th, you are offered the most spectacular view on the entire course, desert hills and mountains stretching away as far as the eye can see. The build-up to this closing stretch is a top-quality desert course, with plenty of stylish jig-saw shaped bunkering, and many greens severed from their fairways by desert wash areas passing through. Water makes a brief appearance at the par-4 5th hole (Mirage) and longer par-4 6th (Oasis), but for most of the time its the prolific bunkering you'll need to watch out for, and not straying too far away from the generally good-width fairways. The flatter sections of both the front and back-nine pass alongside some of Estrella's housing development, although most of the real estate is discreetly tucked away. The quietness of this natural desert environment, and the chance to see every imaginable shape and size of saguaro cactus, reinforce the many excellent reasons for golfing at Estrella.