Situated on land owned by the Yavapai Nation, this Scott Miller designed golf course is an oasis in the desert. There are two courses at the We-Ko-Pa Golf Club including the original golf course called the Cholla which was opened in late 2001 and the Ben Crenshaw designed Saguaro golf course opened in late 2006.

On this visit to the facility I had the opportunity to play the Cholla golf course. Scott Miller, the architect of the golf course, is known for some wonderful designs across the country. His most famous being the Coeur d'Alene resort in Idaho. I was expecting a great golf course. As I pulled up to the clubhouse I was struck by the modern design of the building. It is a truely unique and eye capturing structure.

I arrived early enough at the golf course to use the practice facility. I love this practice facility. There are two hitting areas to choose from and you hit out into a wide open space which has target and the occasional pockets of cactus throughout the landing area. This is great practice for some of the shots you will be required to hit on the golf course.

I decided to play from the tournament tees. I figured that if I wanted to truely experience the golf course I should play it from the longest tee possible. (Also my ego wouldn't let me play a shorter tee.) The first hole on the Cholla course is a short par-4. I would recommend keeping the driver in the bag on this hole. Your target on this hole should be the middle of the three bunkers along the right side of the fairway. If you place a 3-wood properly you will have an easy approach shot into the green.

Scott Miller made accuracy off the tee a priority on this golf course. There are several holes where hazard await a stray shot. An example of this is the 7th hole. This par-4 only measures 350 yards on the card but there is a desert area located right in the middle of the fairway. You will need to make a choice on which side of the obstruction you want to hit your ball on. From there the hole requires a accurate shot to a well bunkered green.

The Cholla course is a perfect example of desert golf. This target golf course is situated among the various plant and animal life that makes up the Sonoran Desert. As you are searching for your golf ball take some time to observe the wild life that is around you. As with many indian owned golf courses there are no plans for commerical or residential development around the golf courses. This will provide unobstructed views of the surrounding landscape for a long time. In the modern era it is very difficult to find a golf course that doesn't have homes built around it.

I was impressed by the condition of the golf course. On of the reason this course is in such great shape is they are a cart path only facility. Although this will be an inconvience for some golfers it does keep the course in fantastic condition. The maintainance crew at the facility needs to be complimented on the quaility of the fairways, tees and greens.

The last three holes on this golf course will certainly challenge even the best golfers. The 16th hole is a long par-4 that measures 478 yards. I solid tee shot will leave a long iron into this narrow green. There are only two bunkers on this hole but a desert ravine splits the fairway in two. Being short on this hole is better than long.

The 17th hole is a long par with numerous bunkers. This hole is fairly straight-forward but will require some concentration to keep the ball in play. Water only comes into play on three holes on the Cholla course. The 18th hole is one of them. This medium length par-4 is a great finishing hole. You will need to be accurate off the tee. Once again there is a ravine that cuts across the fairway about 250 yards from the tee. If you decide to hit it long over the ravine you will have a short iron into this green that has water guarding the right hand side. I opted to hit it short of the ravine and was able to hit a 5-iron onto the green in regulation.

With the quality of this course I am looking forward to playing the Saguaro course at this facility. Both courses have been voted among the top-5 public golf courses in Arizona. Take the time to experience this one of a kind facility for yourself.