Poston Butte Golf Club in Florence, Arizona has been a popular tee time in the far southeast reaches of the Valley of Phoenix ever since it opened in 2007. The club, located 60 miles from downtown Phoenix, is the chief amenity of Anthem at Merrill Ranch, a Del Webb master-planned community, but public golfers are invited to play at most times both during the week and on weekends. Course architect Gary Panks designed the championship layout and Troon Golf manages the facility. Poston Butte Golf Club has appeared several times on Golf Advisor s list of the Top Courses in Arizona. Although the course weaves through the growing community, often with houses flanking both sides of the playing field, swathes of rough followed by desert intervene beyond the irrigated turf. While more houses are still to be built, they are set back from play. The par-72 layout offers an enjoyable round for everyone with five sets of tees (plus two additional hybrid options) ranging from 5,297 yards to 7,282 yards. Poston Butte Golf Club is a traditional golf course it is not a desert target test. Although forced carries are the order of the day from all but the tee boxes, once the fairways begin they extend all the way to the putting surfaces. Poston Butte Golf Club boasts excellent variety with picturesque and intriguing holes that come in all shapes and sizes and move in different directions. Panks placed his bunkers strategically, but with a few exceptions, the sand is not an intimidating threat. Poston Butte Golf Club s collection of four par 3s is especially notable. A huge bunker stretches all the way from tee to green on the 7th hole. On the signature 12th hole, the tee shot must carry a large basin and a huge boulder to reach the three-tiered putting surface. Poston Butte Golf Club s most exciting test, the short (75 yards to 169 yards) island-green 17th, is reminiscent of the 17th at TPC Sawgrass The Players Stadium Course. Overall, the greens are large, tiered, and set at angles to the fairway. Troon Golf brings its high standards to the upkeep of the golf grounds. The club s practice facilities include a driving range, a chipping area with a sand bunker, and a large putting green. The clubhouse is home to a pro shop and a bar and grille. Poston Butte Golf Club may be rather remote for most golfers in the Phoenix area, but it s well worth making a tee time to play this fun, strategic, and well-maintained course that provides excellent value.
