PLAYROUND COURSE GUIDE

How to Play Kierland Gc — Acacia/Mesquite

Course strategy, tee-specific yardages and a hole-by-hole game plan for Kierland Gc — Acacia/Mesquite in Scottsdale, AZ.

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Kierland Gc — Acacia/Mesquite golf course

Kierland Gc — Acacia/Mesquite

Scottsdale, AZ
Cinder tees · 6,914 yards
COURSE OVERVIEW

About Kierland Gc — Acacia/Mesquite

Designed by Scott Miller and opened in 1996, Kierland Golf Club features 27 holes divided into three distinct nine-hole loops: Acacia, Ironwood, and Mesquite. The Acacia/Mesquite 18-hole combination blends resort-style playability with over 300 sand bunkers, dry desert washes, and rolling terrain crafted from over 1.3 million cubic yards of earthmoving. Featuring wide fairways, sculpted side mounding, and large TifEagle Bermuda greens, the course offers a parkland feel with panoramic views of Camelback Mountain, Pinnacle Peak, and the McDowell Range.

COURSE STRATEGY

How to play Kierland Gc — Acacia/Mesquite

Off the tee

Fairways are generous and wide, bordered by sculpted mounds and berms that often direct slightly offline drives back toward the fairway. High-lipped fairway bunkers present the main hazard off the tee, making avoiding sand traps key to building a good score.

Elevation & terrain

Elevation changes reach up to 75 feet across the property, featuring rolling fairway hills, valley depressions, and elevated teeing areas. Shots into uphill greens require extra clubbing, while downhill tee shots carry additional distance into sloping landing zones.

Approach play

Approach shots demand precise distance control to clear fronting bunkers, deep greenside traps, and dry desert arroyos. Forced carries over water come into play on key finishing holes like Acacia 9 and Mesquite 18.

Around the greens

Greens are large with mild to moderate undulations, surrounded by grass swales, collection areas, and steep-faced sand traps. Misses into grass collection areas offer straightforward recovery opportunities compared to deep greenside bunkers.

Best way to play it

Capitalize on open tee shots by using fairway slopes and staying well away from steep fairway bunkers. Play conservatively into well-guarded green complexes and execute precise distance control on closing holes protected by water.

Key takeaways

  • Resort-style layout with generous fairways framed by helpful side mounding.
  • Over 300 sand bunkers guard fairway landing zones and green surrounds.
  • Water hazards come into play on the dramatic finishing holes of both nines.
  • Desert washes and arroyos require focused carry control on select holes such as Mesquite 4.
YOUR GAME PLAN

Hole-by-hole game plan

Hole
Par
Yards
HCP
Strategy
1
5
517
16
Aim for the wide center of the fairway off the tee and take advantage of the rolling contours to gain extra roll into the layup area.
Your 240 yd driver · ~277 yards remaining by raw distance. Plan this primarily as a three-shot hole.
2
4
417
8
Favor the center-left side of the fairway off the tee to stay clear of high-lipped fairway sand traps that prevent reaching the green in regulation.
Your 240 yd driver · ~177 yards remaining by raw distance.
3
4
448
4
Drive toward the open fairway center away from side mounds to set up an unobstructed, level approach shot.
Your 240 yd driver · ~208 yards remaining by raw distance.
4
3
171
18
Select enough club to clear front bunker lip edges and target the center of the green surface.
5
5
568
2
Play down the center of the fairway off the tee and lay up to a comfortable wedge distance short of the greenside sand traps.
Your 240 yd driver · ~328 yards remaining by raw distance. Plan this primarily as a three-shot hole.
6
3
190
12
Select extra club to comfortably clear the desert valley carry and land on the elevated green surface.
7
4
374
10
Tee off toward the right-center fairway to avoid the water and fairway bunkers on the left, and avoid hitting past the flag into the severe 8-foot-deep bunker behind the green.
Your 240 yd driver · ~134 yards remaining by raw distance.
8
3
219
14
Target the left side or left-center of the putting surface to stay well clear of the right-side water hazard and the massive right greenside bunker.
9
5
531
6
Tee off down the right side of the fairway to let the slope feed the ball toward the middle while avoiding the water on the left, then lay up right of the greenside bunkers.
Your 240 yd driver · ~291 yards remaining by raw distance. Plan this primarily as a three-shot hole.
10
4
395
11
Drive confidently down the open fairway to set up a short-to-mid iron approach into the generous green surface.
Your 240 yd driver · ~155 yards remaining by raw distance.
11
4
410
9
Aim for the center of the broad fairway off the tee to create an uncomplicated approach angle to the green.
Your 240 yd driver · ~170 yards remaining by raw distance.
12
4
333
17
Use a fairway wood or hybrid off the tee to position for a full wedge approach into the green surface.
Your 240 yd driver · ~93 yards remaining by raw distance. Favor position and approach angle over extra tee-shot distance.
13
3
187
15
Take sufficient club to ensure clearing the dry desert wash and target the middle of the narrow green surface.
14
5
521
5
Drive down the fairway center and manage your layup shot carefully over the rolling terrain to secure a flat lie for your green approach.
Your 240 yd driver · ~281 yards remaining by raw distance. Plan this primarily as a three-shot hole.
15
4
468
3
Focus on finding the safest side of the fairway off the tee to leave a clear long approach, then aim for the center of the well-guarded green.
Your 240 yd driver · ~228 yards remaining by raw distance.
16
5
547
7
Position your tee shot in the broad fairway landing area and execute a conservative layup to set up an uncomplicated wedge into the green.
Your 240 yd driver · ~307 yards remaining by raw distance. Plan this primarily as a three-shot hole.
17
3
190
13
Select the correct club distance and aim for the center of the green, avoiding the greenside bunker traps.
18
4
428
1
Hit a clean drive down the fairway to leave a manageable iron distance, then pick enough club to clear the fronting water hazard while avoiding the six surrounding sand traps.
Your 240 yd driver · ~188 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.