Category Archives: Golf Courses & Area Resorts

Cactus League Baseball Comes to Arizona’s Valley of the Sun

Posted on March 12, 2012 by | Leave a comment

The New Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, the newest facility for MLB's Cactus League Spring Training

There is no other experience like Major League Baseball’s Spring Training.  And, there’s no place in the United States where you’ll enjoy it more than in Arizona’s Valley of the Sun.  Here, we are blessed with 15 of MLB’s finest teams—half of all Major League Baseball!–from late February until April 4th in the daily extravaganza known as Cactus League Baseball!  During 2011, there were over 1.5 million fans at 233 games–that’s approximately 6 games played per day at the stunning spring training facilities around the valley.  The days are glorious…warm sunshine on your face, the smell of grass, hot dogs, popcorn and roasted peanuts while you watch the play that is so close you can almost reach out and touch it.

In Fountain Hills, we are especially blessed to be only 15 minutes from the league’s newest facility, Salt River Fields at Talking Stick Resort.  The home of both the Arizona Diamondbacks AND the Colorado Rockies…we are in baseball heaven!  Only a few minutes farther is Scottsdale Stadium in the heart of Old Towne Scottsdale, and home of the San Francisco Giants.

While the Cactus League was officially formed in 1989, the history of baseball and the Valley of the Sun harken back for almost a century here in Arizona – from the sports barnstorming days before statehood to the early beginnings of the Cactus League in 1947.  In fact, Ty Cobb once soothed his old spring training aches and pains at the Buckhorn Baths mineral spas in Mesa. Willie Mays was the first to hit a homer at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. And Mickey Mantle and Joe DiMaggio played one season of spring training baseball together out here. These are just some of the moments that make up the rich history of Cactus League baseball in Arizona.

And those moments continue to this day.   Get your tickets now!  For more information about Cactus League Baseball, go to www.CactusLeague.com

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Fountain Hills Hosts the Memorial Disc Golf Tournament This Week-end

Posted on March 1, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Disc Golfers Show Their Stuff at the Memorial Disc Golf Tournament March 1-4, 2012

March 1, 2012– Memorial Disc Golf Tournament- Fountain Park

You might think there are a bunch of “Frisbee-throwers” in the park this week-end.  But that’s like saying Phil Mickelson is an amateur hacker.  This is THE 2012 Professional Disc Golf Association Memorial Tournament, and the field of 400 professional and amateur participants are serious about their sport.  The 2012 Memorial Championship presented by Discraft kicks off the National Tour and is held every year at the Fountain Hills Disc Course at Fountain Park, which is considered to be one of the best in the country.

Be sure to visit and enjoy the beautiful weather.  Walking traffic through Fountain Park will be allowed, though all visitors are asked to be mindful of golfers. The event will run in conjunction with The Memorial Experience, featuring contests, a vendor showcase and a concert Saturday evening.

Fans of the sport will be able to watch all the drama unfold live from the beautiful Fountain Hills course in Arizona by pointing their browser over to http://www.DiscGolfPlanet.tv. The broadcast will begin on Thursday and continue Friday and Saturday. Special bonus coverage of The Memorial Championship presented by Discraft will occur on Tuesday, as DiscGolfPlanet.tv will provide a live feed from the Memorial Press Conference in Fountain Hills at 2:15 pm MST.

With a full field of the game’s top players looking to start their year with a big win, the defending champion, Paul McBeth, has his work cut out for him. Nikko Locastro won his third consecutive player of the year award in 2011 and is coming off an impressive win at the Gentlemen’s Club Challenge, where McBeth finished second. Nate Doss is aiming to keep his momentum from his stellar play in the second half of last year where he won the Kansas City Wide Open, the Vibram Open and his third World Championship.  Paige Pierce is the defending champion in the women’s division.

As in previous seasons, this Tenth year for the PDGA National Tour maintains its mission to be the spotlighting of disc golf’s best events on the best courses with the best players. With 2012’s six-event schedule, the PDGA feels that this valuable mission will continue to be fulfilled for disc golf fans, players, and strategic partners.

To check out more about Fountain Hill or to get a copy of the company’s relocation guide go to www.SonoranLifestyle.com .  If you visit, stop by the Avenue of the Fountains office of Sonoran Lifestyle Real Estate only a half-block form the Fountain.  Here, you’ll find maps and information about the area and area real estate.  You can reach them at 480-816-5557.

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Posted in Area Events, Golf Courses & Area Resorts, Mountain Trails, Scenery & Life

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SunRidge Canyon Golf Community: A Fountain Hills Original

Posted on July 26, 2011 by | Leave a comment

It would be odd to use the words “wild, beautiful” to describe a golf course in the same terms you might describe an untamed horse, or unruly, rapid river. But the creators of this popular Arizona course, named to Golf Magazine’s ‘Top 100 Courses You Can Play in the US”, weren’t thinking of tame, ordinary golf when they carved SunRidge Canyon’s legendary fairways from the raw desert canyon of its origins.
SunRidge Canyon’s 6,823-yard, par-71, Keith Foster-designed golf course unfolds around the rugged ridges and lush canyons unique to the McDowell Mountains that divide Fountain Hills from Scottsdale, Arizona.
In golf speak, it is a “non-returning 9”…or in other words, you won’t be spending much time at the beautiful SunRidge Canyon clubhouse until you’ve paid your dues on the course. The first half of the course plays mostly downhill, and might lull you into a false sense of accomplishment, but it’s the back-half that has the potential to test your mettle, as it winds back up-canyon to a spectacular finish at the 18th. Along the way you’ll be treated to canyon walls, beautiful vistas and desert arroyos that weren’t so much created by a bulldozer as they were carved out over eons by the relentless pressure of wind and water. Course Designer Keith Foster had the good sense to follow Mother Nature’s lead, and in the end, the beauty and challenge of SunRidge Canyon is unlike any other desert golf experience in the Valley of the Sun.
The 18,000-square-foot SunRidge Canyon Golf Club’s clubhouse is the ideal place to begin and end your adventures. The Spanish hacienda-style clubhouse provides an awe-inspiring setting for post-golf beverages as well as weddings, receptions, awards banquets or any other type of special event. There is also a full-service golf shop, men’s and women’s locker facilities, and a conference room.
New owners, Cindy and Don Misheff, along with manager Jeff Lessig, are giving the club more local interest, providing incentives for area residents who wish to purchase the SunRidge Players Card. Contact the pro shop at 480-837-5100 for more information on rates, tee times and the benefits of the Players Card.
For a fun, multi-media “fly-over” of the entire course, hole by hole, go to: http://sunridgegolf.com/golf/hole-by-hole-flyover/
Sunridge Canyon Homes and Lifestyle

The mountainous beauty that surrounds Sunridge Canyon serves as a natural barrier, which protects it from over-development and preserves its close-knit, small-town feel. There are 789 homes within SunRidge Canyon, located along the meandering fairways and often elevated nicely above the course to facilitate panoramic views. Homes in the community were developed between 1996 and 2005, and range from extravagant custom homes to small luxury villas—a perfect selection for empty nesters, retirees or families looking for a friendly neighborhood environment. Prices in the community range from the high $200’s to over $1 million.  There are two gated communities among the 15 individual neighborhoods.  The McDowell Sonoran Preserve winds in and around the western portions of SunRidge Canyon, with the pristine McDowell Mountains providing a stunning backdrop for many of the homes.

For more information, visit SunRidge Canyon at 13100 North Sunridge Drive
Fountain Hills, AZ, or call 480-837-5100. For information about homes and the local real estate market, contact Dori Wittrig, President and Designated Broker of Sonoran Lifestyle Real Estate; 480-816-5557 or http://www.TheSonoranLifestyle.com .

Via Flickr:
As the sun flares over the side of the mountain and the wind continues to how straight into our faces at a good 40-45 miles an hour, we both hit a 3 wood into the par three 17th. from 150 yards and both good shots never got to the green. Thats golf….

Dori Wittrig

Posted by Dori Wittrig, Designated Broker, Sonoran Lifestyle Real Estate.  For more information about  the neighborhoods, homes, condos or land of Scottsdale or Fountain Hills, contact her at DoriW@SonoranLifestyle.com or by phone at 602-558-5901

 

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Posted in Golf Courses & Area Resorts, Homes, Lots & Condos For Sale or Rent, Our Real Estate Market

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Fountain Hills 2-Bedroom Resort-Style Condominium at FireRock Resort Casitas

Posted on June 24, 2011 by | Leave a comment
9253 N. Firebrick Drive, #114, Fountain Hills, AZ 85268
2 Bedroom / 2 Bath / 1064 sq. ft.  / 1 Carport   / $145,530
MLS # 4605583

Welcome to FireRock Resort Casitas

Check out this Fountain Hills resort condominium at FireRock Resort Casitas, just in time to plan for a warm winter in the sunny southwest!  Fountain Hills is the perfect place to own a vacation condo or second home, a world class community with a hometown feel on the eastern edge of Maricopa County amid stunning views of several mountain ranges.   Only minutes from Scottsdale and Mesa, Fountain Hills is a world apart, a golf mecca with four public golf courses.  Firerock Country Club, the namesake championship course next door, is a private, member friendly club designed by Gary Panks and managed by community developer MCO Properties.

And in Fountain Hills, there’s no finer resort condominium community than FireRock Resort Casitas, with its lushly landscaped resort-style recreation area, complete with clubhouse, large heated pool and spa.  The community is
within walking distance to dining and shopping, plus there’s a Starbucks Coffee
Shop only a block away!

This ground-level condominium home offers great desert views from the spacious patio area. An elegantly decorated condominium featuring 2 master bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a great room with a spacious dining area, the well-lit kitchen offers granite counters and a convenient laundry room and pantry.  There is a carport included, plus additional covered parking possibly available.  Of course, a resort condominium at FireRock Resort Casitas provides worry-free ownership and eliminates the need to worry about grounds or building maintenance.   HOA fees are only $195 per month and include cable TV and trash service.  Best of all, the condo is competitively priced at only $145,530!

Don’t put off getting your stake in the game!   This is a great investment property or an outstanding winter second home in Fountain Hills, a community  Newsweek Magazine named Best Affordable Suburb for 2009. For seller financing incentives, agents and their buyers are requested to contact Bruce Laessig of Sonoran Lifestyle Real Estate for details.  Reach him at 480-296-3806 or Bruce@BruceLaessig.com.  Learn more about this beautiful resort-style
condo in FireRock Resort casitas at your Fountain Hills resource for homes,
land and condos at www.TheSonoranLifestyle.com.  To view the property website of this great resort condominium, go to FireRock Casita #114.

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Private Country Club Living: Ancala Country Club Golf in Scottsdale, AZ

Posted on June 12, 2011 by | Leave a comment

To look at the social calendar, golf activities calendar or the great menu served up at Ancala Country Club in Scottsdale, it’s easy to see why Ancala, located at 120th Street and Via Linda in Scottsdale, is such a popular club with its residents and members.  It would also help explain why their residential property values have held strong over the past few years of real estate upheaval.

Ancala Clubhouse EntryAncala’s popularity is earned at every level of service and amenities.  Their club house is well  managed, under the direction of Charles Zimmer, General Manager (480-391 ext. 220;  czimmer@eagle.com.)  There is a member-friendly restaurant and grille bar, plus plenty of outside dining patios that serve up an enormous view of the Valley of the Sun.  There are always fun social activities like wine tastings, book clubs, dive-in movies for the kids, fitness sessions and dine-arounds to join.  Members find the facilities accommodating, from the ample meeting and social rooms to the recently updated fitness center, the active tennis program and the world-class golf course.

Interestingly, the community has been sold out for many years, and it’s
unusual to find a member-run club that offers this many activities when the
original developer leaves the scene.  The club is expertly managed by Eagle Golf.

Night view from an Ancala HomeHomes for Sale at Ancala Country Club:  Currently, in June, 2011, there are only 27 homes for sale at Ancala Country Club, ranging from $600,000 to $5 million.  Lot sizes range from 1/4 acre to over an acre and were generally custom-built between 1995 and 2011.  Most lots have either a beautiful location on a fairway or a stunning view of the Valley…sometimes both!  There have been 22 homes in Anacala sold in 2011 through June 10, at an average price of $1,124,205, which is about 26% off the 2007 values…but that’s a much stronger benchmark than much of the Pheonix market.  By all accounts, the 2011 sales statistics will end up being much improved over 2010, a testimony to the strength and popularity of Ancala homes.  For information on homes for sale in Ancala Country Club, located at 120th and Via Linda in Scottsdale, contact Dori Wittrig, Sonoran Lifestyle Real Estate, 602-558-5901 or DoriW@SonoranLifestyle.com.

Golf at Ancala:  Recently named one of the “Top 5 Golf Courses in Scottsdale” by GolfLink.com, the rating organization had this to say about the impressive golf course:    “Without question, Ancala has become one of the most prestigious country clubs in the state because of its target-style layout and it requires you to hit long yet precise shots to score low. The club’s immaculately kept fairways are crisscrossed by ravines that keep you on your toes for the entire 18 holes.  Ancala is almost 6,900 yards long from the back tees, yet it has four closer tees on each hole so that it is accessible to all golfers, regardless of skill. From the championship tees, it has a whopping slope rating of 152.”

The head pro at Ancala Country Club, Kevin Neel, (480-391-1000 x 235 or kneel@eaglegolf.com ) provides an impressive variety of golf clinics, lessons and group events for every member of the family.  This summer, activities include:

  • Family and Junior Golf Complimentary Lesson Day
  • Complimentary Junior Golf  for younger members and their Friends
  • Family Golf Clinics
  • Weekly Beginners Academy
  • Junior Golf Schools
  • Ladies Clinics and Lessons
  • Golf Associations and Event Days for Ladies, Men and Couples

Tennis:  The USTA-approved tennis program at Ancala Country Club offers tournaments, group and private lessons for all skill levels, and social events. There is also an aerobic tennis session offered, a fun workout to help improve your game. For more information, contact Coach Michael Grant, Head Tennis Professional;  602-741-5683 or TennisPro1AZ@netzero.net

Pool & Fitness:  Ancala Country Club Members enjoy a year-round pool facility that includes two Junior Olympic-size lap lanes as well as an area for lounging and enjoying the desert sun. The pool is heated in the winter months to ensure the comfort of the Members. The fitness area was updated and enhanced in October, 2010.

With all this–and more–it’s easy to see why country club living at Ancala Country Club is one of Scottsdale’s hottest tickets!  For membership information, contact Mary Grass, Director of Membership Sales (480-391-1000 ext. 225 or mgrass@eaglegolf.com .)

Dori Wittrig, Designated Broker of Sonoran Lifestyle Real Estate

Posted by Dori Wittrig, Designated Broker, Sonoran Lifestyle Real Estate.  For more information about  the neighborhoods, homes, condos or land of Scottsdale or Fountain Hills, contact her at DoriW@SonoranLifestyle.com or by phone at 602-558-5901

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Furnished Model Home at CopperWynd Resort, Fountain Hills, AZ

Posted on May 29, 2011 by | Leave a comment
14850 E. Grandview Drive, Fountain Hills, AZ 85268
2 Bedrooms Plus Den, 2 Baths, 2 Car Garage;  Furnished, $425,000

Copperwynd Villa Model Home for Sale

This is one you won’t want to miss…a furnished former model home at the popular Copperwynd Villas and Copperwynd Resort in Fountain Hills.  Beyond a classic…this model home set the tone for all models in Fountain Hills!

This is THE popular Brindisi Furnished Model Home, with stunning, upper level views, perched high on the sought-after north hillside of CopperWynd Resort that straddles the boundary between Fountain Hills and Scottsdale, high in the McDowell Mountains.  There are two large balconies to enjoy the pristine panoramic views of the surrounding mountains, Sunridge Canyon Golf Club and city lights.

CopperWynd Resort

What a find!  A furnished, former model with 2 bedrooms, 2 baths and a den and is tastefully and beautifully decorated to be completely move-in ready.   Custom home finishes include granite counter tops, custom finished maple cabinetry, custom stonework, stainless steel appliances and beautiful window treatments.

This is the signature location and view that made The Villas at CopperWynd so popular…closest to the extraordinary CopperWynd Resort with it’s world class spa, fitness center, 2 pools and 9 tennis courts, casual and fine dining.  Membership is available separately.  Check out CopperWynd Resort in Fountain Hills.  To learn more about this home, call Sherri Ginsberg, Sonoran Lifestyle Real Estate, 480-818-0374.

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Gallery

Fountain Hills and Scottsdale Celebrate The Sonoran Lifestyle

Posted on May 10, 2011 by

This gallery contains 6 photos.

Stunning sunrises and 300 days of sunshine; friendly people and lots of fun activities to share with them; a healthy lifestyle of creative local eateries and outdoor recreation;  beautiful scenery, flowers and critters found no where else in the world ….. Welcome to a colorful celebration … Continue reading →

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