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Whirlwind Golf Club - The Cattail Course
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About
Whirlwind Golf Club features 36 holes across 242 acres. Wild horses and native beasts roam the landscape - so don't let them drag you away. While just 12 miles from the metropolis of Phoenix, Whirlwind Golf Club's Cattail Course takes golfers to a secluded and scenic environment, where desert tranquility and beauty is a silent playing partner throughout.
Gary Panks designed the courses at Whirlwind Golf Club. The par-72 Cattail measures 7,222 yards and beings on Arrow Shot, a par-4 413 yarder; the South Mountain Range's canyons will guide you, but shoot straight. Things get long on Two Mesquites, the second hole, a par-5 517 yarder, which does feature Mesquites, a staple for the Gila River Indian Community, used in construction, medicine and food.
Finish up on Last Hole, a par-4 450 yarder that offers a good test to close on, as it is the course's most demanding to drive.
| Tee | Par | Length | Rating | Slope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 72 | 7222 yards | 73.6 | 133 |
| Gold | 72 | 6725 yards | 71.3 | 127 |
| Silver | 72 | 6300 yards | 69.3 | 124 |
| Copper (W) | 72 | 5895 yards | 73.0 | 128 |
| Jade (W) | 72 | 5383 yards | 70.3 | 120 |
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black M: 73.7/131 | 413 | 517 | 162 | 462 | 337 | 180 | 599 | 402 | 431 | 3503 | 245 | 481 | 549 | 441 | 389 | 176 | 428 | 560 | 450 | 3719 | 7222 |
| Gold M: 71.0/127 | 392 | 489 | 147 | 438 | 311 | 155 | 554 | 382 | 403 | 3271 | 231 | 443 | 528 | 421 | 360 | 136 | 389 | 515 | 431 | 3454 | 6725 |
| Gold/Silver M: 70.0/125 | 392 | 489 | 147 | 417 | 311 | 135 | 520 | 382 | 371 | 3164 | 202 | 418 | 504 | 398 | 360 | 136 | 389 | 515 | 409 | 3331 | 6495 |
| Silver M: 69.2/123 | 365 | 464 | 131 | 417 | 284 | 135 | 520 | 360 | 371 | 3047 | 202 | 418 | 504 | 398 | 345 | 125 | 362 | 490 | 409 | 3253 | 6300 |
| Copper M: 67.0/115 W: 73.0/128 | 335 | 443 | 119 | 393 | 260 | 115 | 487 | 332 | 345 | 2829 | 175 | 396 | 482 | 374 | 324 | 110 | 345 | 469 | 391 | 3066 | 5895 |
| Jade M: 64.8/110 W: 70.3/120 | 292 | 403 | 101 | 372 | 235 | 101 | 466 | 291 | 312 | 2573 | 148 | 368 | 427 | 354 | 300 | 95 | 320 | 447 | 351 | 2810 | 5383 |
| Handicap | 9 | 17 | 15 | 1 | 7 | 11 | 3 | 13 | 5 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 18 | 14 | 16 | 6 | |||
| Par | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 36 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 36 | 72 |
| Handicap (W) | 9 | 11 | 15 | 1 | 13 | 17 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 16 | 4 | 12 | 8 | 2 | 18 | 10 | 14 | 6 |
Hot Deals at Whirlwind Golf Club - Cattail
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Golf Advisor: Top 25 Off-course amenities in the U.S. (2019 #6)
Reviews
Reviewer Photos
Good variety in hole lengths - used most every club in the bag
Other than having to play through a sudden dust storm with 30 MPH winds it was a great afternoon of golf. Course is fun and fair.
Mosquito infested, beware.
I had wanted to play Whirlwind for sometime and the chance came up to take a client who had also wanted to play it for some time. After teeing off #1 we went to hit our second shots and were attacked by hundreds of mosquitos, without exaggeration there were well over 50 on my clients back when he took his second shot.
We turned back and went to the starter who stated he forgot to mention the mosquitos before we began and gave us deep forest off. I can say that I have lived in AZ since 1979 and this was a first, a golf course having to give players deep forest off to get through a round. In speaking to the ranger later in the round, he said it had to do with the course being on tribal lands and not being allowed to treat for the bugs. I do not know if that is true or not but they should really mention this before you are obligated to spending $100 for a summer round.
This experience has caused me to reconsider my opinion of Troon courses and in the future because it says "Troon" I will just not assume it will be a great experience.
Awesome!
The Cattail course was in great shape and, despite the blustery conditions, I enjoyed my round.
Though the facility seemed busy - tournament seemed to be ending as I arrived (tee time just after 1 o'clock) and another getting ready to start - the round was right at about 4 hours. My group didn't have to wait nor were we pushed by anyone, either.
A great round!
Cattail course was in excellent condition and offered a trememdous golf experience. Very enjoyable!
Excellent layout. Excellent condition. Good on course water for players during extreme heat. Course was fair with generous fairways and large green. Greens are challenging to putt due to their large size and undulations but were in excellent condition. Will recommend this for friends and will personally play again.
Design of the course, the senery, and condition Wow.
Overall the course was outstanding and to put it in a word "Wow". Playing that course made it fun, whether you were playing well or not. But oh darn there is always a darn; there was a 2 some in front of us with a 2 some in front of them. you would think they would have teamed up to made play faster but no.
Because of that the 2 some in front of us would hit several balls from the Tee box as to say hit until you like one, which made it longer play. If I'm correct there is no OB and if you hit one in the desert stroke distance don't continue to hit one until you like it with a group "us" waiting behind you. But, I still had a good time. Thank you and will return.
Course in great shape!
Both fairways and greens on the Cattail course were in great shape. Greens were not super fast, but they were smooth and held approach shots well. The practice facility is one of the best around.
The Cattails course is great
We golfed here after a major storm and the course was still a fantastic course to golf. The course was so green and lush it made one forget they were in the middle of a desert! Will definitely play again
Great layout
Alway in great shape even in the summer. Greens rolling very nicely and few bad spots in fairway
A nice layout in the desert.
The course was in great shape a a good test of golf, challenging, but still fair. This was a great value for the quality of the golf course.
Beautiful fairways. Large undulating greens.
This course is a Troon managed layout and as usual, they do a great job. Huge value for the money. Very large, soft greens. Tons of bunkers and tee positions for all levels of player.
Really good golf course.
Despite playing like a doofus, I loved the course. Greens, fairways, bunkers, etc. were in great condition. Range facilities are first rate as well. Foursome ahead was very slow and the marshall spoke to them and the pace improved. It was 108F the day we played and we all appreciated the many water coolers on the course. Excellent golf experience.
Great condition
Played the Cattail course.
The range was in good condition, the putting and chipping green were excellent. It was nice that the putting green was the same speed as the greens on the course, that is an overlooked detail on far too many courses in phoenix.
The course itself couldn't of been in better condition for august. The course itself is moderately challenging, most of the trouble of the tee - all you need to know is Gary 'fairway bunker' Panks was the designer.
Pace of play was disappointing for teeing off at noon, but when you have some of the best conditions in the valley, probably can just pencil that in.
Great course. Hidden gem in Southern Phoenix
Played in Phoenix and this is my first time at Whirlwhind, but I'll definitely come back again in the future. Well routed course that rewards good shots and offers numerous options off the tee to score well. Pace of play was excellent (under 4 hours at 10am on a Friday in August) and course was in very good shape.
Nice course excellent condition great staff.
Great day of golf and got to play a little cards on the way home. I'll be back there before the summer is over!
Great time
The course is in very good condition. There are some repair areas around some of the greens but that is it. You wont be disappointed.
Fun, Friendly Golf Day
The staff are very helpful, the course is immaculate, tees, greens and fairways are like carpet. Played Cattail, front nine is easier, the back nine is longer.
Fairways weere excellent and greens were good considering the middle of the summer
A very good course - always in good condition The fairways were excellent - not a bad lie and the greens were good considering the middle of a hot summer
great greens
Fairways and greens in excellent shape. Green speed the same on all greens. Thick grass on fairways which results in no mud balls, even though they are cut short. Not many tight lies.
The course was in terrific shape and fun to play.
The course is more than I typically pay, but worth the money. It was a good time, great shape and they services were excellent!
Quick play early in the morning on a great course
I had an early tee time (Fast Play) and it didn't disappoint. The greens were a little bumpy and slow. But the rest of the course was in great shape.
The Fairways of Fountain Hills Package
The Fairways of Fountain Hills Package
Whirlwind Golf Getaway Package
Mesa Golf Around Package
To the person whom posted the reply from Troon: You assume I did not inform any of your staff of the problem. While I did not return to the club house and complain I did in fact return after my first hole and inform the starter and ranger and explained I was not happy, did not wish to continue my round and would have appreciated being informed of the problem prior to being sent out. The reply I was given was an "I'm sorry, It thought I did mention it" and some bug spray I could use. Being there were 2 employees of yours there, I did not expect a better response by going inside.
jim8231, thank you for your comment and review. The unfortunate matter of the mosquitos exists this year only because of the substantial amount of rainfall we received over the past month or so. While the rainfall was much needed, it also had the unfortunate side effect of attracting insects. There are ways that mosquitos can be “treated” however, these methods usually involve an aerial or ground vehicle fogging, that is not possible on our property due to the proximity to the Sheraton resort (just to correct the inaccuracy that it has anything to being on “tribal land”). As far as not mentioning it before the round, we do apologize. We do make an effort to mention it and have tried to be proactive in providing repellent to as many guests as we can. The mosquitos do affect people differently, depending on their location and time of day. A few groups will see them, and many will not see any or very few. We also regret that you did not mention your negative experience to us before you left so that we could have taken a moment to make amends for your troubles; something that could have been accomplished to your satisfaction in a number of different ways. As you take a moment to read through our hundreds of other reviews, you will notice that we love turning a negative into a positive! The mosquito problem is temporary and will not be an issue for much longer. We apologize for the inconvenience during your round. We hope that this completely natural occurrence, that is a result of irregular weather, will not affect your opinion of our golf experience or that of Troon.