PLAYROUND COURSE GUIDE

How to Play Gainey Ranch — Dunes/Arroyo

Course strategy, tee-specific yardages and a hole-by-hole game plan for Gainey Ranch — Dunes/Arroyo in Scottsdale, AZ.

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Gainey Ranch — Dunes/Arroyo golf course

Gainey Ranch — Dunes/Arroyo

Scottsdale, AZ
Gold tees · 6,677 yards
COURSE OVERVIEW

About Gainey Ranch — Dunes/Arroyo

Designed by Michael Poellot and Bradford L. Benz, Gainey Ranch Golf Club's Dunes/Arroyo layout combines two distinct nine-hole experiences in central Scottsdale. The Dunes 9 features links-inspired terrain framed by native desert, wide fairways, and multi-tiered greens, while the Arroyo 9 presents a longer, highly strategic test dominated by a meandering dry wash (arroyo), dramatic risk-reward options, and water hazards culminating in an iconic peninsular green on the 18th.

COURSE STRATEGY

How to play Gainey Ranch — Dunes/Arroyo

Off the tee

Fairways are generally inviting, but strategic placement is crucial. On the Dunes 9, doglegs and subtle fairway bunkers require shaping off the tee, while the Arroyo 9 forces players to decide between laying back short of hazard crossings or driving close to desert washes and water to secure superior approach angles.

Elevation & terrain

Terrain is gently rolling throughout both nines with minimal dramatic elevation changes, though minor subtle uphills and downhills affect distance control on select approach shots.

Approach play

Approach play demands precise distance control and angle management. Desert arroyos bisect fairways and cut in front of several greens, while multi-tiered, heavily contoured putting surfaces penalize miss-positioned shots with tough two-putts or difficult recovery chips.

Around the greens

Greens are well-protected by deep greenside sand bunkers, surrounding mounds, and steep back-to-front or multi-tiered slopes. Staying below the pin is consistently rewarded across both nines.

Best way to play it

Play conservatively off the tee on holes where arroyos or fairway limits come into play, and focus on leaving approach shots on the correct tier beneath the hole.

Key takeaways

  • Dunes 9 requires precision and proper shot shaping to handle doglegs and severe back-to-front green slopes.
  • Arroyo 9 is defined by a desert wash that crosses fairways and guards greens, forcing frequent tee-shot decisions.
  • Putting surfaces feature distinct ridges, multiple tiers, and subtle undulations that make staying below the hole vital.
  • Water hazards enter play dramatically on Arroyo's middle and finishing holes, highlighted by the signature peninsular 18th green.
YOUR GAME PLAN

Hole-by-hole game plan

Hole
Par
Yards
HCP
Strategy
1
4
388
3
Aim down the left side of the fairway to avoid the right fairway corner bunkers. Play approach shots below the cup to avoid putting down the steep back-to-front green slope.
Your 240 yd driver · ~148 yards remaining by raw distance.
2
4
305
13
Decide off the tee whether to challenge the creek to reach the green area or lay up conservatively to the right of the fairway bunker for a full wedge into the green.
Your 240 yd driver · ~65 yards remaining by raw distance. Favor position and approach angle over extra tee-shot distance.
3
4
345
15
Shape a tee shot right-to-left to follow the curve of the dogleg. Pay close attention to pin location on approach, as back-tier pins create difficult putting conditions.
Your 240 yd driver · ~105 yards remaining by raw distance.
4
3
187
9
Select one less club for the slight downhill drop and commit to carrying the front greenside bunker.
5
4
396
5
Play a right-to-left draw off the tee to keep clear of overhanging branches on the left. Approach with care to land on the correct section of the segmented green.
Your 240 yd driver · ~156 yards remaining by raw distance.
6
5
506
17
Position your layup or approach to avoid the tree guarding the front-right entrance to the green. Use precise distance control for back-tier pin placements.
Your 240 yd driver · ~266 yards remaining by raw distance. Plan this primarily as a three-shot hole.
7
4
390
7
Favor the right side of the fairway for a safer play, or cut over the inside corner of the left dogleg to leave a shorter approach into the green.
Your 240 yd driver · ~150 yards remaining by raw distance.
8
3
186
11
Focus strictly on distance control to hit the green surface. Avoid overhitting, as shots going over the mounds behind the green leave a tough recovery.
9
5
550
1
Avoid the desert arroyo running along the right side on both your drive and layup. Clear the prominent front bunker on approach to reach the multi-tiered green.
Your 240 yd driver · ~310 yards remaining by raw distance. Plan this primarily as a three-shot hole.
10
4
386
8
Lay back off the tee to stay short of the right fairway bunkers and the arroyo that cuts across in front of the green. Check pin location to navigate the prominent ridge bisecting the green.
Your 240 yd driver · ~146 yards remaining by raw distance.
11
3
207
12
Shape your tee shot left-to-right to clear the two large eucalyptus trees protecting the front-right entrance to the green.
12
4
374
16
Take an aggressive line over the left fairway bunker to leave a short wedge approach into the steeply sloping green surface.
Your 240 yd driver · ~134 yards remaining by raw distance.
13
4
404
2
Drive close to the arroyo on the right side of the fairway to create the optimal approach angle into a pinched hourglass green.
Your 240 yd driver · ~164 yards remaining by raw distance.
14
5
533
18
Play a high fade over the corner trees off the tee to setup a shot at the green in two. Players laying up must carefully calculate distance to clear the crossing arroyo.
Your 240 yd driver · ~293 yards remaining by raw distance. Plan this primarily as a three-shot hole.
15
3
173
10
Focus purely on distance control off the tee and stay left of the water hazard guarding the right side of the green.
16
4
384
14
Either lay back short of the right fairway bunkers for a longer approach, or launch driver past the bunkers and arroyo to set up a short iron or wedge into the green.
Your 240 yd driver · ~144 yards remaining by raw distance.
17
4
408
6
Lay back off the tee with less than driver as the fairway ends ~265 yards out. Control your wedge approach into the sloped green.
Your 240 yd driver · ~168 yards remaining by raw distance.
18
5
555
4
Keep tee and layup shots safely right of the water hazard extending down the entire left side. Focus on a clean approach carry over sand and water into the peninsular green surrounded by four bunkers.
Your 240 yd driver · ~315 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.