Whirlwind Golf Club

The Devil's Claw course delivers a masterful desert routing that weaves through towering saguaros and granite boulders, with elevation changes that reveal the entire Salt River Valley sprawling below. Phil Mickelson's design philosophy shines through strategic bunkering and multiple tee options that reward course management over pure distance, particularly on the risk-reward par-5 16th that tempts players to carry a wash for eagle opportunities. Morning rounds offer the best conditions before Arizona's legendary afternoon winds kick up, making club selection as crucial as reading the subtle breaks on these surprisingly quick bent grass greens.