Troon North Golf Club (Pinnacle) – Played May 2018
- Rankings: Golf Magazine Public #20
- Location: 10320 East Dynamite Boulevard, Scottsdale, Arizona
- Year: 2007
- Architect: Tom Weiskopf
- Course Access: Public
- Walking Rules: Carts Available
Score Card Information:
- Black: 7,009 yards, Par 71, 72.8 Rating/144 Slope
- Gold: 6,635 yards, Par 71, 71.4 Rating/137 Slope
- Silver: 6,248 yards, Par 71, 69.4 Rating/128 Slope
- Copper: 5,764 yards, Par 71, 67.7 Rating/123 Slope (Men’s), 72.0 Rating/133 Slope (Women’s)
- Jade: 4,831 yards, Par 71, 63.9 Rating/113 Slope (Men’s), 67.4 Rating/115 Slope (Women’s)
The second round of my day at Troon North was at the Pinnacle course. Troon North Golf Club (Pinnacle) completes the 36 holes at the facility.
After a quick lunch with my playing partners from the morning, I headed back out with one of them to take on Pinnacle. We played the silver tees.
Hole 1 – 378 yards – Par 4
The first hole doglegs to the left. The place to be is down the left and past the 150 yard marker. This leaves the shortest shot into the green.
The short approach plays over some desert to a slightly raised green.
Hole 2 – 379 yards – Par 4
Playing slightly uphill, the best line for this tee shot is over the large rock in the middle of the photo.
The approach plays over more desert, but only poorly struck shots will find trouble.
Hole 3 – 425 yards – Par 4
The mountain views here are worth taking a moment to savor. The desert is really vast and impressive. The tee shot is tough with the downhill slope and rocks all along the edges.
Below you can see the flattish green.
Hole 4 – 340 yards – Par 4
This uphill hole will play longer than the yardage, but shouldn’t be overly taxing. The green sits off to the right behind two bunkers, the first of which is well short of the putting surface.
Hole 5 – 455 yards – Par 5
Good drivers will be licking their chops on this tee. The fairway is split by desert up the left side. On the left side of that hazard sit the remainder of the hole and the green. A long and straight tee ball here will set up a possible eagle chance.
The view from the fairway.
Hole 6 – 182 yards – Par 3
This downhill tee shot is all about distance control. You definitely don’t want to end up in the deep bunkers or go long. Once on the green you will contend with a surface the slopes left to right with a ridge bisecting the middle.
Hole 7 – 408 yards – Par 4
This shot is more visually intimidating than anything. The fairway opens up on the left side once you clear the rocks.
The second shot plays over a small desert area into a green with large bunkers on the front right.
Hole 8 – 164 yards – Par 3
Claustrophobia can begin to set in on this tee box. The green is fronted by a large bunker that dominates your view. Once you’re past that however, the green is an ample target.
See below for the view of the green from behind.
Hole 9 – 345 yards – Par 4
Club selection is important here. There is a desert trench that crosses the fairway closer toward the green. For some players, driver may be too much club.
Below is a look at the slightly downhill approach.
Hole 10 – 378 yards – Par 4
You play off an elevated tee to start the back nine to a fairway that is cut off by a cross bunker. There is no benefit to carrying it so driver may not be the play.
This look at the approach highlights the abundance of sand on the hole.
Here is the green from behind.
Hole 11 – 491 yards – Par 5
This par five plays to a pretty generous fairway as it doglegs right.
As you turn the corner the desert runs across the fairway and makes you think on a layup. Once past that area there isn’t much trouble around the green.
Hole 12 – 350 yards – Par 4
A pretty simple hole here unless you hit it 300+. Another sandy area bisects the fairway short of the green. For normal hitters, this is just a 200 yard shot from the tee. The green is guarded by a bunker on the right but is otherwise open.
Hole 13 – 161 yards – Par 3
We have another uphill one-shotter here. The primary concern should be the front bunkers. Carry those and par should be easy.
Hole 14 – 545 yards – Par 5
This hole bends to the right around the bunker you see on the right. Left of the bunker is a great line.
Some friends decided to join us on this hole. They didn’t seem too interested in the golf.
Below is the view from third shot distance.
Here is the shallow green that is set at an angle to the fairway. You don’t really want to be in this bunker.
Hole 15 – 352 yards – Par 4
A straight shot of 200-225 is all you really need here. You have an ample fairway to hit.
The approach should be short. As long as you avoid the bunkers this is a birdie hole.
Hole 16 – 117 yards – Par 3
I always enjoy a short hole. With a wedge in hand the pin should be a focus. Don’t get careless though with the bunkers on the left.
Here’s a closer look. Some sweet houses behind the hole.
The green has some gnarly slope in the front portion. With this pin you can use the backstop to hit one close.
Hole 17 – 400 yards – Par 4
My shots to the left welcomed this dogleg. You can see a cart in the fairway, just left of it is a great line with a draw.
There is a second bunker further up the hole, but the main thought on this approach is to hit the large green. It is open in front to allow running shots.
Hole 18 – 378 yards – Par 4
The final tee shot plays to another dogleg left. The 150 yard marker is a good place to be for your approach shot.
The second shot is not complicated. You need to avoid the bunker to the right of the green.
This green has some of the most severe slopes on the course. Certain putts can be very tricky. Tough finisher to sink a birdie putt.
I enjoyed my day out here. The 36 holes capped off by Troon North Golf Club (Pinnacle) was a great way to finish my first trip to the desert. I still have a few more courses in the area on my list to play, so I will be back as soon as I get them lined up. Cheers Arizona!