Construction of the new Chicago Cubs training complex will soon get underway  in Mesa, Arizona.  The $99 million dollar facility will bring an end to the beloved Riverview Golf Course.  Many Mesa golfers will be sad to see the end of Riverview, which will close in April. Construction of the Cubs complex will begin in June.  Crews will temporarily remove about 300 trees from the course; they will be re-planted at the new facility and stand as reminders of the old Riverview course.

The Riverview Golf Course, which opened in 1987, is the area’s only 9-hole golf course. It’s estimated that the course has hosted about 1.6 million rounds over the past quarter century. The number of rounds played has dropped in recent years due to the growing number of courses in the Mesa Valley.

Read more about the new Cubs complex in the Desert News.

Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club is nestled at the foot of the Majestic Superstition Mountains just outside of Phoenix. The club features two Nicklaus-designed courses: Prospector and Lost Gold, a spectacular clubhouse and fully equipped sports club and spa.

Memberships for Superstition Mountain Golf and Country club are now available and for the first time non-members can experience these award-winning courses on a daily fee basis. Find out more about Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club on the official club website.

You may also want to read this earlier post about Gold Canyon Golf Resort, another club located at the base of the Superstition Mountains.

If you’ve got a personal computer and nine feet of free space,  you can practice your golf wing with the Optishot Infrared Golf Simulator.  The Optishot provides accurate swing analysis, including club head speed, swing pat and distance travelled, as well as a full-function simulator that depicts your ball’s path with stunning realistic graphics.  Up to 4 players can compete in a full round of golf.  An expanding library of golf courses provides a realistic golfing experience.

Unlike full-blown simulators that cost tens of thousands of dollars, the Optishot is a portable and affordable home simulator that costs less than $400.  See a demo of the Optishot Golf Simulator in this YouTube video.  You can also find out about other golf gadgets to improve your game on CNN.

The Arizona National Golf Club is the home course of the University of Arizona Wildcats men’s and women’s golf teams.  Located in Tucson, the course was designed by Robert Trent Jones in 1995, the 6785-yard course includes shady arroyos lined with mesquites and craggy rock outcroppings.  The course is nestled in the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains near Coronado National Forest.    

A Wall of Fame has been erected near the 18^th hole to honor University of Arizona top golfers and championship teams.  Find out more about the Arizona National Golf Club and its Wildcat golf affiliation on the official website.

Two spectacular golf courses that appeal to every caliber of player can be found at the McCormick Ranch Golf Club in Scottsdale.  The Palm and the Pine are open to the public every day.  Each course was designed by renowned golf course architect Desmond Muirhead and opened in 1972.  Both courses have been recently renovated to include new greens and additional sand traps and bridges.  The Palm course’s ninth hole has been chosen by Golf Illustrated as one of the top water holes in the USA.

McCormick Ranch Golf Club features one of the largest putting greens in the Southwest in addition to a large driving range and a bunkered chipping green.

Visit the McCormick Ranch Golf Club website to find out more about the Palm and Pine courses.

The University of Arizona’s Wildcat men’s golf team has won their first Intercollegiate Golf championship since 2004, edging out California by 1 shot.   The event took place in late January at Arizona National Golf Club.  Despite not having a single senior in its five-player lineup, Arizona finished 17 under par in the 54-hole tournament.   This was a reversal of 2010′s tournament, where California beat Arizona by 1 shot.

Next, the Wildcats will be heading to Honolulu, Hawaii in February to participate in the John A. Burns Intercollegiate. Read more about the team on the official Arizona Wildcats website.

Often referred to as “The Greatest Show on Grass,” the Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale is the PGA Tour’s best attended events, drawing more  than 500,000 golf enthusiasts each year.  It’s schedule for February 2 through February 5 this year and will be one of the first events on the 2012 PGA Tour calendar.

One of the most famous aspects of the WM Open is the 16^th hole, which features an enclosed stadium for up to 15,000 fans (see photo above).  The tournament benefits Thunderbird Charities, an organization that donates millions of dollars to Arizona charities.  Find out more about the Waste Management Open on the official event website.

See the crowds at the hole 16 and a Jarrod Lyle’s hole-in-one from the 2011 Waste Management Phoenix Open in this YouTube Video.

The Raven Golf Club Phoenix (formerly known as the Raven at South Mountain) is the official home course of the Arizona Diamondbacks.  This Gary Panks and David Graham course features fairways lined with more than 6,000 mature Georgia pines and multi-tiered greens. The course and facilities recently underwent a complete renovation and has recently earned a 4.5 Star rating from Golf Digest.

Find out more about one of the best public golf courses in the Phoenix area by visiting the Raven Golf Phoenix website.  You also may want to find out more about another Raven course in Arizona, Raven Golf Club at Verrado.

Instead of hitting a golf ball to improve your gain, the Orange Whip Golf Swing Trainer allows you to focus on your swing.  Developed by Jim Hackenberg, golf pro and caddy on the PGA tour, this training device consists of a club with a flexible shaft and an orange ball in place of a club head.   According to Hackenberg, the Orange Whip helps you find your natural swing motion.  An added bonus is that your core muscles receive a workout as you swing. 

The Orange Whip Golf Swing Trainer can be used by golfers at all skill levels.   Read more about it on the Daily Grommet website.

The Boulders Golf Resort is located just outside of Scottsdale in Carefree, Arizona.  This Waldorf Astoria resort provides two Jay Morrish championship golf courses in the midst of a natural refuge amidst gigantic precariously perched boulders that have been in place for millions of years.  The Boulders was named one of the Top 10 Arizona Golf Courses by Golf Magazine in 2010.

In addition to the beauty of the Sonoran Desert, The Boulders offers outdoor recreation including hiking, biking, horseback riding, tennis and rock climbing as well as luxurious spa treatments.   If you’re looking for a world-class desert refuge that provides relaxation as well as golf, it could be time to visit The Boulders.

Find out more about The Boulders on the official resort website.