PLAYROUND COURSE GUIDE

How to Play Grand Canyon University Golf Course

Course strategy, tee-specific yardages and a hole-by-hole game plan for Grand Canyon University Golf Course in Phoenix, AZ.

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Grand Canyon University Golf Course golf course

Grand Canyon University Golf Course

Phoenix, AZ
Purple tees · 7,215 yards
COURSE OVERVIEW

About Grand Canyon University Golf Course

Redesigned by John Fought in 2015 on the historic 1961 Maryvale Municipal site in west Phoenix, Grand Canyon University Golf Course is a championship parkland-style layout set in an urban environment. The course features wide, tree-lined fairways, contoured landing areas, deep grass-faced bunkers, water hazards, and expansive, fast greens.

COURSE STRATEGY

How to play Grand Canyon University Golf Course

Off the tee

Fairways are generally broad and forgiving, allowing aggressive driver play on most par-4 and par-5 holes. Strategic placement of fairway bunkers, mature trees, and occasional water hazards demand thoughtful shot placement rather than pure distance.

Elevation & terrain

The course occupies flat terrain with minimal elevation change across the layout. Minor fairway undulations and raised greens create subtle stance variations without significantly impacting distance calculations.

Approach play

Approach shots require distance control into elevated greens and precise placement relative to deep greenside bunkers. Water hazards guarding several greens make pin placement evaluation critical.

Around the greens

Greens are fast, expansive, and contoured with distinct collection areas, including a valley of sin on hole 7. Deep bunker faces and tight chipping areas surrounding the greens punish imprecise miss-sides.

Best way to play it

Capitalize on open fairways off the tee while avoiding strategic fairway bunkers, then play conservatively to green centers on holes guarded by water or steep bunkers. Managing putts across fast multi-tiered greens is key to scoring.

Key takeaways

  • Parkland layout with mature 1960s trees and wide fairways built on flat urban terrain.
  • John Fought redesign features deep, grass-faced bunkers and elevated greens.
  • Minimal native desert hazard penalties compared to traditional Arizona target courses.
  • Fast, expansive putting surfaces that demand precise distance control on approaches.
YOUR GAME PLAN

Hole-by-hole game plan

Hole
Par
Yards
HCP
Strategy
1
4
498
3
Target the right-center of the fairway off the tee to clear or bypass the left-side fairway bunkers, setting up a manageable second shot on this scoring hole.
Your 240 yd driver · ~258 yards remaining by raw distance.
2
3
198
11
Select extra club length to overcome the visual optical illusion created by the front ridge and land safely on the green depth.
3
5
647
9
Shape the drive with a gentle right turn to follow the fairway line, and avoid overshooting the approach shot into the hazard behind the green.
Your 240 yd driver · ~407 yards remaining by raw distance. Plan this primarily as a three-shot hole.
4
4
349
17
Aim for the left side of the green complex to take the right water hazard and deep front bunker out of play.
Your 240 yd driver · ~109 yards remaining by raw distance.
5
4
421
13
Aggressive players can take aim toward the green off the tee, but cautious play with a long iron or hybrid ensures a clean wedge shot into narrow pin positions.
Your 240 yd driver · ~181 yards remaining by raw distance.
6
4
400
15
Clear the right bunker to leave a short wedge approach, while avoiding excessive distance that runs into water on the far left.
Your 240 yd driver · ~160 yards remaining by raw distance.
7
4
485
5
Play off the tee to avoid fairway cross-bunkers and favor the right side of the green on the approach shot to prevent falling into the steep left hollow.
Your 240 yd driver · ~245 yards remaining by raw distance.
8
3
205
7
Aim tee shots left-center to avoid getting blocked by the right dogleg corner, leaving a medium-to-long approach into the green.
9
4
465
1
Target the line over the initial fairway bunker where the landing zone widens, and avoid going long over the green near the clubhouse patio area.
Your 240 yd driver · ~225 yards remaining by raw distance.
10
5
545
10
Keep tee shots right of center to avoid the out-of-bounds line along the left perimeter, setting up an approach to a wide green.
Your 240 yd driver · ~305 yards remaining by raw distance. Plan this primarily as a three-shot hole.
11
3
218
6
Position tee shots below or on the same tier as the flag, as putting from right to left down the slope requires delicate speed control.
12
4
483
2
Focus on solid fairway positioning across three shots to setup a manageable wedge approach into the green.
Your 240 yd driver · ~243 yards remaining by raw distance.
13
3
180
12
Decide whether to go for the green or lay up, ensuring miss-shots avoid bunker faces that make recovery chipping difficult.
14
4
340
18
Play a right-to-left tee shot short of or away from the left pond, or lay up off the tee to ensure a safe angle into the green.
Your 240 yd driver · ~100 yards remaining by raw distance. Favor position and approach angle over extra tee-shot distance.
15
4
377
16
Favor the right side of the fairway off the tee to avoid the deep left bunker, which makes high-trajectory recovery shots tough.
Your 240 yd driver · ~137 yards remaining by raw distance.
16
4
395
14
Stay right-center off the tee to clear trees lining the dogleg turn, and take enough club to carry the water hazard guarding the large green.
Your 240 yd driver · ~155 yards remaining by raw distance.
17
4
466
4
Play toward the center-left portion of the green to stay clear of the water hazard on the right and clear the deep front bunker.
Your 240 yd driver · ~226 yards remaining by raw distance.
18
5
543
8
Aim down the center of the broad fairway to keep clear of out-of-bounds fences, and prepare for an approach shot from uneven fairway contours.
Your 240 yd driver · ~303 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.