PLAYROUND COURSE GUIDE

How to Play Granite Falls Gc — North Course

Course strategy, tee-specific yardages and a hole-by-hole game plan for Granite Falls Gc — North Course in Surprise, AZ.

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Granite Falls Gc — North Course golf course

Granite Falls Gc — North Course

Surprise, AZ
Black-North tees · 6,720 yards
COURSE OVERVIEW

About Granite Falls Gc — North Course

Designed by Billy Casper and Greg Nash in 1999, the North Course at Granite Falls Golf Club in Surprise, Arizona, blends traditional Midwestern design elements with Sonoran Desert surroundings. Spanning up to 6,720 yards, this 18-hole championship layout is widely regarded as the most challenging of the four courses in Sun City Grand. It features rolling fairways, extensive sand bunkering, native desert transition zones, and water hazards coming into play on 10 holes.

COURSE STRATEGY

How to play Granite Falls Gc — North Course

Off the tee

Tee shots require careful placement onto rolling, undulating fairways flanked by strategic fairway bunkering and native desert borders. While landing areas are relatively generous, hitting the proper side of the fairway is essential to avoid awkward sidehill lies on approach.

Elevation & terrain

Terrain changes are predominantly soft desert rolls and fairway undulations rather than dramatic mountain slopes. These subtle contours create uneven lies throughout the fairway landing areas.

Approach play

Approaches test distance control into large, multi-tiered greens protected by deep bunkers, grass mounding, and water hazards on 10 holes. Precision is essential, as missing on the wrong side leaves complex recovery shots from tricky slopes.

Around the greens

Green complexes are defined by severe undulations, false fronts, and surrounding collection areas. Missed greens require delicate pitch and chip shots from uneven lies, putting a premium on short-game touch.

Best way to play it

Emphasize fairway position over pure distance to secure flat lies into large, undulating greens. Play conservatively away from water hazards and deep green-side bunkers, targeting the center of green complexes to minimize big numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Co-designed by Billy Casper and Greg Nash, combining manicured Midwestern course features with Sonoran Desert scenery.
  • Water hazards impact strategy on 10 holes, including lakes, fountains, and cascading waterfalls.
  • Undulating fairways generate frequent uneven lies, requiring adaptable setup and swing control.
  • Known as the most challenging layout at Sun City Grand due to green undulations and punishing green-side collection areas.
YOUR GAME PLAN

Hole-by-hole game plan

Hole
Par
Yards
HCP
Strategy
1
4
390
3
Target the wider central portion of the fairway to avoid fairway sand traps and native edges. A solid tee shot leaves a straightforward approach into a large green.
Your 240 yd driver · ~150 yards remaining by raw distance.
2
4
365
12
Your 240 yd driver · ~125 yards remaining by raw distance.
3
3
190
16
4
5
525
9
Favor the safe side of the fairway off the tee to keep out of fairway sand traps. Play approach shots to the center of the green complex to navigate undulating contours.
Your 240 yd driver · ~285 yards remaining by raw distance. Plan this primarily as a three-shot hole.
5
4
360
14
Your 240 yd driver · ~120 yards remaining by raw distance.
6
4
410
6
Your 240 yd driver · ~170 yards remaining by raw distance.
7
4
370
11
Your 240 yd driver · ~130 yards remaining by raw distance.
8
3
165
17
Keep tee shots center-left to account for fairway mounding and bunkers guarding the right side. Approach with enough club to clear green-side collection areas.
9
5
540
5
Your 240 yd driver · ~300 yards remaining by raw distance. Plan this primarily as a three-shot hole.
10
5
560
4
Aim for the wide landing zone away from lateral water features. Play the approach to the middle of the green to stay clear of water hazard margins.
Your 240 yd driver · ~320 yards remaining by raw distance. Plan this primarily as a three-shot hole.
11
4
400
2
Your 240 yd driver · ~160 yards remaining by raw distance.
12
3
155
18
Position your tee shot short or wide of fairway sand to set up an unhindered approach. Focus on hitting the proper green tier to avoid long, breaking putts.
13
4
335
13
Drive toward the center of the fairway to secure a flat lie. Select sufficient club into a green guarded by front bunkers.
Your 240 yd driver · ~95 yards remaining by raw distance. Favor position and approach angle over extra tee-shot distance.
14
4
430
7
Evaluate wind and hazard boundaries off the tee; taking a conservative line away from the pond provides a safer approach path over the water margin.
Your 240 yd driver · ~190 yards remaining by raw distance.
15
3
215
15
Commit to your club selection to clear front-guarding bunkers and land softly on the firm Bermuda green.
16
4
440
8
Play left of the pin location to keep distance from the cascading waterfall water hazard. Take extra club if needed to clear front bunkers while avoiding the water margin.
Your 240 yd driver · ~200 yards remaining by raw distance.
17
4
365
10
Your 240 yd driver · ~125 yards remaining by raw distance.
18
5
505
1
Drive to the safe side of the fairway to clear fairway sand and avoid the water feature bordering the fairway and green. The approach into the final green demands precise distance control.
Your 240 yd driver · ~265 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.