If you’ve ever found yourself tired and dehydrated in the middle of a round of golf? Are you tired of paying what feels like a king’s ransom for a simple beer or soda. Most courses don’t allow you to bring your own dinks on the course, but with the Covert Cooler no one has to know. This discreet soft bag tucks right into your golf bag and holds up to 9 bags of beer or soda. Just add an ice pack to keep your drinks cold and you’re good to go.

See a demonstration of the Covert Cooler in this YouTube video and check it out on the Covert Cooler website.

In 1962, architect Robert “Red” Lawrence designed a golf course that is now considered to be the first desert-style course. No part of the natural Sonoran Desert landscape was removed or shaped during construction of Desert Forest Golf Club’s course, which co-exists with the existing desert landscape. Located in Carefree, Arizona, north of Scottsdale and Phoenix, the course is still known for its environmentally neutral setting, with desert features adding to the golf experience.

The Desert Forest course, which has an elevation of 2500 feet, has no fairway bunkers or water hazards and its fairways are bordered by native desert plants. The bentgrass greens, known for being fast and true, as considered by some reviewers to be among the best greens in the Southwest.

Find out more about Desert Forest Golf Club on the club’s official website.

Disc golf, also known as Frisbee golf, is a low-cost game that involves throwing a Frisbee into a series of baskets laid out along a course.  Arizona is home to 37 disc golf courses, including an 18-hole course in Show Low  City Park.

Find out more about the low-cost game of disc golf in this YouTube video.  You can learn more about disc golf in Arizona at the Arizona Disc Golf Club (ADGC) website.

A recent incident with a mountain lion on a Prescott golf course has stirred controversy among some Arizona animal lovers.  The animal, which was reported to be a healthy male of about 2 years of age, was spotted in a tree near holes 9 and 10 of the Antelope Hills Golf Course.  It appeared to have no fear of humans and had been spotted in neighborhood backyards.  After a standoff that lasted several hours, Arizona Department of Game and Fish tranquilized and then euthanized the 80-pound cat.

Arizona officials stand by the official to put the animal down because it was in a populated area and posed a risk to humans.  Mountain lions who show no fear of people are not usually relocated to the wild.

In March, three mountain lions were photographed on the Desert Mountain Golf Course in Scottsdale.  Arizona’s rocky wilderness areas are thought to be home to about 3,000 mountain lions.

Read more about this story on the Phoenix Fox News and the Arizona Central websites.

Pine Canyon is a 619-acre private golf course and residential community in Flagstaff, Arizona. Adjacent to the Coconino National Forest, the course features sweeping vistas of pine trees, ponds and streams. In addition to being known for its award-winning course designed by Jay Morrish, Pine Canyon has the reputation of being a family destination. A youth recreation center known as Camp Pine Canyon features hands-on learning experiences and fun activities. Amenities include pools, tennis and basketball courts, a park and stocked lake for fishing.

Unlike other Arizona golf courses, Pine Canyon’s 7,000-ft elevation and alpine setting provides a cool escape from the desert heat. Find out more about this family-oriented golf destination on the Pine Canyon website.

Golf is a unique sport for many reasons, but one of the most important differences between golf and other sports is the lack of a supervising umpire or referee. The game of golf relies on individual players to abide by the Rules of the game and to show consideration for each other. Many call it The Spirit of the Game – all players are expected to conduct themselves in a disciplined fashion and to demonstrate good sportsmanship while on the course. Competitiveness needs to take a back seat to courtesy and mutual respect.

Acclaimed American author John Updike, who passed away in 2009, was a lifetime golfer. Read his eloquent essay on The Spirit of the Game on the USGA website.

A  recent survey in conducted by Golf Digest magazine found that despite the economic downturn of recent years, 65% of the 2000 people who responded take an annual golf buddy trip.  Almost half said they would continue the tradition even if their income fell by 25%.  Those surveyed said the like the camaraderie as much as the golf. 

About 80% of golf buddy trips are taken by men, while women enjoy spa trips with friends.  According to an article on the Reuters Money Blog, Canyon Ranch in Tucson, Arizona is a popular health spa destination. 

What makes golf and spa trips worth every hard-earned penny?  According to those surveyed, the return on investment  is relaxation and fun.  Read more about destination getaways at the Reuters Money Blog

The beautiful golf courses that dot the landscape of Arizona are made possible by the hard work of hundreds of grounds crew workers.  Most of the workers are Mexican immigrants who make less than $10 per hour.  The work isn’t easy, but many grounds crew workers enjoy spending time outdoors as they shovel sand, mow greens, dig trenches and rake bunkers. 

To gain a better understanding of the job of a grounds crew worker, read about a worker named Miguel Ramirez who works at the Grayhawk Golf Course in Scottsdale on the GOLF Magazine website.  Ramirez has a zen-like philosophy that allows him to enjoy his job.

Tim Mickelson, brother of pro golfer Phil Mickelson, has accepted a position as head golf coach for Arizona State University. Mickelson will be leaving a coaching position at the University of San Diego, where he led the golf program to its first three NCAA tournaments while collecting four West Coast Conference championships. Mickelson has also been named WCC Coach of the Year four times.

Both Tim Mickelson and his brother Phil spent time in the ASU golf program. Tim Mickelson was part of the time that won a National Championship in 1996.

Read more about the new ASU coach on the ASU Sun Devils Athletics website.

Turquoise Valley Golf Course, located in Naco, Arizona near the border with Mexico, is considered to be the state’s oldest continuously operating course.  Found in 1908, Turquoise also has the distinction of being home to the 747-yard “Rattler.”  The Rattler is the only Par 6 hole in Arizona.  It’s the 5^th longest hole in the U.S. and the 10^th longest on the planet. 

Naco is located a short distance from Tombstone, one of the most historic towns of the Old West.  The course includes a restaurant and RV park, making it a great golfing destination for those who aren’t looking for a 5-star resort.

Find out more about Turquoise Valley Golf and the Rattler on the official course website.  You can also see footage of the Rattler and learn about Arizona golf history in this YouTube video from Arizona Highways TV.