Hole 16
Par 4
328 | 315 | 290 | 290 | 279 yards
The 16th is a short dogleg par 4 that is designed to encourage not hitting driver off the tee. Another forced carry off the tee is required, but this one is a miniscule 150 yards from the tips to reach the fairway.
A string of bunkers run up the right side of the hole, framing the fairway and discouraging trying to cut the corner towards the green. Another bunker visible from the tee, slightly to the left marks the location of the green. This bunker sits right in front of the green and guards against long hitters. There is a small gap to the right- but it offers only about a 10 yards wide gap between that front bunker and another that hugs the right side of the green.
Another deterrent to the short yardage is that this hole plays uphill from tee to green. Here you can see the view from the corner of the slight dogleg and how the bunkers that sit short of the green and carved into the hill the green sits atop makes this one of the more demanding approach shots within the round.
Playing this as a conservative two shot hole should not provide much of a challenge though. Certainly the tee shot should be easy to hit the generously wide fairway again. More important on the 16th will be avoiding the hazards and taking enough club on your second shot to account for the elevation changes.
Here you can see a view taken from on the green and looking back down the hill. My dad is in the front side bunker. I just barely cleared that and my ball sits on the dormant fringe.
One thing I don't think I have stressed enough through this review is the impeccable shape the course is kept. Look at this photo of the 16th green. It is emblematic of the conditions of all the greens- just perfect.
Hole 17
Par 4
402 | 372 | 358 | 358 | 334 yards
A longer par 4 than the last, this penultimate hole features another wide fairway that slopes with the land from right to left. Favor the right side to avoid the ball kicking left into the rough. Another roughly 200 yards maximum carry is required to reach the fairway here, but again the fairway landing zone is a sizable 50 yards across.
Of course if you miss that fairway, your chances are not good for a clean recovery shot...
The fairway rises uphill to a crest about 90 yards from the green. From there the fairway descends as it turns ever so slightly left. This green is tucked behind a large bunker fronting the left side. A left-most pin placement here might be one of the hardest locations to play to you will find.
This green is deeper than it is wide, with it being almost 30 yards from front to back. Again keeping with the theme of the course, there is a fairly sizable collar all around the green, save for where that bunker sits. This green is slightly crowned though so chipping from around the green will be uphill which is a bit unusual at Saguaro.
Hole 18
Par 4
508 | 490 | 470 | 411 | 411 yards
Sitting before you on the final hole of the round is a beast. Topping out at over 500 yards and requiring a carry of 220 yards from the tips to just reach the fairway, wish yourself good luck before your tee shot here.
The shortest route to reach the fairway is to play up the right side. The fairway here is lower than the fairway further up. Balls struck to this side are likely to land on the upslope and not get much additional carry,. They may even roll back a bit, a decidedly unwelcoming sight on this length par 4. From this position getting onto the green with your next shot is not likely.
The left side of the hole descends downhill into the desert. To carry the hazards carved into the hillside offers the best chance at having a manageable shot into the green. This will require a carry of 250 yards though so hopefully you catch a good one on your drive.
The upper part of the fairway crests out at about 290 yards from the back tees. If you can catch that the fairway does drop downhill. This can provide a much needed yardage bonus for a really well struck ball.
Once you crest the hill in the fairway the rest of the hole to the green is laid out in front of you. A series of bunkers run up the left side of the hole. The right has no hazards, other than the desert scrub.
About 80 yards from the green sits a strategical placed fairway bunker. This is the likely landing zone for those playing from the lower fairway before the hill. Just one more little hidden surprise that doesn't present itself until you come over the hill.
The massive bunker that sits down the left side starting at about 160 yards from the green and running over 60 yards.
On your approach the green is open in the front but has a bunker hugging the entire right side. There is room to miss on all other sides of the green, though a trio of bunkers sit to the left and behind the green if your shot strays too much.
Another 40 yard deep green can add yet a little more distance to finish before you wrap up the round.
Conclusion
For the Yavapai, the phrase We-Ko-Pa translates to "Four Mountains". These are the hills you see to the east of the course. They are often a backdrop for the giant Saguaro cacti that are this courses namesakes. This beautiful desert landscape surrounds the perfectly manicured greens and fairways found on Saguaro.This course is not the longest, and it plays as a par 71. If the wind is up though it can be a brute. With several short par 4s it means that other par 4s are some real beasts. Pair that with a head wind and it could be a real challenge to score.
The par 3s each face four different directions of the compass, ensuring that if there is any wind you will get to experience the full effects on those. Hopefully you'll not experience a tee shot into the wind on the 15th, with its 230 yard distance being challenging enough.
The layout of this course is not really desert "target" golf. That kind of experience can be more found on the Cholla course. Here, aside from mostly forced carries off the tee, it is grass from fairway to green.
Tees are placed close to greens and this is one of the few courses in Scottsdale you might actually consider walking (And they actually allow it!).
If you are in Scottsdale and have time for a short drive out of town for some great golf, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend We-Ko-Pa.
Which course is better? Well, with the 36 hole specials offered, why not make a go of it and experience them both.
That would be a grand day indeed.
We-Ko-Pa Golf Club
18200 E. Toh Vee Circle
Fort McDowell, AZ 85264
866.660.7700
https://wekopa.com/
Part 1: Holes 1-3
Part 2: Holes 4-9
Part 3: Holes 10-15 Part 4: Holes 16-18
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