2015 Best Of Our Valley Winners: Sports

>PGA TOUR SUPERSTORE PGA Tour Superstore provides an unparalleled selection of equipment and clothing for golf and tennis players with exceptional service and guaranteed low prices. Because of their affiliation with the PGA Tour, golfers have access to the same technology and expertise as the card-carrying professionals. There are three Arizona locations, two in Scottsdale and one in Chandler. pgatoursuperstore.com. 2014 WINNER BEST GOLF COMMUNITY >>MIRABEL From a beautifully designed and challenging golf course to refined upscale Scottsdale homes, Mirabel is the ultimate in country-club living. The Desert Lodge Clubhouse offers award- winning dining, fire-lit patios, full fitness facilities, salon and spa, resort- size pool with cabanas and a Har-Tru tennis garden. The Tom Fazio-designed course is a par-71 with tee positions for everyone from beginners to pros. A caddie program and on-course chef and comfort stations distinguish Mirabel from the rest. mirabel.com. 2014 WINNER BEST INSTRUCTOR >>JASON REDDINGTON, HEAD TEACHING PROFESSIONAL AT MIRABEL As head teaching professional, Jason Reddington helps Mirabel members improve their games using the same techniques he used to coach players like PGA Tour and Ryder Cup golfer Jeff Overton. Reddington has won tournaments at every level and has received several teaching awards. mirabel.com. 2014 WINNER BEST PUBLIC COURSE >>QUINTERO GOLF CLUB Often described as one of the “purest golf experiences” in the Southwest, Quintero was created in the tradition of the world’s most renowned golf courses. Their focus is on providing golfers with the finest playing surfaces, warm hospitality and the ultimate challenge for their individual games. It plays at more than 7,200 yards from the championship tees and 5,043 from the forward tees, with generous landing areas and strategic bunker placement. quinterogolf.com. 2014 WINNER BEST SPORTING EVENT >>WASTE MANAGEMENT PHOENIX OPEN The Greatest Show on Grass has become a signature event for Arizona, drawing the world’s top golfers and hundreds of thousands of spectators from around the world. Visitors come to the Waste Management Phoenix Open for the weather, the sport and the entertainment, and are always satisfied on all fronts. Since its inception in 1932, proceeds raised through the Phoenix Open have surpassed $100 million in charitable giving. wmphoenixopen.com. BEST SPORTING GOODS STORE >>REI It began as a group of 23 mountain- climbing buddies and is now the nation’s largest consumer cooperative. Whether you’re new to outdoor adventures or a seasoned pro, it’s important to have quality outdoor gear. REI designs its own line of award- winning gear and clothing and sells brand name gear for trails, slopes and waterways. They’ve been on Fortune’s list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For every year since the rankings began. And, REI donates millions of dollars to support conservation efforts, as well as sending volunteers to clean up beaches, restore local habitats and more. rei.com. BEST SPORTS VENUE >>UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX STADIUM University of Phoenix Stadium is home of the Arizona Cardinals and the Annual VIZIO Fiesta Bowl. Host to two Super Bowls, the stadium seats 63,400 (expandable to 72,200), and with its retractable roof and field, is a marvel of design, engineering and technology. The highest-grossing and most-attended event at the stadium was WrestleMania XXVI, which grossed $5.8 million in 2010. Home to concerts, trade shows, corporate functions, sports and more, University of Phoenix Stadium has won numerous awards since its groundbreaking in 2003. universityofphoenixstadium.com. 2014 WINNER BEST SPRING TRAINING FIELD >>SALT RIVER FIELDS AT TALKING STICK Surrounded by some of the most beautiful mountain views in all of baseball, Salt River Fields at Talking Stick is the spring training home of the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Colorado Rockies. Here, fans have opportunities to interact with their favorite players, and are never far from the action due to the unique layout of the stadium. It is a clean, safe, family- friendly environment that showcases the sport in a fun atmosphere. saltriverfields.com. 2014 WINNER MOST PHILANTHROPIC ATHLETE >>KURT WARNER, FIRST THINGS FIRST By now, most everyone knows Kurt Warner’s inspirational story. Undrafted and cut by the Green Bay Packers, stocking shelves in a grocery store, eventually playing for the Arena Football League before being noticed by the St. Louis Rams, and going on to a standout career as quarterback. From that experience came the idea of First Things First, an organization dedicated to impacting lives by promoting Christian values, sharing experiences and providing opportunities to encourage everyone that all things are possible when people seek to put “first things first.” Projects include Treasure House home for adults with developmental disabilities, Homes for the Holidays, which rewards single parents who achieve the dream of homeownership, and countless others. kurtwarner.org. 2014 WINNER FAVORITE FEMALE GOLFER >>CRISTIE KERR Over the course of her career so far, Scottsdale resident Cristie Kerr has 16 LPGA victories, including two major championships, and more than 140 top-10 finishes. She is the highest-earning American woman golfer of all time, a two-time ESPY winner for Female Golfer of the Year and a recipient of the Muhammad Ali Award for sportsperson of the year. Off the course, she is a prominent breast-cancer activist, founding Birdies for Breast Cancer, which has raised more than $2.5 million since 2003. Aside from golf and philanthropy, she partnered with Pride Mountain Vineyards to create Curvature Wines, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to breast cancer research. cristiekerrgolf.com. FAVORITE PHOENIX MERCURY PLAYER >>DEWANNA BONNER After a standout college career at Auburn, DeWanna Bonner was drafted by the Phoenix Mercury fifth overall in the 2009 WNBA draft. In her rookie year, she was named Sixth Woman of the Year, led the team in rebounds, and outscored the entire opponent bench three times. She ranks second in the franchise for career double-doubles and rebounding average, and is one of just five players in Mercury history to record multiple 30-point games in a single season. phoenixmercury.com. 2014 WINNER FAVORITE ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS PLAYER >>PAUL GOLDSCHMIDT First baseman Paul Goldschmidt was drafted by the Diamondbacks in 2009 and has gone on to become a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger award winner. He is one of only three National League players to have earned both top offensive and top defensive player honors and has been National League All Star for the past two seasons. Goldschmidt finished second in National League Most Valuable Player voting for the 2013 season, the best finish of any player in club history. dbacks.com. PHOTO BY JENNIFER STEWART FAVORITE ARIZONA CARDINALS PLAYER >>LARRY FITZGERALD The Valley’s favorite Cardinal was drafted by the team third overall in the 2004 NFL draft. Since then, Larry Fitzgerald has become a franchise leader, not only in the hearts of the fans, but also in receptions, receiving yards, receiving touchdowns, total touchdowns, and other offensive categories. He has been to eight Pro Bowls and ranks 12th all-time in NFL history for receiving yards per game. Off the field, his First Down Fund focuses on helping families via summer programs and after-school activities, and supports health-related organizations geared toward families. azcardinals.com. FAVORITE COLLEGE ATHLETICS >>ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY Phil Mickelson, Pat Tillman, Danny White, Reggie Jackson, Byron Scott—all have worn a Sun Devil jersey. More than 100 Sun Devils have made it to Major League Baseball, and countless others have found success in the other 20-plus sports offered by the Arizona State University athletic department. Sun Devil fans are passionate about their sports and their mascot, Sparky, whose new look sparked impassioned debate. If there’s ever any doubt about Sun Devil loyalty, trying wearing the colors of that “other” Arizona school on Mill Avenue on game day. thesundevils.com. 2014 WINNER MOST CHALLENGING COURSE >>THE GOLD COURSE AT THE WIGWAM Designed by master designer Robert Trent Jones Sr., The Gold Course rivals the famed South Course at Firestone Country Club, another Trent Jones Sr. creation. A winding par-72 course that covers more than 7,430 yards, the course will challenge even the best golfers. Part of Arizona history since 1929, The Wigwam is best known for its 54 holes of championship-caliber golf, none better than The Gold Course. wigwamarizona.com. BEST PRIVATE CLUB >>SCOTTSDALE NATIONAL GOLF CLUB Scottsdale National Golf Club, owned by well-known GoDaddy founder and philanthropist Bob Parsons, is a YAM Worldwide company. Protected on three sides by thousands of acres of wilderness designated for preservation, the Scottsdale National Golf Club is an exclusive desert oasis, in a pristine pocket of the McDowell Mountains, with uncontested 360-degree views and unparalleled golf. Currently, significant renovations are being completed with a goal to add additional holes and open a new state-of-the-art clubhouse within the next few years. Membership is by invitation only. sngc.com. FAVORITE PHOENIX COYOTES PLAYER >>SHANE DOAN Shane Doan was drafted seventh overall in the 1995 NHL draft by the Winnipeg Jets, who moved to Arizona to become a Coyote for the 1996-97 season. He has been team captain for 10 consecutive seasons and is a leader on and off the ice, finishing second on the team in goals and fourth in points despite missing 13 games due to illness. From a charitable standpoint, he works with Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Phoenix Rescue Mission, and United Blood Services, which sponsors “Doaner Night” at Coyotes home games. coyotes.nhl.com. FAVORITE MALE GOLFER >>RICKY BARNES Ricky Barnes was a four-time All-American at the University of Arizona, and the US Amateur Champion in 2002. He turned pro in 2004 after capturing low amateur honors at the 2003 Masters, outscoring his playing partner Tiger Woods in the first round. He earned his PGA Tour card in 2008, and tied for second in his first US Open the following year. He lives with his wife and children in Scottsdale. rickybarnesgolf.com. " /> 2015 Best Of Our Valley Winners: Sports

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2015 Best Of Our Valley Winners: Sports

Suzanne Koch

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Sports

With fabulous weather year-round, it’s no wonder that Arizona is home to some of the best sports venues, teams and players in the country. Here are a few of your favorites.

BY BECKY ANTIOCO

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2014 WINNER

BEST PRO SPORTS TEAM, BEST CHEERLEADERS OR DANCE TEAM, FAVORITE ARIZONA COACH AND FAVORITE ARIZONA RATTLERS PLAYER

>>ARIZONA RATTLERS

The Arizona Rattlers of the Arena Football League kick off their 23rd season this year, high off of their fifth ArenaBowl victory. The team has made 19 playoff appearances and won nine West Division championships. Founded in 1992 as an expansion team, the Rattlers have drawn almost 2.4 million fans to their games and have four players in the AFL Hall of Fame (Sherdrick Bonner, Hunkie Cooper, Randy Gatewood and Bob McMillen). The team is coached by Kevin Guy and features Best of Our Valley Favorite Rattlers Player, Marquis Floyd, who has been a member of the team since 2011. The Arizona Rattlers is involved in appearances, charitable donations and outreach programs with nonprofit and community groups. azrattlers.com.

PHOTO BY BIGGERPICTUREIMAGES.COM

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