Forest Highlands (Canyon) - Arizona - USA

Since its opening over 30 years ago the Canyon Course at Forest Highlands has received much praise. Clearly, the course has its advantages. One of the main ones is being located at an elevation of 7,000+ feet. For those who want to leave the searing heat of the Phoenix metro area the escape in summer time to Flagstaff is a most welcome benefit. Just keep in mind -- temperatures can swing dramatically -- even in the late spring and early fall it's very possible for snow to fall.

The most enduring element of the design comes from the realization that at the given altitude the golf ball will travel considerable more distance. Knowing that the course is summer retreat for owners of property and their guests -- the design duo of Jay Morrish and Tom Weiskopf created a smart routing that includes no less than six par-3 holes. Starting at the 4th hole and ending with the 14th -- every other hole is a par-3. The designers knew full well that to create par-4 holes -- especially long ones -- would require a good amount of acreage and the impact that the higher elevation would cause to happen.

The first third of course is rather benign -- nothing to really get the pulse going.

Things do change when you get to the dog-leg left par-4 7th. The 476-yard-hole allows for the bold play as the hole turns a good bit to the left and for those who succeed a much shorter approach. The par-3 8th that follows is a solid hole to a green that is well protected.

The most striking hole -- visually -- comes at the 9th. You begin play from an elevated tee and the view is nothing short of mesmerizing. The par-4 of 466 yards descends into a valley area. There is a solitary ponderosa pine which adds a good bit of character to the hole. Two bunkers are in the drive zone and must be avoided. Morrish and Weiskopf created a first rate putting surface connected to the par-5 18th hole. The approach must fly over a frontal water hazard and the pin can be placed in two different areas -- back right is most challenging.

The back nine weaves its way around a cluster of homes which are pushed far enough back away from the actual play. The holes in the stretch are satisfactory but not especially compelling from an architectural standpoint.

The concluding two holes are well worth noting.

The par-4 17th is an excellent usage of the terrain and provides the opportunity for a driveable par-4 for the most capable of players. At 387 yards you begin play from an elevated tee -- the hole turns sharply left and for those who wish to take a shot at the green must carry a series of ponderosa pines that guard the left side. There's an alleyway of fairway provided for those who can successfully carry the ball in that direction. To the architect's credit -- there's also a safe play to the right leaving an approach with a more demanding angle. The brilliance of the hole is that there's not one bunker included. The land is artfully used and the strategic calculations a player must make are top shelf for sure.

The concluding par-5 is just under 600 yards and brings you home in fine fashion. The fairway has two sections -- getting in play is essential as this allows more choices to be made. Players able to work the ball right-to-left off the tee can follow the shape of the fairway. The green hugs a tree line and there is a protecting pond that's well-positioned. There is a landing area provided for those playing the hole as a three-shot sequence. Long hitting players can opt to go for the green but the play must be well-executed because the slightest pull to the left will mean a quick donation to the Forest Highlands ball fund.

Morrish and Weiskopf did a fine job in creating a fun course meant for the day-to-day audience of seasonal property owning members and their guests. The Canyon Course has been often touted as being one of the best courses in Arizona and for a time a member of various top 100 courses in America. I don't doubt the merits of the course and salute what the architects did with the final routing. However, the quality of the golf throughout the Grand Canyon State has certainly come up considerably since the courser first opened and for me personally given the sheer number of courses I have played in the state I would no longer have it among my personal top ten. Interestingly, for many coming to Arizona for the first time may not realize the sheer diversity in terrain in the Grand Canyon State - especially at higher elevations. Creating a course that provides total elasticity for those generally playing there has worked very well. A second 18 was also added a few years later and is located on more flat meadow type land.

by M. James Ward

At 7,000 feet elevation, the Canyon course has a short playing season due to the local climate in Flagstaff. Once listed in the Top 100 courses in the world, and a long-term resident in numerous USA Top 100 listings, the Canyon course certainly has a solid reputation. However in order to play the course, it requires you to travel to Arizona in the middle of the summer! I landed in Phoenix and it was 40 Celsius, after a 2-hour drive up to Flagstaff, it was 23 Celsius with some players wearing vests. A young man at the clubhouse was discussing the course with me before I teed off and when I heard him say “the course doesn’t really start until the 8th hole”, my first thought was that this was a very strange choice of words as he basically disregarded half the course. The opening two holes are short par 4s, which don’t offer much inspiration or challenge. It’s certainly a gentle introduction to this course up high in the Arizona Mountains. The drama of this course is all about the Canyon holes which surface in middle of the round. The par 3 8th hole plays downhill into a punchbowl green followed by the signature par 4 9th hole. Hours could be spent sitting on this tee box taking photos of what sits below you in the Canyon. My jaw-dropped with the abundance of scenery. The fairway sits beautifully up through the Canyon with a lone tall evergreen tree standing in the right-side of the fairway. The 9th and 18th greens sit next to each other with a pond wrapping its way menacingly into your line of sight. The changes in elevation throughout the back nine enhance the enjoyment of the routing through the enormous evergreens. The collection of par 3s are highly commendable, especially playing downhill over ravines, lakes or into a beautiful framed forest background. It’s a manicured course that doesn’t play “firm and fast”, so to some extent it feels like target golf, however, this doesn’t (at all) take away from the demanding nature of the course. I spotted a couple of PGA Tour professionals out on the back nine working on their games, so the caliber of club is reputable. I’d argue that this is Weiskopf’s best course in his portfolio.

When most people think of Arizona courses, they think of the desert courses of Tucson and Phoenix. But Flagstaff, two hours north of Phoenix in a completely different climate, is home to what may be the best golf course in the state, Forest Highlands.

Forest Highlands could easily make my Top 10 list. Designed by Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish, the property is nestled in among tall pine trees that frame the snowcapped San Francisco Peaks in the distance. Elevation changes abound at Forest Highlands, and many of the holes play downhill through those towering pines. The course is only open in the summer, and we were blessed with a perfect day. We were blown away by this golf experience. Larry Berle.

The Canyon Course at Forest Highlands is every inch a championship course. Beautifully manicured and well laid-out, with every hole rewarding good shots and punishing bad ones. The 17th is a stand-out hole, inviting drives to flirt with a stream along the left edge of the fairway, before the approach shots cross the water to a tricky little green back in the trees. Must play if you get the chance!