PLAYROUND COURSE GUIDE

How to Play Arizona Biltmore Golf Club — Links

Course strategy, tee-specific yardages and a hole-by-hole game plan for Arizona Biltmore Golf Club — Links in Phoenix, AZ.

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Arizona Biltmore Golf Club — Links golf course

Arizona Biltmore Golf Club — Links

Phoenix, AZ
Black tees · 6,300 yards
COURSE OVERVIEW

About Arizona Biltmore Golf Club — Links

The Links Course at Arizona Biltmore Golf Club in Phoenix, designed by Bill Johnston in 1979, is a par-71 resort layout offering dramatic contrasts between its two nines. The front nine is relatively flat, meandering through residential corridors and lakes, while the back nine climbs into the foothills of the Phoenix Mountain Preserve with steep elevation changes, blind shots, sidehill lies, and mountain views. Highlighted by the signature 15th hole—an 80-foot drop par 3—the course emphasizes precise club selection, position off the tee, and disciplined approach play to elevated greens guarded by deep bunkering.

COURSE STRATEGY

How to play Arizona Biltmore Golf Club — Links

Off the tee

Tee shot strategy prioritizes placement and distance control over raw power due to tight tree-lined corridors, doglegs, and adjacent residential out-of-bounds areas. On multiple short par 4s and doglegs, laying up with a hybrid or fairway wood is recommended to avoid blind water hazards and out-of-bounds risks. Sloping fairways on the back nine require accounting for left-to-right or right-to-left ground movement.

Elevation & terrain

The front nine plays mostly level, but the back nine features prominent terrain shifts with steep uphill approaches and major downhill drops. The par-3 15th drops 80 feet from tee to green, causing shots to play roughly two clubs shorter than measured distance. Several uphill approaches on holes 10, 13, 14, and 16 require taking extra club to reach elevated putting surfaces.

Approach play

Approach play requires careful distance judgment to carry fronting bunkers and reach elevated green complexes. Sidehill lies on the back nine fairways complicate ball striking and trajectory control. Recognizing hidden hazards, such as the blind lake fronting the 12th green, makes laying up or taking precise conservative targets essential.

Around the greens

Greens are generally compact to medium in size and protected by sharp bunkers, requiring accurate short-game execution. Several green complexes feature subtle perimeter fall-offs and back-to-front slopes that make up-and-down recoveries demanding if missed on the wrong side. Pin positions on raised greens reward placing approach shots below the hole.

Best way to play it

Capitalize on scoring opportunities on the flatter, shorter front nine before tackling the demanding elevation changes and tighter landing zones of the back nine. Favor position off the tee with less than driver on doglegs and short par 4s, and adjust club selection accurately for severe uphill and downhill approach shots.

Key takeaways

  • The front nine is flat and offers early scoring opportunities, while the back nine introduces dramatic elevation changes, blind hazards, and steep slopes.
  • The signature par-3 15th features an 80-foot drop from an elevated tee box, playing approximately two clubs shorter than actual distance.
  • Disciplined layups off the tee are required on short par 4s like Hole 12 (blind water hazard) and Hole 14 (sharp dogleg near residential properties).
  • Uphill approach shots to elevated greens on the back nine frequently require adding an extra club to clear fronting sand traps.
YOUR GAME PLAN

Hole-by-hole game plan

Hole
Par
Yards
HCP
Strategy
1
4
351
9
Lay up off the tee using a hybrid or long iron to the fairway center. Avoid pushing tee shots right where mature trees block approach angles to the green.
Your 240 yd driver · ~111 yards remaining by raw distance.
2
5
532
1
Keep your tee shot right of the left-side water hazard. The fairway narrows significantly toward the green, making a second-shot layup the smartest route to a birdie opportunity.
Your 240 yd driver · ~292 yards remaining by raw distance. Plan this primarily as a three-shot hole.
3
3
151
13
Target the middle of the green with accurate club selection, taking care to carry the two bunkers guarding the front and sides of the green.
4
4
365
7
A fairway wood off the tee leaves a wedge approach into a narrow green. Ensure sufficient distance on approach to clear the prominent front bunker.
Your 240 yd driver · ~125 yards remaining by raw distance.
5
3
130
17
Aim slightly right of the sight line where the green opens up around the corner, avoiding pull shots left toward nearby home boundaries.
6
4
402
3
Focus on a straight drive through the narrow tree gap. The fairway expands past the trees to offer a clear view for the approach shot.
Your 240 yd driver · ~162 yards remaining by raw distance.
7
4
334
11
Hit a strong drive down the generous fairway to set up a short wedge approach for a prime scoring chance.
Your 240 yd driver · ~94 yards remaining by raw distance. Favor position and approach angle over extra tee-shot distance.
8
3
129
15
Precision is required off the tee; hit to the center of the narrow elevated green to avoid short or lateral misses into bunkering.
9
5
529
5
Position your tee shot to clear the right-hand corner, setting up a second-shot layup or aggressive approach clear of right-side trees.
Your 240 yd driver · ~289 yards remaining by raw distance. Plan this primarily as a three-shot hole.
10
5
549
4
Thread the tee shot through the narrow tree corridor. Take an extra club on approach to reach the uphill elevated green surface.
Your 240 yd driver · ~309 yards remaining by raw distance. Plan this primarily as a three-shot hole.
11
3
176
18
Aim for the center of the putting surface to take the two large lateral greenside bunkers out of play.
12
4
336
14
Lay up off the tee with a hybrid or long iron to remain short of the unseen water hazard, leaving a short iron or wedge into the green.
Your 240 yd driver · ~96 yards remaining by raw distance. Favor position and approach angle over extra tee-shot distance.
13
4
434
2
Drive firmly onto the sloping fairway, then select extra club on your approach to clear the two fronting bunkers and reach the raised green.
Your 240 yd driver · ~194 yards remaining by raw distance.
14
4
340
12
Lay up to the left-center of the fairway. Do not attempt to cut the right corner due to home yards and out-of-bounds risks; club up on the steep uphill approach to the elevated green.
Your 240 yd driver · ~100 yards remaining by raw distance. Favor position and approach angle over extra tee-shot distance.
15
3
183
16
Play roughly two clubs less than the measured yardage to account for the dramatic 80-foot drop, aiming for the center of the green between surrounding bunkers.
16
4
387
10
Adjust stance for a sidehill lie off the fairway slope. Add an extra club on approach to overcome the steep incline and clear the deep front bunker guarding the kidney-shaped green.
Your 240 yd driver · ~147 yards remaining by raw distance.
17
4
451
6
Aim tee shots to the right side of the fairway to allow the slope to feed the ball toward the middle. Target the right half of the green to clear the two large left-side bunkers.
Your 240 yd driver · ~211 yards remaining by raw distance.
18
5
521
8
Drive down the left side of the fairway to counteract the left-to-right slope and avoid trees on the right. Lay up short of greenside bunkers to leave a short third wedge into the finishing green.
Your 240 yd driver · ~281 yards remaining by raw distance. Plan this primarily as a three-shot hole.

Course information and strategy are provided for planning purposes. Yardages, course setup, hazards and playing conditions can change. Always confirm current course information before your round.