PLAYROUND COURSE GUIDE

How to Play Gold Canyon — Dinosaur Mountain

Course strategy, tee-specific yardages and a hole-by-hole game plan for Gold Canyon — Dinosaur Mountain in Gold Canyon, AZ.

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Gold Canyon — Dinosaur Mountain golf course

Gold Canyon — Dinosaur Mountain

Gold Canyon, AZ
Gold tees · 6,711 yards
COURSE OVERVIEW

About Gold Canyon — Dinosaur Mountain

Dinosaur Mountain at Gold Canyon Golf Resort is a high Sonoran Desert mountain layout designed by Ken Kavanaugh and Greg Nash/Jeff Hardin. Built along the foothills of the Superstition Mountains, the course features roller-coaster elevation drops, dramatic cliffside tee shots, native desert carries, artificial mounding, and six distinct par-3 holes.

COURSE STRATEGY

How to play Gold Canyon — Dinosaur Mountain

Off the tee

Tee shots play off elevated cliffs into wide fairways framed by native desert terrain. Fairways often feature severe side slopes, making it vital to favor the high side of the landing area to avoid running into desert hazards.

Elevation & terrain

Dramatically steep elevation drops off tee boxes alter playing distances significantly, requiring players to club down up to two clubs on downhill holes. Uphill holes and side-sloping terrain require careful adjustments for carry distances and lies.

Approach play

Approaches demand strong distance control to negotiate multi-tiered greens, cross-cutting desert washes, and lateral water hazards. Missing on the wrong tier or above the pin creates difficult recovery shots and severe downhill putts.

Around the greens

Large greens feature pronounced contours, ridges, and back-to-front slopes surrounded by 1980s-style artificial mounding and deep bunkers. Misses short or to the wrong side leave delicate chips off tight runoff areas.

Best way to play it

Commit to conservative targets into green centers and adjust club selection for extreme downhill drops. Play to the high side of sloping fairways and respect cross-cutting desert washes to avoid compounding errors.

Key takeaways

  • Six unique par-3 holes highlight severe downhill drops requiring clubbing adjustments.
  • Prominent fairway slopes require aiming toward the uphill side to stay in play.
  • Multi-tiered green complexes reward shots that stay below the hole location.
  • Cross-cutting desert washes demand careful tee and layup distance management.
YOUR GAME PLAN

Hole-by-hole game plan

Hole
Par
Yards
HCP
Strategy
1
4
326
5
Drive toward the right-center of the wide fairway to set up an ideal line into the large green complex.
Your 240 yd driver · ~86 yards remaining by raw distance. Favor position and approach angle over extra tee-shot distance.
2
3
201
15
Club down to account for the downhill drop. Favor the short-right bailout area and avoid missing left or long into the sand traps.
3
5
514
3
Aim along the right side of the fairway off the tee and on the layup to prevent shots from sliding left toward the hazard. Target the correct tier on approach.
Your 240 yd driver · ~274 yards remaining by raw distance. Plan this primarily as a three-shot hole.
4
4
472
1
Drive down the right-center of the fairway to avoid left-side desert. Play the approach to the right half of the putting surface and let the slope feed the ball left.
Your 240 yd driver · ~232 yards remaining by raw distance.
5
3
235
9
Club down up to two full clubs due to the steep drop. Aim for the center of the large green complex to avoid surrounding collection depressions and desert.
6
4
451
11
Favor left-center off the tee for a traditional approach angle, or challenge the left side over the cart path area to reach a level landing spot.
Your 240 yd driver · ~211 yards remaining by raw distance.
7
4
439
7
Drive into the broad fairway while avoiding the large right bunker, leaving a layup short of the desert wash. Carry the wash on approach to reach the green.
Your 240 yd driver · ~199 yards remaining by raw distance.
8
3
205
13
Target the middle of this expansive green complex. If the pin is up front, use the back slope to roll the ball back down toward the flag.
9
5
542
17
Aim for the right-center of the wide fairway to keep distance from the left water hazard. Precise distance control is required on approach.
Your 240 yd driver · ~302 yards remaining by raw distance. Plan this primarily as a three-shot hole.
10
3
205
16
Select enough club to carry the front desert wash and hit the center of the raised green. Missing off the edges creates tricky chip shots off slopes.
11
5
542
18
Drive toward the right-center of the fairway to open up the hole and set up an aggressive second shot or a comfortable layup.
Your 240 yd driver · ~302 yards remaining by raw distance. Plan this primarily as a three-shot hole.
12
4
449
12
Favor the left-center off the elevated tee to counteract the fairway slope feeding toward the right bunker. Approach plays slightly uphill.
Your 240 yd driver · ~209 yards remaining by raw distance.
13
4
457
2
Steer clear of the deep left tee bunker by favoring the right-center. On approach, shape a shot or bail out short-left, as missing right or long is severely penalized.
Your 240 yd driver · ~217 yards remaining by raw distance.
14
3
226
6
Adjust for the drop off the tee while taking enough club to clear fronting bunkering. Target green center to manage tricky putting breaks.
15
4
378
4
Drive from the elevated tee toward the left fairway option to avoid the right water hazard. Execute an accurate approach shot over water to reach the green.
Your 240 yd driver · ~138 yards remaining by raw distance.
16
5
535
14
Hit a confident drive down the fairway to set up an opportunity to reach the green in two or play a comfortable layup. Avoid surrounding sand traps on approach.
Your 240 yd driver · ~295 yards remaining by raw distance. Plan this primarily as a three-shot hole.
17
3
168
8
Select the correct club to handle tee-to-green elevation, targeting the middle of the putting surface to stay clear of surrounding bunkers and native desert.
18
4
366
10
Drive down the center of the fairway to keep clear of fairway bunkers and desert. Play an accurate approach shot to an elevated, well-guarded finishing green.
Your 240 yd driver · ~126 yards remaining by raw distance.

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.