PLAYROUND COURSE GUIDE

How to Play Granite Falls Gc — South Course

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

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Granite Falls Gc — South Course golf course

Granite Falls Gc — South Course

Surprise, AZ
Black-South tees · 6,839 yards
COURSE OVERVIEW

About Granite Falls Gc — South Course

Designed by Greg Nash and Billy Casper and opened in 1997, Granite Falls Golf Club's South Course in Surprise, Arizona, is a par-72 championship layout stretching up to 6,839 yards. Situated within The Grand active-adult community, the course features a Midwestern-style traditional layout seamlessly integrated into the Sonoran Desert. It boasts wide, rolling fairways, mature tree-lined borders, subtle mounding, desert washes, and massive green complexes averaging around 10,000 square feet. Water features come into play on 10 holes, culminating in a signature 18th hole featuring two lakes connected by a cascading waterfall.

COURSE STRATEGY

How to play Granite Falls Gc — South Course

Off the tee

Fairways are wide and forgiving, offering friendly landing zones framed by turf mounding and desert washes. While driver is viable on most par 4s and par 5s, tee shots must be placed strategically to avoid lateral water hazards on 10 holes and a desert ravine crossing on select holes.

Elevation & terrain

Terrain features gentle desert rolling hills and subtle ridges that create slight stance adjustments, but dramatic elevation drops are minimal across the layout, with Hole 10 being a notable exception due to its noticeable uphill tee shot and approach.

Approach play

Approach shots demand precise iron distance control to target specific sectors of the massive 10,000-square-foot greens. Water hazards directly guard approach lines on multiple holes, particularly on the signature 15th and 18th holes.

Around the greens

Greens are exceptionally large with gentle undulations and subtle breaks. Surrounding turf collection areas, gentle mounding, and renovated bunker complexes test chip shot precision and lag putting abilities.

Best way to play it

Take advantage of forgiving fairways off the tee by favoring the safe side away from water and desert washes, then focus on hitting the center of the broad greens to avoid three-putts on the huge putting surfaces.

Key takeaways

  • Features some of the largest green complexes in Sun City Grand, averaging nearly 10,000 square feet.
  • Water hazards impact strategy on 10 of the 18 holes, including a memorable waterfall green on Hole 18.
  • Desert washes and arroyos require forced carries on Hole 11 and Hole 18.
  • Forgiving, broad fairways make the course enjoyable and accessible for golfers of all skill levels.
YOUR GAME PLAN

Hole-by-hole game plan

Hole
Par
Yards
HCP
Strategy
1
4
362
13
Aim for the center of the generous fairway off the tee to set up a straightforward mid-iron approach shot into the expansive green surface.
Your 240 yd driver · ~122 yards remaining by raw distance.
2
4
411
3
Favor the middle of the fairway off the tee to avoid subtle fairway bunkering and secure an optimal approach angle to the wide green.
Your 240 yd driver · ~171 yards remaining by raw distance.
3
5
543
9
Keep your drive centered and lay up conservatively to avoid cross-bunkering before making a short approach to the large putting surface.
Your 240 yd driver · ~303 yards remaining by raw distance. Plan this primarily as a three-shot hole.
4
3
181
15
Focus on hitting the center of the broad putting surface, ignoring pin positions tucked close to bunker edges.
5
4
402
2
Favor the safe side of the fairway away from the water hazard off the tee, setting up a safe approach to a massive green.
Your 240 yd driver · ~162 yards remaining by raw distance.
6
5
531
4
Target the broad fairway corridor off the tee and favor the right-center on your lay-up shot to clear the green-guarding bunkers.
Your 240 yd driver · ~291 yards remaining by raw distance. Plan this primarily as a three-shot hole.
7
4
370
12
Drive down the middle of the fairway to set up a short-to-mid iron approach shot into a receptive putting green.
Your 240 yd driver · ~130 yards remaining by raw distance.
8
3
223
17
Select enough club to comfortably cover the distance and play for the center of the green surface away from adjacent water.
9
4
375
14
Aim tee shot down the generous fairway center to secure a clear angle into the putting green past the lateral water area.
Your 240 yd driver · ~135 yards remaining by raw distance.
10
4
402
11
Take an extra club on your approach shot to account for the uphill incline while avoiding the water penalty area.
Your 240 yd driver · ~162 yards remaining by raw distance.
11
4
388
7
Verify your target line off the tee to clear or lay up short of the desert ravine forced carry.
Your 240 yd driver · ~148 yards remaining by raw distance.
12
5
517
5
Play two controlled shots down the center corridor to set up a short wedge approach into a broad putting surface.
Your 240 yd driver · ~277 yards remaining by raw distance. Plan this primarily as a three-shot hole.
13
3
226
18
Execute a precise iron shot to clear the fronting water hazard, aiming for the safe middle portion of the green.
14
4
407
10
Drive to the center of the fairway to afford a clean line into a well-guarded green complex.
Your 240 yd driver · ~167 yards remaining by raw distance.
15
4
315
6
Steer tee shots to the side of the fairway opposite the water, leaving a careful approach over or around the lake.
Your 240 yd driver · ~75 yards remaining by raw distance. Favor position and approach angle over extra tee-shot distance.
16
4
426
8
Position your drive safely away from lateral water hazards to set up an approach shot to the wide green complex.
Your 240 yd driver · ~186 yards remaining by raw distance.
17
3
220
16
Aim for the middle-left section of the putting surface to avoid right-hand pin locations guarded by water.
18
5
540
1
Clear the desert ravine off the tee or on your second shot, then hit a controlled third approach into the scenic waterfall-backed green.
Your 240 yd driver · ~300 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.