Gary Panks

Scottsdale, AZ

Talon is the original course at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, designed by David Graham and Gary Panks and opened in 1994. It runs through tighter, more broken desert ground than the newer Raptor Course next to it. The golf is defined by desert washes, rock outcrops and short-grass hollows around the greens rather than length. The par-3 17th, known as Devil's Drink, plays to a green nearly surrounded by sand and water, and several holes require carries over untouched desert from the tee. It plays as a par 72 and is open to public play, with the practice facility and clubhouse shared between the two courses. Phil's Grill is Grayhawk's 19th hole, named for club ambassador Phil Mickelson, while Isabella's Kitchen overlooks Talon and runs a popular patio happy hour. Together they create a relaxed indoor-outdoor scene with course and mountain views.

Williams, AZ

Elephant Rocks sits at about 7,000 feet in Williams, in the shadow of Bill Williams Mountain, and winds through tall Ponderosa pines. Golf has been played here since the 1920s as the Williams Country Club. The city took it over, Gary Panks reworked the original nine in 1990, and Panks returned to add a second nine in 2000. The older nine is tighter and shorter; the newer nine is longer. Par 72, about 6,695 yards, open March through November.

Chandler, AZ

The Cattail Course at Whirlwind Golf Club is a public 18-hole course in Chandler, Arizona, on Gila River Indian Community land. Designed by Gary Panks and opened in 2002, it plays to a par of 72 and up to 7,334 yards from the back tees, with a rating of 73.6 and slope of 133. The layout uses the surrounding desert, with elevation changes, multi-tiered greens and views of South Mountain and the Sierra Estrella Mountains. Cattail is paired with the Devil's Claw course at the same facility.

Phoenix, AZ

Raven Golf Club Phoenix is a public course near South Mountain in Phoenix, Arizona, designed by Gary Panks and David Graham and opened in 1995. Unlike most Phoenix-area desert courses, Raven runs through more than 6,000 mature pine trees along rolling fairways and multi-tiered greens, with views of the surrounding mountains and the Phoenix skyline. It plays to a par of 72 across 7,078 yards from the back tees, with five sets of tees available. The club has hosted the Arizona Stroke Play Championship since 1996 and has practice facilities including a double-sided driving range. It operates as public daily-fee golf close to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

Phoenix, AZ

Graham & Panks's 7,078-yard South Mountain showcase: lush Bermuda fairways against Phoenix's native desert backdrop.

Wickenburg, AZ

Wickenburg Ranch Golf & Social Club features Big Wick, an 18-hole, par-71 course in Wickenburg, Arizona, designed by Bill Brownlee and Wendell Pickett and opened in 2015. It plays from just under 4,000 yards at the forward tees to nearly 7,000 yards from the championship tees, with Bentgrass greens maintained year-round. The routing moves through canyons and arroyos with views of Vulture Peak and the Prescott National Forest. The club also has Li'l Wick, a 9-hole, par-3 course, plus a practice facility with a driving range and short-game areas.

Sedona, AZ

Sedona Golf Resort is located in Sedona, Arizona, at roughly 4,350 feet elevation amid the region's distinctive red rock formations. The course occupies high-desert terrain in the Verde Valley, with holes routed through pinyon and juniper vegetation and natural arroyos. Gary Panks designed the course, which opened in 1988. Several holes play uphill or downhill, taking advantage of the property's elevation changes, with forced carries over desert washes and bunkering positioned around the greens. The red rock backdrop is visible throughout much of the round. Operated as a resort course, Sedona Golf Resort is open to visitors and resort guests, playing to a par of 71 at roughly 6,646 yards from the back tees.

Phoenix, AZ

The Legacy Golf Club sits on the site of a former ranch near Phoenix's Sky Harbor Airport, on land once owned by early Phoenix developer Dwight B. Heard. Two original 1902 grain silos still stand along the 18th fairway, and the Sierra Vista House near the first tee dates to the ranch era. The course was designed by architect Gary Panks and opened in 1999, playing to a par of 71 across roughly 5,500 to 6,900 yards depending on tees, with five par 3s worked into the routing. It anchors a timeshare and residential community near the airport. Legacy operates as a public course with an attached practice facility and instruction academy, offering tee times to both resort guests and outside golfers.

Bernalillo, NM

Gary Panks design at Santa Ana Pueblo with Sandia Mountain views

Oracle, AZ

Saddlebrooke Ranch Golf Club is a Gary Panks design in Oracle, Arizona, north of Tucson in the Sonoran Desert foothills. The 7,100-yard, par-72 layout winds through the high desert with dramatic views of the Santa Catalina and Tortolita Mountains. Part of the Saddlebrooke Ranch active adult community, the course offers semi-private access with public tee times available. A popular destination for Tucson-area golfers seeking a challenging desert layout with outstanding mountain scenery.

Show Low, AZ

Silver Creek Golf Club is a public course in Show Low, in the White Mountains. The 18-hole layout plays through the pines at elevation, a scenic mountain course that serves the Show Low area.

Wellton, AZ

Coyote Wash Golf Course is a public course in Wellton, east of Yuma. The 18-hole layout plays through the desert, a friendly course that serves the Wellton area.

Greensboro, NC

The East Course at Grandover Resort is one of two 18-hole courses at the resort property in Greensboro, North Carolina. It opened in March 1996 as part of a purpose-built golf resort with a hotel, spa and conference facilities. David Graham and Gary Panks designed the course, which plays to a par of 72 and stretches to roughly 7,250 yards from the championship tees. Tree-lined fairways and holes built with stadium-style viewing areas give the layout an open, spacious character across the resort's wooded acreage. The course gives priority tee times to hotel guests, with public tee times also available. A golf shop, instruction from resort professionals, and a companion West Course round out the golf offerings on site.

Greensboro, NC

The West Course at Grandover Resort is the second of two 18-hole layouts at the golf resort in Greensboro, North Carolina, opening in 1997 a year after its companion East Course. Also designed by David Graham and Gary Panks, the West Course plays to a par of 72 over roughly 6,800 to 6,875 yards depending on the tee set used for measurement. The course is routed through the resort's wooded, rolling grounds, built amid oak, pine and dogwood cover typical of the Piedmont Triad region. As with the East Course, hotel guests receive priority tee times, and public tee times are available through the golf shop. The resort's clubhouse and pro shop serve both courses, along with practice facilities and golf instruction.

Sun City West, AZ

Trilogy Golf Club at Vistancia is located in Peoria, Arizona, roughly 25 minutes northwest of downtown Phoenix, within the Sonoran high chaparral. The course was designed by architect Gary Panks and opened for play in 2004 as the daily-fee golf component of the Trilogy at Vistancia residential community. The 18-hole, par-72 layout features more than 70 bunkers that blend into native desert areas, with five sets of tees ranging from roughly 5,500 to over 7,200 yards. Native grasses and Sonoran Desert plantings frame the fairways throughout the round. While situated within a private residential community, the golf course itself welcomes public play alongside members of Trilogy at Vistancia, with an on-site restaurant, spa and clubhouse available to golfers.

Draper, UT

South Mountain Golf Club sits in the foothills of the Wasatch Range in Draper, Utah, about fifteen minutes south of Salt Lake City. The course climbs the side of a mountain, with valley views to the north and little tree cover across the property. David Graham and Gary Panks designed the eighteen-hole course, which opened in 1998 as a private club before the property was later sold and opened to public play under Salt Lake County. The mountain-links-style layout features large, undulating greens and significant elevation change from tee to green, with the longest tees stretching to about 7,080 yards. Carts are required, and the course includes a driving range and putting green for practice.

Florence, AZ

Poston Butte Golf Club is a public 18-hole, par-72 golf course in Florence, Arizona, designed by Gary Panks and opened in 2007 within the Anthem at Merrill Ranch community. The course offers five sets of tees ranging from about 5,300 to 7,300 yards and features an island green on the par-3 17th hole, along with views of a historic fire temple reconstructed by Charles Poston.

Prescott, AZ

Antelope Hills Golf Courses in Prescott, Arizona offers 36 holes of municipal golf across two 18-hole layouts, the North and South courses. The North Course dates to 1956 and was designed by Lawrence Hughes, playing to a par 72 over about 6,539 yards, while the par-72 South Course, designed by Gary Panks, opened in 2001 and runs roughly 6,129 yards. Both feature tree-lined fairways and bentgrass greens. The facility is public and municipally operated, with tee times bookable online up to seven days in advance. Amenities include a full practice complex with driving range and putting greens, a golf shop, PGA instruction, and the Manzanita Grill restaurant. The course also hosts outings and tournaments for groups.

Yuma, AZ

Desert Hills Golf Course is a municipal facility in Yuma, Arizona, operated by the city's Parks and Recreation Department. It opened in 1973 on terrain that is unusually hilly for the flat Yuma desert, giving the layout noticeable elevation changes among rolling fairways and bunkers. The par-72 course stretches to roughly 6,800 yards from the back tees, with Bermuda fairways and greens suited to the desert climate. In its history the course hosted professional events including Ben Hogan Tour and Nike Tour stops. Desert Hills is open to public play year-round except Christmas Day, with a pro shop, practice areas, and a restaurant on site.

Chandler, AZ

Whirlwind Golf Club's Devil's Claw Course is the second of two Gary Panks designs at Wild Horse Pass on the Gila River Indian Reservation. The 7,029-yard, par-72 layout begins on Greasy Mountain and winds through arroyos and native desert vegetation. Split fairways, stacked stone riverbeds, and 30-foot tall saguaro cacti in play give this course its distinctive character. A companion to the Cattail, the Devil's Claw offers a slightly more intimate desert experience.

Heber Springs, AR

Red Apple Inn Golf Course is an 18-hole championship course on Eden Isle in Heber Springs, operated as part of the Red Apple Inn resort on Greers Ferry Lake. Designed by architect Gary Panks, the course plays to a par of 71 across 6,451 yards through rolling Ozark foothills with lake views. The resort itself traces to 1961, when Herbert L. Thomas purchased the land that became Eden Isle following completion of the Greers Ferry Dam. The course is paired with the inn's lodging, dining, and recreation amenities.

North Las Vegas, NV

Aliante Golf Club is a public course in North Las Vegas, Nevada, within the Aliante master planned community. Designed by architect Gary Panks, it opened to the public in December 2003 and was named Best New Course in Las Vegas by Vegas Golfer Magazine that year. The par 72 layout stretches more than 7,000 yards from the back tees, with a meandering arroyo affecting play on 14 holes and desert plantings including pear and purple locust trees not common on most desert courses. Two water features and generous landing areas balance the challenge for stronger players against a more forgiving experience for beginners. The practice facility includes a full driving range, putting green, chipping green and practice bunker. A clubhouse with a golf shop and grille overlooks the course and surrounding mountains, and the course remains a popular amenity for area residents and visiting golfers.