THE PLACE
PRESCOTT
Ninety miles northwest of Phoenix is one of the Southwest's
true golf secrets. At an elevation of 5,400 feet, Prescott
(population 40,000) is a four-season destination; so while
your group may find it chilly in March, it's sensational
from May through September, when temperatures are fifteen
to twenty degrees cooler than down in the Valley of the
Sun. Prescott's classically designed town square and
streets lined with preserved Victorian homes highlight its
status as the original state capital. Great value and
laid-back atmosphere.
STAYING*
Hassayampa Inn
800-322-1927; hassayampainn.com; $129/night. A couple of short blocks from Prescott's historic
Courthouse Square and Whiskey Row, the Hassayampa is the
town's most historic, character-laden hotel, with a
bustling, elegant lounge with jazz music, as well as a
sports bar.
PLAYING
Antelope Hills, North Course
928-776-7888; antelopehillsgolf.com; $40/$55 cart.
Celebrating its fiftieth anniversary in 2006, the North
course toots its horn with multiple doglegs framed by
AARP-worthy elms in its 6,844-yard high-country journey.
Antelope Hills, South Course
928-776-7888; antelopehillsgolf.com; $40/$55 cart. The
longer, more wide-open South course, set amid the scenic
splendor of the Granite Dells, was crafted by Gary Panks,
who also did Arizona favorites Grayhawk (Talon), Sedona
Golf Resort and Whirlwind. Watch for huge, fast greens and
a bit more breeze than the North receives.
Prescott Golf & Country Club
800-717-7274; prescottgolf.net; $45. If you can't talk your
way into the nominally private but somewhat accessible
Prescott Lakes, Talking Rock or Hassayampa clubs, try this
friendly, tree-lined, thirty-five-year-old layout in Dewey,
part of the Prescott Valley.
StoneRidge
928-772-6500; stoneridgegolf.com; $47. At 5,000 refreshing
feet above sea level, this three-year-old roller-coaster
ride in Prescott Valley calls for accuracy and uphill
high-desert approaches. StoneRidge also features a couple
of postcard par threes that spice up play on the back nine.
DINING
Murphy's (Steak): 928-445-4044. Old Victorian decor (the
building dates to 1890) with a wonderful bar. Slow-roasted
prime rib is a house specialty, as is the irresistible
freshly baked bread made on the premises.
The Rose Restaurant (Continental): 928-777-8308. Veal
marsala and other Italian entrées are the chef's
specialties here. The Rose recently began serving Sunday
brunch—hard to come by in the area.
OTHER ACTIVIES
Courthouse Square/Whiskey Row: visit-prescott.com.
Saloons such as the Bird Cage; dinner theater at the
Palace, Arizona's oldest bar and restaurant.
Frontier Days and World's Oldest Rodeo: 800-358-1888,
worldsoldestrodeo.com. The June/July rodeo is the highlight
of this Old West ruckus, which dates to 1888.
Prescott Conference Center & Casino: 800- 967-4637,
prescottresort.com. Casino gaming and entertainment with a
down-home flair.
