This "gem of the desert" is superbly run by Joe Gaffney, Director of Golf Operations. Although Joe started in the canned soup business, he is showing the Phoenix golf community how to run a golf course. His secret, develop an accommodating staff that strives to provide every golfer with a personal experience. From the initial greeting to the scented cooling towels, you feel like a country club member from the start. However, don't think it's all smiles, Joe, along with superintendent, Able Delgado, makes sure the course is taken as good of care of as its guests. Frequently listed on courseconditions.com's "Best Bets", the Legacy is widely known for always having great course conditions and value in both Winter and Summer.
Location/Amenities: This "cocoon" is located off 32nd Street and Baseline, opened on October 22, 1999, and has been the catalyst in revitalizing the South Mountain area. It features one of the finest practice facilities in the Valley. Dual sided, one end for players warming up for their round and the other for instruction from either Vision 54 or Kinetic academies. A separate bunker for practice and a huge practice green all perfectly located in the middle of #1 and #10 tee boxes. With its plush layout, the Legacy is home to plenty of celebrity sitings.
The Course: Designed by Gary Panks, the Legacy features 52 bunkers but manages to keep things friendly for all levels of play. The tips play from 6908 yards, but par 71, with a rating of 72.1 and slope of 128. It is a resort layout, similar to Wildfire or Whirlwind, that has generous fairways and large greens. Although the greens are large, many have two or more tiers and subtle breaks caused by nearby South Mountain dictate that getting to the green is only half the battle. The fairways are plush using 419 Bermuda hybrid and the Legacy pays attention to detail with two cuts of rough and edged bunkers.
Front Nine: What was originally designed by Panks to be a tough turn to the back are now four starting holes that need to be survived thanks to a reversal of nines years back. #1 is narrow with an elevated green, #2 is long, #3 is short with trouble and #4 is a deceiving two tiered par three. Relief and scoring can come in five through seven before tackling the long par five #8 with tough mountain influenced green and par four #9 with elevated green and what many believe, including Shotdog, is the toughest par four on the course.
Back Nine: After #8 and #9, a cool drink at the turn and #10 is just what the scorecard needed. Originally the starting hole, #10 is so wide Sky Harbor uses it as an overflow runway. Don't get too cocky as the tough par three #11 and par five #12 follow. Hole 13 is a relatively easy par four and #14 despite being the number one handicap hole is a par five that can reward you as long as you are not greedy. #15 is a short par three but with a tricky green and stay left on #16 for another chance at birdie. #17 rounds out a fantastic set of par threes at the Legacy. #17 has been voted "the toughest par three in the Valley" playing from 206+ with deep bunkers, OB and two 50 foot tiers. Rounding out the course is a classic risk-reward par five accented by the famous silos. Be careful as this elevated narrow green is not accommodating to those going for it.
