PLAYROUND COURSE GUIDE

How to Play Whirlwind Golf Club — Devil'S Claw Course

Course strategy, tee-specific yardages and a hole-by-hole game plan for Whirlwind Golf Club — Devil'S Claw Course in Chandler, AZ.

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Whirlwind Golf Club — Devil'S Claw Course golf course

Whirlwind Golf Club — Devil'S Claw Course

Chandler, AZ
Black tees · 6,896 yards
COURSE OVERVIEW

About Whirlwind Golf Club — Devil'S Claw Course

Designed by Gary Panks and opened in 2000 on Gila River Indian Community land in Chandler, Arizona, the Devil's Claw Course at Whirlwind Golf Club is a 7,029-yard par-72 resort-style desert layout. Unlike traditional target desert tracks with tight corridors, Devil's Claw features generous rolling fairways framed by native flora such as saguaro, mesquite, palo verde, and cottonwood trees. The layout relies on multi-tiered greens, multi-level bunker complexes, strategic fairway options, and mild elevation changes to test golfers of all skill levels without housing lining the fairways.

COURSE STRATEGY

How to play Whirlwind Golf Club — Devil'S Claw Course

Off the tee

Tee shots on Devil's Claw are more forgiving than typical Arizona target desert courses due to wide, sweeping fairways. However, strategic fairway bunkers and native desert terrain border landing zones, rewarding accurate placement to secure optimal approach angles.

Elevation & terrain

Elevation changes across the course are subtle and gradual, gentle enough to keep lies relatively standard while occasionally requiring an extra club on slightly uphill approach shots.

Approach play

Approach shots demand precise distance control into multi-tiered greens guarded by strategic sand bunkers. Pin placements on upper tiers or near bunker edges punish tentative or misjudged iron play.

Around the greens

Greens complexes are large with noticeable slopes and multiple tiers. Subtle collection areas, subtle undulations, and multi-level greenside bunkers require sharp short-game touch and thoughtful putts.

Best way to play it

Take advantage of the generous fairways by hitting driver, but respect bunker placements and fairway splits. Avoid chasing pin positions on hazardous green tiers, focusing instead on leaving uphill putts on the expansive greens.

Key takeaways

  • Wide, player-friendly fairways offer more room off the tee than traditional Arizona target desert layouts.
  • Multi-tiered green complexes make distance control on approaches essential for avoiding three-putts.
  • Hole 7 (Dragonfly Falls) features the course's primary water hazard with a waterfall backdrop.
  • Hole 9 (Eagleman's Gamble) offers a strategic split fairway off the tee.
  • Hole 8 provides a classic short risk-reward par-4 decision for long hitters.
YOUR GAME PLAN

Hole-by-hole game plan

Hole
Par
Yards
HCP
Strategy
1
4
414
11
Favor the center-left portion of the fairway off the tee to secure an open angle into the multi-tiered green complex.
Your 240 yd driver · ~174 yards remaining by raw distance.
2
4
390
17
Prioritize fairway accuracy over distance off the tee to avoid desert waste areas and leave a clean approach shot into the multi-tiered green.
Your 240 yd driver · ~150 yards remaining by raw distance.
3
5
584
1
Drive boldly into the wide fairway while avoiding fairway sand traps. Lay up to your preferred wedge distance to ensure a clear third shot into the multi-level green.
Your 240 yd driver · ~344 yards remaining by raw distance. Plan this primarily as a three-shot hole.
4
3
180
13
Select sufficient club to clear fronting desert hazards and sand, targeting the center of the green regardless of pin position.
5
4
404
5
Aim for the wide central area of the fairway away from fairway traps to open up a straightforward approach shot.
Your 240 yd driver · ~164 yards remaining by raw distance.
6
5
551
7
Hit a strong drive into the expansive fairway, then position your lay-up shot away from fairway bunkers to leave an uninhibited short-iron approach.
Your 240 yd driver · ~311 yards remaining by raw distance. Plan this primarily as a three-shot hole.
7
3
159
9
Club up slightly to account for the subtle uphill play and ensure you clear the water. Target the center or left-center of the two-tiered green to take the right-side water hazard out of play.
8
4
310
15
Long hitters can challenge the green off the tee, keeping left of the right-side bunkers. Alternatively, lay up with a hybrid or long iron to leave a full wedge approach.
Your 240 yd driver · ~70 yards remaining by raw distance. Favor position and approach angle over extra tee-shot distance.
9
4
432
3
Assess the pin location before teeing off. The left fairway provides a broader landing area, while the right fairway yields a shorter, direct angle to the green.
Your 240 yd driver · ~192 yards remaining by raw distance.
10
4
398
16
Aim down the middle of the wide fairway to avoid native terrain, setting up a mid-iron approach into a green guarded by sand.
Your 240 yd driver · ~158 yards remaining by raw distance.
11
4
437
8
Target the fairway center off the tee to leave a clear approach angle into a green complex protected by front-side bunkering.
Your 240 yd driver · ~197 yards remaining by raw distance.
12
3
211
4
Select a long iron or hybrid to cover the length, aiming for the middle of the wide green complex to avoid deep greenside bunkers.
13
4
354
14
Favor the left-center portion of the fairway off the tee to steer clear of right-hand fairway bunkers, leaving a short wedge into the pin.
Your 240 yd driver · ~114 yards remaining by raw distance.
14
3
167
10
Take enough club to clear front bunkers and hit to the broad section of the green, ignoring tucked flags.
15
5
500
18
Uncork a strong drive into the wide fairway. On the lay-up, favor the side opposite fairway sand traps to ensure a clean pitch shot into the green.
Your 240 yd driver · ~260 yards remaining by raw distance. Plan this primarily as a three-shot hole.
16
4
418
12
Favor the fairway center off the tee, keeping clear of fairway sand. Hit one extra club on approach to clear front greenside bunkers safely.
Your 240 yd driver · ~178 yards remaining by raw distance.
17
5
549
2
Favor the left side of the fairway off the tee to catch favorable ground slopes. Keep your second shot left-center on the uphill lay-up to set up a clean short-iron approach.
Your 240 yd driver · ~309 yards remaining by raw distance. Plan this primarily as a three-shot hole.
18
4
438
6
Deliver a long, straight drive into the wide fairway to avoid fairway sand. The long approach shot plays to a multi-tiered green heavily guarded by greenside bunkers.
Your 240 yd driver · ~198 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.