The Ocotillo Golf Resort in Chandler, Arizona is a public, daily-fee course that features 27 holes of championship golf. This Troon-managed course is notable for mature trees, colorful flower beds and water features that line the fairways. In fact, there are so many ponds, streams and waterfalls that you’ll find it hard to believe that you’re playing in the desert. Bernard’s Restaurant at the resort was voted Best 19th Hole for 2011 by Arizona Foothills Magazine.

Find out more about Arizona golf at the Ocotillo Golf Resort on the official facility website.

The Casino del Sol Resort and Casino celebrated its grand opening in Tucson on 11-11-11, a day considered by many people to be extremely lucky.  The resort, developed by the Pascua Yaqui tribe of Southern Arizona, was completed at a cost of $130 million.  The resort’s casino is now the largest in Arizona and features the recreation of a Tuscan village and town square show in the photo above.

During the Casino del Sol opening ceremony, the tribe announced that on 12-12-12, the Jack Nicklaus Academy of Golf will open at the resort.  This will be the fifth Nicklaus Academy in the nation and the first in Arizona.  Other plans for the resort include an 18-hole golf course designed by Notah Begay III, the only full-blooded Native American player on the PGA tour.  Construction on the course will begin this winter.

Read more about Casino del Sol on the official resort website.

The Estancia Club is located on the northern slope of Scottsdale’s famed Pinnacle Peak, within a 600-acre gated community.  This private club’s 18-hole championship course was designed by Tom Fazio and offers 7,314 yards built around the natural features of the land.  Scenery includes breathtaking desert and mountain landscapes.  Since the Estancia Club was built in 1996 it has been consistently ranked as one of the best courses in America.

Find out more on the official Estancia Golf website.

We recently came across “Secrets of the Short Game,” Phil Mickelson’s first and only instructional golf video.  This two-DVD set contains practical tips on putting and chipping in addition to a section on flop shots. 

One of the highlights of “Secrets of the Short Game” is Mickelson’s amazing backward shot, which can be seen in this YouTube video clip.  You can find out more about this DVD on Phil Mickelson’s website.

Phil Mickelson, winner of 4 major championships and 39 events on the PGA tour, spent time in the Arizona State University golf program.  His brother Tim Mickelson now heads up the program.